Director of Horticulture

OVERVIEW

A popular year-round destination, Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor located between Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront. For almost two centuries, the Island was closed to the public, operating as a military base for the U.S. Army and, later, the Coast Guard. Today, an award-winning new park is complemented by dozens of unique historic buildings, educational and cultural facilities, a rich arts and culture program and a 22-acre National Monument managed by the National Park Service. Looking ahead, the long-term vision for Governors Island focuses on continuing to expand year-round public access by enlivening it with transformative public art and culture, extraordinary recreational and open space, and research and education dedicated to addressing the global climate crisis.

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Horticulture is a full-time leadership role at the Trust for Governors Island (Trust). The Director will be responsible for all aspects of management and long-term care of Governors Island’s diverse gardens. The Director will shape open space management protocols and lead a professional horticulture team. Must have a hands-on leadership style, strategic vision, in-depth knowledge of native plants and ecological gardening, and an understanding of arboriculture.

Responsibilities include:

• Directly oversee all horticultural activities on Governors Island including:
  • o The development and implementation of daily and seasonal maintenance practices and a cohesive management plan;
  • o Establishment of a zone management system;
  • o Plant selection, acquisition and installation;
  • o Garden design;
  • o Tree care;
  • o Pest identification and management.
• Demonstrate expertise in diverse garden settings, native plants, ecological gardening, and horticultural design.
• Supervise the horticulture team in the field, providing guidance and feedback on essential tasks, ensuring best practices are followed. Expected presence in the field at least 25% of efforts to provide direct supervision or direct care for plantings or landscaping work.
• Ensure optimal staffing of the horticulture team, including recruiting, hiring, training and scheduling.
• Develop and implement best practices and standards for all members of the horticulture team, ensuring that employees receive ongoing instruction and opportunities for professional development.
• Lead the measurement of the horticulture team’s performance and ensure compliance with Trust policies, including safety, job performance and personal conduct.
• Provide expertise and vision for new and existing team members, articulating departmental priorities on a daily/weekly basis and ensuring that work plans are designed and executed in conjunction with such priorities.
• Develop and maintain annual plan for seasonal gardening / landscaping work such as planting, pruning, weeding, watering, fertilizing, mulching, pest management, etc.
• Assess existing horticultural challenges in planted areas and work with horticulture staff, designers, and consultants to formulate appropriate responses and implement changes as necessary.
• Develop and maintain budgets and monitor spending related to horticulture maintenance.
• Lead procurement, including bid process and RFP development, contract development, project management and on-site supervision of third-party vendors for open space modifications, renovations, maintenance, and care.
• Ensure materials, vehicles, tools and equipment are adequately supplied, in good repair and properly maintained and stored.
• Lead the information capture and maintenance of records of plantings, planted areas, trees, and related information, to be collected and recorded in the Trust’s asset management system.
• Cultivate a healthy and supportive culture amongst the horticulture team and collaborate effectively with other Island-wide teams.
• Collaborate with Landscaping leadership on existing landscape challenges , provide consult on turf management as requested.
• Actively promote and contribute to the Trust’s sustainability initiatives open space management.
• Coordinate with the Trust’s Programming staff to facilitate event load-ins and set-ups to ensure protection of gardens and planted areas at all times.
• Work with the Governors Island Foundation, participating in donor cultivation, and stewardship efforts related to Trust horticulture; identify opportunities for donor engagement and volunteerism around horticultural and operational initiatives.
• Participate in a range of activities with Trust teams beyond the typical work day, including events and programs, fundraising initiatives, tours, and stewardship and cultivation activities as needed.
• Ensure that the Island’s open spaces are utilized by the public, tenants and program partners in a way that is safe and protects the health of trees and other plantings.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Professional degree in Horticulture or Landscape Architecture.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• New York Pesticide applicator license preferred.

Experience:

• 7+ years of horticultural experience particularly experience working in a park or public space.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience; supervising full time and seasonal gardeners and volunteers preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of garden design principles.

• Experience with staff supervision, budget management and project management.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills.
• Ability to manage and motivate a team, with strong communication skills and the ability to resolve conflicts as they arise.
• Interpersonal skills that enable easy establishment of good relationships with immediate team, other Trust departments, tenants and vendors.
• High level of personal accountability, self-organization, autonomy and discipline.
• Ability to be agile and flexible with expectations and direction.
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions that adhere to the purpose, mission, and goals of The Trust.
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, and a professional approach.
• A systems-thinker with demonstrated ability to develop processes from scratch.
• Ability and willingness to work on-site five days per week, 7am – 3pm or 8am – 4pm; ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as needed.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to perform heavy, physical labor on a daily basis; to walk, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and regularly lift and/or move 50 lbs. with proper tools.
• Strong computer skills; experience with asset management systems preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required.
• Driver’s license required.

Salary Range: $100,000 to $110,000 per year
Generous paid time off and excellent benefits package including medical/dental/vision/life insurance and retirement plan with company contributions.

Location & Schedule: All positions are located on Governors Island. The position is in-person five days per week.

TO APPLY
(*No phone calls please.)

You must submit a cover letter with your resume in one pdf document.

We realize that not all applicants match 100% of the qualifications for a role. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for this role, we encourage you to apply.

The Trust for Governors Island values the importance of inclusion, accessibility and a diverse pool of applicants. The Trust for Governors Island does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, genetic information, marital status, membership in an employee organization, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including gender identity), sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, or other non-merit factor.

ABOUT THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND

The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) is a nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York. It is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust's mission is to realize the full potential of Governors Island for the inspiration and enjoyment of all New Yorkers, demonstrating a bold vision for public space. For more information, visit .