Workforce Development Associate

The Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort) seeks a proactive, relationship-driven Workforce Development Associate to support trainees in our workforce development programs. The Associate coaches participants in building professional skills while actively cultivating employer partnerships that lead to meaningful employment in horticulture, urban greening, and environmental stewardship. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable facilitating workshops, building employer relationships, analyzing program data, and showing up consistently for trainees onsite. The ideal candidate is organized, externally facing, equity-driven, and motivated by measurable outcomes.

The Horticultural Society of New York brings plants into the places where daily life happens, especially in neighborhoods with the least access to green space. We turn “unplantable” urban spaces—sidewalks, medians, traffic triangles, and streets—into gardens and plantings that last. We engage communities through learning, wellness, and paid work, so the benefits of plants are more accessible to New Yorkers across our city.

Responsibilities

Career Placement + Partnership Management

• Cultivate and maintain a pipeline of employer partnerships with a focus on local horticulture employers, parks departments, BIDs, and community-based organizations.
• Identify and secure employment, internship, and mentorship opportunities aligned with trainee goals and green industry demand.
• Represent The Hort at workforce development coalition meetings, workshops, and table at community events

Career Coaching + Trainee Support

• Build strong, trust-based relationships with trainees and onsite managers.
• Provide individualized career coaching and guidance to participants, helping hem set and achieve employment and career development goals
• Attend bi-weekly horticulture and core-skills training to support session logistics and classroom management
• Develop and facilitate core skills workshops
• Maintain and track program metrics and trainee records and prepare accurate reports for internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Visit worksites to check in on crews, drop off materials, and provide additional support

Program Completion + Retention

• Develop and manage referral pathways for program completers.
• Conduct structured retention follow-up for up to two years post-completion.
• Support the development of post-training or alumni network that keeps former trainees informed of the opportunities and developments in the green careers industry

Human Resources + Recruitment

• Partner with HR to facilitate orientations, re-orientations, onboarding, and exit processes.
• Support full trainee lifecycle including recruitment for HORTNYC programs, managing outreach, interviews, participant engagement during the program and offboarding process.
• Represent HORTNYC at career fairs and recruitment presentations.
• Support performance-related conversations
• With the HR team, contribute to internal communications and cross-department initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years professional and relevant work experience or 1+ year Experience as a Career Coach, Employment Counselor, or experience in career development
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional networks that lead to job placements or industry partnerships.
• Experience working with individuals who have faced barriers to employment, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and accessibility.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate across departments to drive project or task success
• Ability to handle sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality
• Strong commitment to accessibility and equity, particularly for underserved and under-resourced populations
• Highly organized and able to work independently while managing multiple projects at once
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite or similar platform

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Background in workforce development, non -profit or nature-based green careers

Physical Requirements

• Comfort working on a computer for prolonged periods of time
• Comfort traveling across NYC using public transportation

Other Information

Salary Range: $58,000 to $62,000

Schedule: Saturday through Wednesday, 9:00a-5:00p unless otherwise specified

Location: Midtown Offices, On-site

Employment Classification: Full-Time Regular

Positions Available: 1

Reports to: Senior Director of People & Culture

Benefits

The Hort offers all Full-Time regular employees a generous Paid Time Off package, term life insurance policy, and Employee Assistance Program. Pre-tax benefits include transit, Flexible Spending Account, medical, dental, and vision insurance. A 401(k)-retirement plan is available after one year of service.

How To Apply

To be considered, submit your application, resume, and a brief cover letter detailing your interests. Only complete applications will be reviewed. No phone calls.

Please be advised that due to the high volume of applicants, we can only contact candidates whose skills and background best fit the needs of the open positions. We appreciate your interest in employment opportunities at The Horticultural Society of New York.

The Hort is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. It is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available for these individuals during the hiring process. Please email [email protected] should you require reasonable accommodation during the hiring process.