Horticulture Supervisor

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: $75,000/year  Compensation: $80,000 per year

Little Island seeks a Horticulture Supervisor to join the Park Operations team where they will support the Director of Horticulture in implementation of the Landscape Management and Succession Program. Spanning 2.4 acres, the landscape includes 350 varieties of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, perennials, 66,000 bulbs, and 14,000 sq. ft. of lawn. The Supervisor will lead, hire, train, and develop a team of year-round and seasonal Gardeners in executing daily landscape maintenance and large-scale horticulture projects. The Supervisor ensures the daily horticulture workflow is well integrated into the Operations Department and is accountable for team performance, workforce planning, and maintaining high standards of horticulture practice. This role is a field-based position reporting to the Director of Horticulture.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned Horticulturist with a passion for urban perennial maintenance and public horticulture. They possess excellent plant and pest identification skills, are fluent in botanical Latin, and have a keen eye for detail and planting composition. The candidate should have a proven ability to build, manage, and develop high-performing teams in a dynamic, public-facing environment. 

About the Role

  • Salary Range: $75,000-$80,000
  • Job Type: Year-Round
  • Employment Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
  • Schedule Expectations: The schedule will be 5 days per week Monday-Friday, with flexibility to work weekends and holidays as needed. 
  • Work Environment: On-site, field-based position
  • Start Date: May 1, 2026

Responsibilities/Duties

Team Development and Collaboration

  • Hire, train, supervise and develop, in partnership with the Director of Horticulture, a team of three year-round and seasonal Gardeners, including leading recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes.
  • Supervise the horticulture team in the field, providing guidance and feedback on essential tasks, ensuring proper horticultural maintenance techniques and best practices are followed.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to develop seasonal work schedules, prioritizing plant health and landscape aesthetics.
  • Maintain daily communication with the Director of Horticulture regarding plant health, irrigation issues, and overall landscape conditions.
  • Facilitate team meetings to ensure daily priorities are identified and met, essential information is communicated, and End of Day logs are completed.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture and the Horticulture and Facilities Associate on the horticulture department’s inventory system, including the acquisition, maintenance, and organization of tools, equipment, and supplies.
  • Supervise and document services and contracted work performed by external horticulture vendors, including coordination schedules and ensuring quality standards are met.
  • Work with the Director of Horticulture and the Horticulture and Facilities Associate to produce monthly landscape guides.
  • Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and organization in the Horticulture back of house workspace. 
  • Ensure adherence to Little Island safety protocols through leading the monthly departmental safety training.
  • Support Horticulture team and Operations staff in addressing landscape emergencies and damage.

General Horticulture

  • Perform all aspects of daily gardening including planting, transplanting, dividing, deadheading, cutback, clean-up, hand watering, editing, weeding, pruning, mulching.
  • Plan and execute timely, large horticulture projects including but not limited to Spring Cutback and Fall Planting alongside the Director of Horticulture.
  • Ensure cleanliness of the landscape through daily morning walkthroughs to clear damage, debris, and litter, and assign follow-up tasks to maintain standards throughout the day.
  • Troubleshoot and repair irrigation systems, including drip lines, sprinklers, and manifold components; participate in system start-up and winterization.
  • Serve as an ambassador for Little Island, answering public inquiries about the landscape and park history.
  • Perform other tasks related to the park and its operations, as assigned by the Head of Horticulture, demonstrating flexibility and leadership in a dynamic environment.

Data Collection and Record Keeping

  • Assist the Director of Horticulture in refining Little Island’s Landscape Management and Succession Program through detailed record-keeping and priority setting, and ensuring team participation in accurate data collection.
  • Lead a weekly landscape evaluation program to identify distressed species and map any conditions requiring remediation.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to identify and manage pest and disease issues using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.
  • Facilitate and maintain the collection of specific landscape data including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) observations, Vendor Onsite Reports, Lawn Maintenance records, and the creation of Landscape Maps.
  • Research and source new Horticulture products, tools, and best practices as directed. 

Qualifications/Requirements

What You Bring

  • 4 years of hands-on, field-based horticultural experience in a supervisory capacity, including experience hiring, training, supervising, and developing staff; prior public park management experience is preferred.
  • A strong desire to teach, train, and develop staff, with the ability to coach performance, provide constructive feedback, and foster a positive, accountable team culture.
  • Expertise in urban horticultural practices; related advanced degree or certification a plus (including ISA Certified Arborist).
  • Energetic, hardworking, and detail-oriented with a commitment to safety.
  • Strong ability to communicate effectively with staff, stakeholders, and the public, conveying the park’s mission and goals, and leading with clarity and consistency in a fast-paced, field-based environment
  • Demonstrated ability to manage seasonal and year-round teams, including scheduling, delegation, and performance management.
  • Ability to transport, move, and use park equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. and safely handle gardening tools and materials.
  • OSHA 10 or 30 certification or willingness to complete a plus.
  • Valid NYS Driver's License preferred.
  • Availability to work early morning hours and on weekends as necessary. 
  • Ability to squat, lift, stretch, bend, and stand for extended periods of time.
  • Comfort working in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, including light rain, summer heat, and intermittent direct sunlight.
  • Eligibility to work in the U.S.

Additional Information

For application, full job description, and benefits details please visit our careers page: https://littleisland.org/careers/

Contact Information

Little Island
Email: jobs@littleisland.org
Website: Apply Online