Job Description

Application deadline for this position is December 2nd, 2025.

Position Summary: 

Under the supervision and as directed, cares for and maintains a diverse collections of bulbs, annual and perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, including turf areas in a variety of gardens, plant collections, grounds, and exhibitions. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Plant, dig, transplant, and care for containerized, balled-and-burlapped, and bare root plants of all types. 

• Prune, groom, water, fertilize and deadhead bulbs, annual and perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees. 

• Propagate plants of all types from cuttings, seed, and plugs and maintain and care for young plants. 

• Maintain overall landscape including preparing soil and planting beds, grading, sodding, seeding, mulching, weeding, mowing, and trimming of gass edges, clearing and cleaning of rock outcrops. 

• Monitor and treat plant health problems, including spraying for insects and diseases.  

• Operate and care for power and hand tools and equipment, make necessary operating adjustments and report need for repairs and replacements. 

• Keep simple records and write reports as required. 

• Supervise junior staff including temporary workers, students, and volunteers instructing them in gardening techniques and in the proper use and care of materials and equipment. 

• Drive vehicles and other motorized equipment and machinery as necessary to perform daily assignments. 

• Perform various tasks in connection with cleaning of grounds and painting of fixtures and equipment as required. 

• Some weekend work and overtime required 

• Other related work as required 

Qualifications: 

• Two years of full-time experience in gardening work, including experience in each of the following: planting, cultivating, and caring for trees, plants, shrubs and lawns; or 

• 30 credits in horticulture, agriculture, or a related field from an accredited college or community college and one year of full-time gardening work experience as described above; or 

• A certificate from a recognized horticultural or botanical program and one year of full-time gardening work experience as described above. 

• Education and/or experience equivalent to any of the above. However, candidates must have at least one year of full-time gardening work experience as described above. 

• The ability to follow instructions and to work as part of a team. 

• The ability to perform strenuous physical tasks in a variety of conditions. 
  A Motor Vehicle Operator’s License valid in the State of New York at the time of appointment, or the ability to obtain within three months. 

• Commercial Pesticide Applicator–Category 3A License issued by the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation at time of appointment or the ability to obtain such within six months of hire. 

Physical Demands & Work Environment: 

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to, at minimum, work outdoors and under glass in all weather conditions in all seasons, stand, sit, crouch, kneel, and walk, operate lifts and other machinery, climb ladders, use hand tools and power equipment, and lift and\or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is required to perform tasks repetitively. 

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. 

Baseline Work Schedule:  

• Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM 
• Must be able to occasionally work on weekends when scheduled. 
• Must be available to work some overtime as needed throughout the year. 

Salary: $64,852*($74,580)

*Current Garden union employees that have been employed for 2 years qualify for the higher salary rate.  If a non-Garden and non-union applicant is appointed, they will be eligible to advance to the higher incumbent rate after two years

Benefits: 

• 15 Vacation Days
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 10 Sick Days
• Health Coverage
• 401K
• Pension Plan

EOE/BIPOC/F/Persons with disabilities/Veterans  

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