Deputy Director of Horticulture
(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities
Start Date: 06/01/23 Compensation: $75,000-$95,000
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBP), a not-for-profit corporation, is responsible for the design, construction and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85 acre, 1.3 mile, world-class park that stretches along the Brooklyn waterfront from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street, north of the Manhattan Bridge. Adding much-needed open space for Brooklyn and New York City residents, Brooklyn Bridge Park contributes to the extraordinary revitalization of the waterfront in the New York Harbor, serving as a bridge from the commercial uses of previous centuries to the recreational uses of the future. Construction of the park is ongoing, and BBPC operates areas of the park as they open to the public, while continuing to construct the remaining portions of the park design. http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/
Summary/Overview
Reporting to the Director of Horticulture, the Deputy Director of Horticulture is responsible for the daily operations and oversight of horticulture field operations. The Deputy Director of Horticulture oversees the horticulture crew, delegates assignments, sets and monitors expectations, and reports potentially unsafe conditions. The ideal candidate will positively, professionally, and constructively improve horticulture operation by encouraging team cohesion and morale; along with reinforcing our policies and procedures. The Deputy Director of Horticulture represents Brooklyn Bridge Park and the horticultural community, by interacting in a professional and positive manner with the crew, the public, and park management. Additionally, the ideal candidate is competent of and aligned with the horticulture departments mission around fostering ecology in urban landscapes
Responsibilities/Duties
Essential Functions:
Horticulture & Team Supervision • Assure that the Horticulture Crew is supervised, when necessary: oversee logistics planning of daily tasks to all gardeners, assess task completion, and provide effective feedback. • Assure that all Hort. employees are trained in, and adhere to BBP practices, philosophy, and priorities. • Ensure that gardeners and new crew members are set for success and that they have the resources, information, tools, and uniforms required to succeed. • Lead and support all in-house training for full-time, seasonal and intern gardening staff. • Manage BBP Hort Internship to support park labor and skill development of interns. • Prioritize horticulture operations, manage crew schedules, and adjust crew activity accordingly. • Alongside Director of Horticulture prioritize and plan cross-departmental operations. • Alongside the Director of Horticulture, participate in departmental succession planning initiatives. • Assure that soil, IPM, drainage, moisture tests are completed when necessary and information is recorded. • Identify and coordinate volunteer operations. • Help facilitate plant selections, placements, bed editing, and planting operations; upon departmental approval. • Collaborate with the Operations Department on projects and problem solving as necessary. • Take on new responsibilities as necessary, and complete horticulture tasks as needed, such as caring for a zone, pruning trees and overseeing pruning of park trees. • Assist with Park Hort. capital construction, contractor management, and plant material procurement. • Alongside the Dir. Of Hort., develop Park practices, philosophies, and priorities for the Hort Crew. • Research and develop internal and external opportunities to improve team moral and cohesion.
Resource Management & Record Keeping
• Oversee best practices in planting, watering and weeding. • Assure consistent and effect use of digital assets management systems. • Improve institutional knowledge and practices of ecological horticultural landscape management • Research issues related to IPM, soil performance, and invasive plants as necessary; and support the • development of applicable resolutions. • Develop resources for the crew, such as libraries, training, and digital resources such as databases, • website lists, guidebooks, and plant collections for ID. • Monitor and procure supplies for hort equipment inventory as needed. • Create documents and records for planning, productivity tracking and future use.
Performance Management
• In collaboration with the Director of Horticulture, participate in disciplinary action reviews when necessary. • Provide updates on project status and completion to the team. Year-round collection of staff performance notes to assure accuracy of annual staff appraisals. • Alongside Director of Horticulture provide effective feedback and growth points of team members to maintain consistent growth of individual and in-house departmental skillsets.
Role Competencies
• Supervising Others • Conflict Resolution • Manage Performance • Communication Skills • Team Building • Delegation • Problem Solving • Motivating
Qualifications/Requirements
- BS degree and/or certifications in Biology or Horticulture Studies preferred
- 3-4 years managing a team in a park setting preferred
- Thorough knowledge of BBP practices, philosophy, and priorities
- Working knowledge of commonly used computer programs (Microsoft Office, Cartegraph)
- Thorough knowledge of the irrigation system
- Maintain a professional demeanor in high pressure dynamics
- Hardworking, energetic, self-motivated and detail-orienteD
- Strong communication skills and leadership ability
- Ability to work overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed
Additional Information
This is a full-time, exempt role. Staff members holding this position should be available for shifts from Monday – Sunday, between the hours of 7:00am – 3:30PM and during other periods as assigned. Please email resumes to jobs@bbp.nyc. Please include your email address in your cover letter and state “Deputy Director of Horticulture” in the subject line. Salary range $75k-$95k.
NYC residency required. Employees are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the first day of employment apart from a medical or religious accommodation request.
Brooklyn Bridge Park provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Contact Information
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp