HORTICULTURE SUPERVISOR in New York, New York at Little Island

NewSalary: $75000 - $85000Experience Level: NoneMinimum Education: None
Little Island
New York, New York, 10011, United States
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Job Description

Position Description: Little Island seeks a Horticulture Supervisor to join the Park Operations team where they will support the Director of Horticulture in the oversight of the Landscape Management Program. Spanning 2.4 acres, the landscape includes 350 varieties of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, perennials, 66,000 bulbs, and 14,000 sq. ft. of lawn. The Supervisor will hire, train, supervise and develop a team of year-round and seasonal Gardeners in executing daily landscape maintenance and large-scale horticulture projects. The Supervisor ensures that the daily horticulture workflow is well integrated into the Operations Department and is accountable for team performance, workforce planning, and maintaining high standards of horticulture practice. This role is a field-based position reporting to the Director of Horticulture.

By leading daily horticulture operations and ensuring the health and beauty of the landscape, the Supervisor directly contributes to the experience of millions of visitors each year. Extending beyond the landscape, their work in developing a high performing team, fostering a safe and accountable work culture, and coordinating horticulture priorities with the broader Park Operations team helps maintain a welcoming, well-cared-for park.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned Horticulturist and supervisor with a passion for urban perennial maintenance and public horticulture. They possess excellent plant and pest identification skills, are fluent in botanical Latin, and have a keen eye for detail and plant composition. The candidate should have a proven ability to build, manage, and develop high-performing teams in a dynamic, public-facing environment.

About the Role
• Salary Range: $75,000-$85,000
• Job Type: Year-Round
• Employment Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
• Schedule Expectations: The schedule will be 5 days per week Monday-Friday, with flexibility to work weekends and holidays as needed.
• Work Environment: On-site, field-based position
• Start Date: January 4, 2027, with the option for an earlier start if we find the right match

How to Apply
Click “Apply Now” button below. For help with your application or the hiring process, email us at jobs@littleisland.org

What You’ll Do
Team Development and Collaboration
• Hire, train, supervise and develop, in partnership with the Director of Horticulture, a team of year-round and seasonal Gardeners, including leading recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes.
• Supervise the horticulture team in the field, providing guidance and feedback on essential tasks, ensuring proper horticultural maintenance techniques and best practices are followed.
• Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to develop seasonal work schedules, prioritizing plant health and landscape aesthetics.
• Balance hands-on participation in daily horticultural work with supervisory, administrative, and planning responsibilities, ensuring both field operations and departmental priorities are effectively managed.
• Maintain daily communication with the Director of Horticulture regarding plant health, irrigation issues, and overall landscape conditions.Facilitate team meetings to ensure daily priorities are identified and met, essential information is communicated, and End of Day logs are completed.
• Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture and the Horticulture and Facilities Associate on the horticulture department’s inventory system, including the acquisition, maintenance, and organization of tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Supervise and document services and contracted work performed by external horticulture vendors, including coordination schedules and ensuring quality standards are met.
• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and organization in the Horticulture back of house workspace.
• Ensure adherence to Little Island safety protocols through leading regular departmental safety training.
• Support the Horticulture team and Operations staff in addressing landscape emergencies and damage.

General Horticulture
• Perform all aspects of daily gardening including planting, transplanting, dividing, deadheading, cutback, clean-up, hand watering, editing, weeding, pruning, mulching.
• Plan and execute timely, large horticulture projects including but not limited to Spring Cutback and Fall Planting alongside the Director of Horticulture.
• Ensure cleanliness of the landscape through daily morning walkthroughs to clear damage, debris, and litter, and assign follow-up tasks to maintain standards throughout the day.
• Troubleshoot and repair irrigation, including drip lines, sprinklers, and valve components; participate in system start-up and winterization.
• Serve as an ambassador for Little Island, answering public inquiries about the landscape and park history.
• Perform other tasks related to the park and its operations, as assigned by the Director of Horticulture, demonstrating flexibility and leadership in a dynamic environment.

Data Collection and Record Keeping
• Assist the Director of Horticulture in refining Little Island’s Landscape Management Program through detailed record-keeping and priority setting, ensuring team participation in accurate data collection.
• Lead a weekly landscape evaluation program to identify distressed species and map any conditions requiring remediation.
• Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to identify and manage pest and disease issues using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.
• Facilitate and maintain the collection of specific landscape data including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) observations, Vendor Onsite Reports and Lawn Maintenance records.
• Research and source new Horticulture products, tools, and best practices as directed.

What You Bring
• 4+ years of hands-on, field-based horticultural experience in a supervisory capacity, including experience hiring, training, supervising, and developing staff; prior public park management experience is preferred.
• A strong desire to teach, train, and develop staff, with the ability to coach performance, provide constructive feedback, and foster a positive, accountable team culture.
• Expertise in urban horticultural practices; related advanced degree or certification is preferred (including ISA Certified Arborist).
• Energetic, hardworking, and detail-oriented with a commitment to safety.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with staff, stakeholders, and the public, conveying the park’s mission and goals, and leading with clarity and consistency in a fast-paced, field-based environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage seasonal and year-round teams, including scheduling, delegation, and performance management.
• Ability to transport, move, and use park equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. and safely handle gardening tools and materials.
• OSHA 10 or 30 certification or willingness to complete a plus.
• Valid NYS Driver's License preferred.
• Availability to work early morning hours and on weekends as necessary.
• Ability to squat, lift, stretch, bend, and stand for extended periods of time.
• Comfort working in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, including light rain, summer heat, and intermittent direct sunlight.
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.

Benefits and Perks
• 25 PTO Days and 2 Floating Holidays (prorated based on hire date), up to 10 Little Island Observed Holidays
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental & vision care (available first of the month after hire date)
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match (eligible after 90 days with immediate vesting)
• Commuter benefits
• Basic Life Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to professional development resources (eligible after 90 days employment)
• Partial cell phone reimbursement
• Access to discounts for Little Island food & beverage and at neighborhood businesses

Life at Little Island
• Park employees will spend time onsite at Little Island working in outdoor weather conditions, navigating the entire park multiple times a day, and interacting with park visitors to ensure operations are running effectively. Little Island is ADA compliant, and park employees are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for each other and our park’s visitors.
• Little Island’s Headquarters, located near the park, provides an open floor plan office, shared work areas and kitchen, a locker room, and rehearsal space. It is a dynamic and multi-use space where employees and artists can collaborate, connect, and unwind between shifts, meetings, and events.
• Little Island is a proud equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, familial or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. In short, you are welcome here no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you look like. Our park is for everyone, and so is our workplace.

Please note: A cover letter is required for this position. Please upload a PDF version of your cover letter in the additional documents portion of the application.
Additional Information: A cover letter is required for this position. Please upload a PDF version of your cover letter in the additional documents portion of the application.

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Job Location

New York, New York, 10011, United States

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