Maintenance Manager/ Lead Horticulturist

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

 Compensation: $32/hr-$38/hr Depending on experience.

Maintenance Manager/ Lead Horticulturist for an urban landscaping company in NYC. 

The position includes managing the maintenance of several high-end NYC gardens over the course of the season, including the management of annual installations and installations of new gardens. The Maintenance Manager will work with designers to coordinate annual displays, procure plants and materials at the nursery, keep detailed records and create accurate daily reports. 

The position averages 4 days per week for the season (March 21st -December 21st) or approx. 35 hours per week for the season. 
April May, June and October are full-time + and November and December average 4 days per week.   March, July, August and September averaging 2-3 days per week.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Work to foster efficient communication with the management and design team to guarantee smooth operational activity.
  • Manage and inspires a varied group of Gardeners by offering direction, coaching, and performance evaluations.
  • Possess a comprehensive awareness of site specifications, operating logistics, and client expectations.
  • Complete gardening tasks to the highest standards and can show that they understand how to showcase annuals and perennials aesthetically.
  • Makes certain that every job site is kept immaculate, with appropriate attention paid to pruning, vine training, fertilization, weeding, trimming, watering, and pest and disease management as required.
  • Ensure that policies, procedures, and processes are accurately documented.
  • Finish the necessary daily operational reports
  • Recognize possible operational hazards and collaborates with management to create measures for mitigating them.
  • Assure adherence to rules and fosters a safety-conscious workplace culture.
  • Assure the best possible use of all available resources, including personnel, equipment, and supplies.
  • Work with groups to keep inventory levels stable and make sure business vehicles and equipment are kept up to date and organized at the end of the day.
  • Conduct job site planning and walkthroughs to make sure the team knows what needs to be done and that all tools and materials are present and accounted for at the start and finish of each job.
  • Help install, remove, demolish, and maintain garden areas in accordance with company and client quality standards.
  • Exhibits familiarity with both annual and perennials.
  • Takes care of and maintains a verity of ornamental and edible plants, such as herbs, vegetables, perennial and tropical plants.
  • Carry out horticultural duties such watering in annuals, mulching, pruning, weeding, deadheading, and planting.
  • Recognize diseases, pests, and environmental factors that impact the health of the plants.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Degree in Horticulture or Landscape Design or 3-4 years of industry experience with a high-end urban clientele.
  • Effective and professional communication with high-end clientele.
  • Plant identification:  Thorough knowledge of common landscape plants and their soil, light exposure and water requirements.  Awareness of pruning times, as well as pruning techniques, ability to plan maintenance visits accordingly to accomplish seasonal pruning and fertilization tasks.
  • Knowledge of planning and delegation: Must be able to plan the tasks to be accomplished during maintenance visits, as well as delegate responsibilities appropriately to junior gardeners.
  • Excellent time management: Must be able to understand, organize and plan what needs to be done within a given time frame.
  • Ability to diagnosis and treat diseases: Including fungal and insect infestations through organic pest management practices.
  • Knowledge of irrigation: Must have good knowledge of irrigation and be able to                                                           adjust different models/brands of irrigation timers for seasonal changes and                                                    work with irrigation companies over the phone to schedule irrigation system maintenance as needed.
  • Must hold a valid driver’s license and be willing to drive a van from our facility in Astoria, Queens to clients in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
  • A good eye for design and layout of annuals including winter decorative displays and the ability to communicate effectively with designers.
  • Willingness to lift up to 40 pounds.
  • Work in all weather conditions.
  • Ability to choose healthy disease-free plant materials from the nurseries.
  • Keep the van, tools, and yard organized.
  • Ability to use Microsoft Word.

Additional Information

 Please contact:  Daniel Montesano at: montesano_daniel@yahoo.com with a cover letter and resume to apply to the position.  

Contact Information

Root and Vine Gardens
Email: montesano_daniel@yahoo.com