Stewardship Assistant

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: 3/15/26  Compensation: $24-$29/hour

The Ecology Center seeks a Stewardship Assistant who is deeply motivated to inspire environmental stewardship and volunteerism within people of all ages and skills. The Stewardship Assistant will be responsible for organizing and carrying out stewardship activities such as: gardening, ecological maintenance of horticultural spaces in public parks, tool inventory and volunteer event preparations. This person will also assist in facilitating the Horticulture Training Program, which introduces youth to sustainable horticultural practices. Availability on weekends during the growing season is a must. The Stewardship Assistant will report to the Stewardship Manager.

Responsibilities/Duties

Landscape Management

  • Support the Stewardship manager in creating and executing maintenance plans for green spaces in East River Park/Pier 42, Tompkins Square Park, and the COVID MEMORIAL GARDEN, ensuring sustainable and eco-friendly practices
  • Document and measure the volume of yard waste generated in Pier 42 and East River Park
  • Perform basic garden maintenance; weeding, watering, pruning , plant installation, and spreading compost/ mulch throughout green spaces.
  • Collaborate with the Stewardship Manager to perform inventory and maintenance of tools and tool storage areas.

Volunteer Engagement

  • Assist in facilitating corporate volunteer groups of various sizes in hands-on park care activities, ensuring safety and an engaging experience
  • Prep for Corporate Volunteer events; gather materials and tools necessary to ensure successful stewardship events
  • Recruit, train and coordinate community volunteers for stewardship of public spaces, with the goal to foster  long-term relationships with such volunteers to build a strong community support network 
  • Capture photographs of volunteer events and groups in action

Community Outreach and Collaboration

  • Develop and foster relationships with community partners and serve as a representative of the Ecology Center in the local neighborhood and within the broader NYC environmental stewardship community
  • Promote the organization’s mission through local outreach initiatives
  • Support special events, such as the Fall Social, collaborative workshops, and outreach events

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Strong experience in urban horticulture and sustainable landscaping practices, at least 2 years of hands-on experience; public green space experience preferred
  • Strong familiarity with urban horticulture and knowledge of NYC native plants and common weeds
  • Effectively collaborates with others within a team while also being capable of taking initiative and completing tasks on their own when needed
  • Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as squatting, kneeling, and standing for extended periods, comfortably handling items weighing up to 50 lbs, and work outdoors in various weather conditions
  • Flexibility to work on weekends and evenings (2-3 weekend days/month)
  • Comfortable using bike, citibike or public transportation to travel from site to site.
  • Comfortable with Mac OS, Microsoft Office, and Google Drive apps
  • Willingness to learn how to operate a cargo bike on NYC streets (training will be provided)

Additional Information

Those interested in applying should fill out google form; no cover letters please

Contact Information

Lower East Side Ecology Center
Email: info@lesecologycenter.org
Website: Apply Online