Senior Gardener - Part-Time / Independent Contractor

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: March 2025  Compensation: $50 Per Hour

Matthew Placek Inc. is a boutique Landscape Design-Build-Maintenance group specializing in residential rooftops, terraces, and townhouse gardens throughout New York City. Starting out of a personal love for horticulture, Matthew Placek expanded to serve high-end & notable clients across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens with an intimate team of gardeners and an unwavering eye for detail. Now a group of artists, designers, and horticulturists who create & maintain flourishing gardens with an understanding of native ecology, design, function, and client demands with the intention to provide a unique approach to urban gardening from an artist’s perspective.

We are seeking a Senior Gardener to join our team and work alongside Matthew Placek. Senior Gardeners are responsible for guiding and implementing horticultural maintenance and seasonal tasks in collaboration with their partner or team of gardeners. We seek Senior Gardeners with urban horticulture, landscape design and team management experience.  This work often boils down to glorified outdoor housekeeping. Applicants must be open and have some sense of joy in cleaning as well as caring for plant care. We hire senior gardeners as independent contractors starting at $55/hr or based on experience. Full time salary potential for the future.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • MUST HAVE COMPUTER DESIGN SOFTWARE SKILLS FOR FLOOR PLANS AND RENDERINGS (Sketchup, CAD etc.) 
  • Direct a diverse rotating gardening crew towards the accomplishment of garden service tasks 
  • Assistant Studio Manager in scheduling clients
  • Liaison With Clients and needs
  • Train crew as needed on horticulture skills needed to maintain a garden such as planting, transplanting, pruning, and maintaining healthy trees and shrubs 
  • Utilize knowledge of the cultural and maintenance needs of ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals 
  • Oversee maintenance of garden hardscapes and systems, including irrigation and lighting 
  • Use composition, balance, color, and design in planning and planting installations & seasonal garden transitions
  • Apply knowledge of plant nutrition, IPM, and disease in treating and maintaining the health of plants
  • Maintain the design intent and presentation established for each garden 
  • Comply with office workflow in a timely manner (i.e., timesheets, work orders, etc.) 
  • Pick up supplies as needed, choose plants that suit the client’s needs and the company’s unique aesthetic 
  • Drive supplies to location and load-in with crew support. 
  • Drive to Long Island/NY/NJ Nurseries, select and purchase plants

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Experience with gardening in NYC spaces. 
  • Experience working with high-end/notable clientele 
  • Experience communicating with clients about their gardening desires/needs and effective communication with team members to work collaboratively and efficiently on projects.  
  • Ability to carry a load of 50 lbs. up and down a flight of stairs 
  • Ability to survey a site and choose plants to suit the site and the client’s needs. 
  • Working knowledge of landscape design/rendering software REQUIRED 
  • Valid driver's license REQUIRED 
  • Access to a vehicle is a plus.

Additional Information

Submit a cover letter and resume to Matthew Placek at assistant@matthewplacek.com Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 
Applications received by March 15th 2025 will be prioritized.
 Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.

Contact Information

Matthew Placek Inc.
Contact Name: Matthew P Placek
Email: assistant@matthewplacek.com