Garden Manager

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

 Compensation: $33/hour

Brooklyn Grange is seeking a focused, positive, hard-working leader to help expand our Maintenance Program for off-site, client based green roofs and urban landscapes.  The Design/Build/Maintenance division is charged with the care of varied sites that include residential terraces, indoor green walls, commercial green roofs, rooftop meadows, and edible landscapes.

The Garden Manager is an aesthetically driven, focused team member who can maintain Brooklyn Grange’s standards for landscaped spaces.  Responsibilities include oversight and management of client sites, including: execution of gardening tasks, ensuring quality gardening practices on-site, team management, client correspondence, and recordkeeping.  Garden Managers will also be responsible for leading, training, supporting, and providing clear feedback to Gardeners or other crew members, helping to cultivate a cohesive, strong, and effective team. The Garden Manager should also be proficient with power tools and have a strong understanding of irrigation management and installation as they will lead small scale installations and redesigns of clients’ spaces.

Garden Managers should be comfortable working independently and must be prompt and clear when communicating with the Director of Design/Build, Head of Horticulture and Maintenance, other Garden Managers, Gardeners and other team members.   This position requires strong leadership and systems acumen, adept people skills, versatile plant knowledge, and frequent physical labor in varied weather conditions.  The Garden Manager will also model and help ensure a culture of kindness, respect, support, and inclusivity for our team, as well as for the clients and community with whom we engage. 

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Oversee and execute all aspects of plant maintenance, quality control, and successful upkeep of Brooklyn Grange’s client green spaces, using organic maintenance and gardening methods to ensure a high degree of beauty and plant health.  
  • Plan, lead, and execute small-scale installations or garden renovation projects, including but not limited to irrigation installations, container garden installations, garden redesigns, and small to mid-size plant outs.
  • Develop and foster client relationships, timely and professionally correspond with clients, and manage client expectations while speaking to Brooklyn Grange’s standards for quality and respect.
  • Manage, support, and help train Gardeners: cultivate onsite skills and horticultural growth; establish consistent standards and expectations re: quality; provide and receive feedback.
  • Undertake regular check-ins with Gardeners at least twice during the season
  • Cultivate strong and positive communications with the team.
  • Coordinate with the Head of Horticulture and Maintenance and other Garden Managers on plant selection, plant orders, van use, and other logistical matters.
  • Contribute to Maintenance team meetings.
  • Collaborate with the Head of Horticulture and Maintenance on development of trainings for team throughout the season.
  • Assist with other tasks and administrative work within the Design/Build department, as-needed, including but not limited to Brooklyn Grange facilities gardens, as well as  installations support, and other work as-needed.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Has 3+ years of experience in landscape maintenance, including leading teams on site
  • Holds a strong knowledge of Eastern plants of zones 4 through 7b including: plant ID’s, growth habits, bloom times, training requirements, and preferred soil types and hydration requirements.
  • Can implement and train others on best gardening practices for ornamental, edible, and native landscapes.
  • Has a strong proficiency in power tools, irrigation systems management and installation, and a strong understanding of pest/plant disease identification and management
  • Is highly organized and systems-oriented, with an eye for efficiency.  Enjoys improving upon systems, protocols, practices.  Can multitask and prioritize workload.
  • Is self-motivated and independent, has a strong work ethic, and can learn quickly.
  • Is also collaborative, thrives as part of a team, and can motivate and support team members.  
  • Is a clear communicator, both in writing and in conversation.
  • Can navigate Google Drive, MS Excel, record and enter data into spreadsheets, etc.
  • Can lift 50 lbs. repeatedly, and can squat, kneel, bend over, & reach for extended periods of time.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
  • Demonstrates a passion for sustainability, a concern for equity, and is motivated to create more beautiful green spaces that center greater respect for people and planet.

Contact Information

Brooklyn Grange
Website: Apply Online