Lead School Horticulturalist/Gardener

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

 Compensation: $150/day

Beazer’s Garden Workshops (BGW) is a nonprofit eco-education program dedicated to cultivating environmental stewardship through hands-on gardening, composting, and sustainability workshops in schools and communities throughout NYC. We empower students, teachers, and families to grow food, nurture soil, and care for the planet. www.beazersgardenworkshops.com

We are aware of the benefits of reconnecting with nature and the importance of growing nutritious and healthy food, but gardening does much more! Gardens are naturally educational spaces that allow people to engage in a variety of topics related to ecology. Gardens blend concepts of the interdependence of living things, sustainable urban development, and green infrastructure; Gardens can provide opportunities for civic engagement and stewardship through the care of these beautiful and calm spaces within our busy cities.

Why work with us?

  • Part-time, Flexible & Rewarding Work.
  • Training and professional development opportunities.
  • Competitive pay and an inclusive, accommodating work culture.

Responsibilities/Duties

We’re seeking an experienced, reliable, and motivated Horticulturalist/ School Gardeners to maintain and help grow our educational school garden spaces. Should be versed in a variety of gardening techniques, such as in-ground/raised beds/hydroponics/rooftops/tabletop garden systems.

Help us teach communities to know, grow, and eat healthy food, and guide them in their roles as stewards in the urban environment!

Currently placing for a large 4,000 sq ft rooftop garden featuring:

  • 20+ raised vegetable and fruit beds,
  • A rooftop orchard with 14 fruit trees and berry shrubs,
  • Culinary and medicinal herb beds,
  • Pollinator-friendly flower gardens.

You’ll be the lead gardener onsite, responsible for all aspects of garden care, working closely with school staff, parent volunteers, and K–5 students. You will also lead training sessions to build community capacity for garden maintenance.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage and maintain school gardens using organic, sustainable growing practices
  • Plan and implement seasonal garden tasks (planting, harvesting, pruning, composting)
  • Monitor and improve soil health, compost systems, and irrigation
  • Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques for urban agriculture
  • Coordinate and lead volunteer garden days and staff/family trainings
  • Keep detailed weekly garden notes and maintain planting calendars
  • Collaborate with teaching staff and students during garden class sessions
  • Ensure tools, beds, and storage areas are organized and safe
  • Identify needs for supplies or repairs and report them to the program director

Qualifications/Requirements

  • 3+ years of hands-on gardening experience, preferably in NYC or other urban environments
  • Strong knowledge of soil health, composting, drip irrigation, IPM, and organic vegetable/fruit growing
  • Experience working with children and/or in school settings is a plus
  • Excellent time management, task execution, and communication skills
  • Maintain garden records to share with the team.
  • Ability to take initiative and work independently while being a team player
  • Comfortable with physical outdoor work in various weather conditions
  • Availability to work during the school year (Sept–June) and summer break (July–August)
  • Multi-lingual a plus, Spanish and French
  • A driver’s License is a plus
  • NYS Teaching Degree or Certification a plus
  • Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and have fingerprints taken to work with children.
  • General administrative skills, should be comfortable on computers (for meetings/communication), Google Calendar, GrowVeg, Padlet, and Social Media skills are a plus.

Additional Information

Pay rate: $150/day
Job Type: Part/Full-Time, 1099 contract or W2, depending on site contract.
Location: Schools across NYC boroughs.
Schedule: 1-3 days/week (Monday–Friday), school day (8:00 AM–2:00 PM).
Term: February–November

To Apply:
We only consider applications that satisfy a majority of the required qualifications.

  • a resume with relevant experience.
  • a cover letter that addresses your qualifications for the role applying for. If your resume does not show gardening experience, please explain your experience in the cover letter.
  • three (3) work-related references

Experience in a related, transferable skill could be accepted. Must explain if your resume does not show any gardening or garden education experience.

Diversity Statement:

Beazer’s Garden Workshops is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Contact Information

Beazer's Garden Workshops
Email: info@beazersgarden.com
Website: Apply Online