Assistant Floral Designer

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: 5/26/2022  Compensation: $25/hour+

Molly Oliver Flowers is a small, woman-owned/operated sustainable floral design company, based in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Founded by farmer-florist Molly Culver in 2011, our goal is to connect clients with high quality seasonal flowers, to support local flower farmers, and to reduce waste as much as possible in the process of producing floral designs for occasions large and small. We love to support the renaissance of local flower farming, bringing joy to New Yorkers, and growing community through flowers! In 2020, we launched a seasonal weekly subscription service called the Seasonal Flower Project. Through this project, 15% of profits are donated to BIPOC-identified farmers and BIPOC-led land reparations initiatives, as we value increasing diversity in farming and land ownership.

As a Molly Oliver Flowers Studio Assistant, you will help receive, process, design, pack and deliver flowers during the 2022 events season. Additional tasks may include but are not limited to washing buckets, organizing inventory, cleaning candle holders, chopping compost, studio cleaning, representing MOF at industry events, and assisting occasionally with flower shopping. MOF hopes to see this position grow into a full-time position in late 2022 or 2023, helping to manage and produce sustainable design for events (private weekly clients, workshops, seasonal decorations, and more).

Timeline/Compensation:

  • This position will average 16-20 hours/week, 10-20+ weeks/year.
  • Hours generally as follows, any 2-3 of the following days, April - December
  • Thursdays: 9am-5pm (includes paid lunch break)
  • Friday: 9am-5pm (includes paid lunch break)*
  • Saturday: 9am-5pm (includes paid lunch break)*
  • Sunday: 9am-5pm (includes paid lunch break)*
  • *An 8-hr. day is budgeted for. Occasionally start/stop times will vary; you will be notified 1 week in advance of dates booked of finalized schedule.
  • This position is paid hourly, at $25+/hour, and is hired as a part/time employee (workers’ comp and disability covered)
  • Employee must track their time on joinhomebase.com
  • Payroll is run every 2 weeks; to be paid via direct deposit through Gusto payroll system.
  • Reimbursement for cabs home if needed at studio prior to 7AM or later than 8:30pm
  • This position receives complimentary flowers as often as we’re able to give them!

Working at Molly Oliver Flowers, you will get an exclusive look into the workings of small sustainability-focused floral design business. You will have the opportunity to learn about local/seasonal flowers and farms, local distribution models, sustainable floral design, flower handling and post-harvest care, and much more. Molly Oliver Flowers is an equal-opportunity employer.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Be responsive to emails regarding upcoming events (“Run of Show sent Friday or Monday prior)
  • Thoroughly review contracts for booked events: for design / mood / aesthetic notes before coming in to the studio
  • Carefully receive/quality check, and process flowers on design/prep days
  • Help wash and fill a variety of floral buckets
  • Help clean and fill vessels for booked events
  • Prepare vessels and candles for events: cleaning with hot water / brushes / cloths
  • Follow MOF standards for quality and design, taking direction from Molly and Paige
  • Help to safely and carefully load, transport and deliver tender/fragile goods (the flowers:) to event locations, being mindful of building freight etiquette and safety
  • Occasionally help drive to event locations, if you have a valid license and good experience with NYC driving
  • Represent Molly Oliver Flowers values and work ethic at all events: our ethos is highly communicative, punctual, down-to-earth/friendly, organized, tidy, waste-conscious
  • Assist with at least 2 breakdowns a year, to gain a sense of that process and support MOF in this way
  • Help maintain sanitization and highest Covid-safety standards while working with MOF in the studio and on location
  • Report back to founder any important observations or communications with venues/planners/clients etc. locations post-event (send a brief post-event report via email)
  • Help maintain and clean and orderly studio throughout the week and uphold MOF protocol for sink usage, hall cleanliness, and freight use
  • Meet with Molly every 4 months for a check-in on how the position is going / mutual feedback
  • Communicate clearly with the founder at all times, voicing issues or insights that come up
  • Fill out time sheets promptly on Homebase (responsible for logging in and out every day)

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Demonstrated 2+ years’ experience in a related creative field (art / photography / design / ceramics / floristry / prop styling / etc.)
  • 6 months+ experience working with cut flowers, on a farm or in a florist shop
  • 1-2 years’ experience with customer service or equivalent role / be a people-person
  • Ability to routinely lift and carry 40lbs
  • Comfortable working on your feet for long stretches at a time
  • Willing to deal with the good/bad/ugly: from flower processing to bucket washing to responding to unhappy customers
  • Comfortable communicating with Molly throughout work week via email/text/phone
  • Equally happy working independently and with a team
  • Direct communicator, i.e.: you communicate promptly when you’re having trouble, or notice issues coming up in the studio, with deliveries or at host sites
  • Ability to adapt to changes in this small, ever-evolving small business
  • Professional demeanor, strong work ethic, proactive problem solver
  • Excited to help grow Molly Oliver Flowers’ event business in 2022, mainly by improving quality, consistency, and maintaining positive relationships with all vendor partners, building tenants, and clients

    • This job is for you if you…:
  • Are excited to improve your skills in flower handling, arranging, and to learn more about the inner workings of a sustainability-focused floral studio in NYC
  • Love working with your hands and on your feet
  • Are a team-player
  • Are indefinitely optimistic
  • Like building relationships and a rapport with customers/regulars
  • Are an excellent communicator

Additional Information

To Apply: Please send application to molly@mollyoliverflowers.com with subject line ASSISTANT DESIGNER JOB APPLICANT [ENTER NAME]. Your application must include:

  • Your resume
  • A brief (2 para. max) cover letter explaining why you’re interested and your relevant experience
  • 5-10 photos of your own floral design work, or relevant creative work
  • List of Thursdays Fridays / Saturdays / Sundays you are available April – Dec ‘22

Due: Rolling basis

Contact Information

Molly Oliver Flowers
Contact Name: Molly Culver
Email: molly@mollyoliverflowers.com
Phone: 6466236137