Garden Workshop Instructor

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: Jan 15  Compensation: $48,000-52,000

Location: The Horticultural Society of New York, GreenHouse Program on Rikers Island Correctional Facility, and various Supportive Housing settings in the city

 The Horticultural Society of New York (the Hort) is seeking a Garden Workshop Instructor for our workshops offered through New York City. The Garden Workshop Instructor will primarily provide programming at Rikers Island working with women and men who are currently incarcerated. Instructors may also work with supportive and affordable housing clients, and senior centers, and run workshops for children and community members from our Education Center. 

The ideal candidate has a background in horticultural therapy or vocational rehabilitation with an emphasis on horticulture. Candidates should be highly collegial, enjoy a mission-driven environment, have the ability to work independently, and thrive in a fast-paced, constantly changing work environment. Excellent knowledge of horticulture, botany, and environmental science is essential to this position. Experience with classroom management, curriculum development lesson planning, and remote teaching is a plus.

Responsibilities/Duties

Program Delivery (70%)

  •  Lead classroom instruction in horticulture, botany and environmental science rooted in the overall program foundation of therapeutic horticulture
  •  Structure and facilitate horticultural therapy sessions and vocational/academic as well as life-skills sessions
  •  Design and maintain therapeutic gardens, greenhouses, and other outdoor locations.
  •  Write curriculum and develop new lesson plans. 

Administrative Tasks (30%)

  • Other tasks as needed by the program and the organization
  •  Weekly and monthly reporting of relevant data for use by The Hort and the Department of Correction (DOC) 
  • Collect and Evaluate student data -Identify workshop and classroom needs, submit order requests to Program Manager, support clearance process and delivery as needed.
  •  Oversee volunteers or interns assigned to the group
  •  Collaborate with other Hort programs, as needed 

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Excellent knowledge of horticulture, botany, and environmental science, hands-on as well as theory 
  • Work experience serving youth at risk, individuals with mental illnesses, individuals with a history of substance use, or individuals who are incarcerated.
  •  Experience with lesson planning, curriculum creation, and strong classroom management skills
  •  Demonstrated administrative skills including data entry and evaluation. 
  • Flexibility with the work schedule and the ability to thrive in changing situations 
  • A non-judgmental attitude towards people from all routes of life

Preferred Qualifications

  • Registered as a horticultural therapist (HTR) or holding a certificate in horticultural-or ecotherapy
  • Work experience as an Environmental Educator
  • Being bilingual is a plus.
  • A “pull up your sleeve”, and “can do” attitude with a sense of humor is desirable.

Additional Information

Benefits The Hort offers full-time employees a generous PTO package, sick leave, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax transit benefits, flexible spending account, Employee Assistance Program, and the opportunity to enroll in our medical plan (of which the Hort pays a portion).

How to Apply To be considered please email a thoughtful cover letter, resume, and two references to info@thehort.org with ‘Garden Workshop Instructor’ in the subject line. No phones call.

The Hort is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. It is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available for these individuals during the hiring process. Please email jobs@thehort.org should you require a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process.

Contact Information

The Horticultural Society of New York
Email: jobs@thehort.org