Assistant Director of Horticulture
Hudson River Park Trust
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Hudson River Park Trust is seeking an Assistant Director of Horticulture to lead zone management, staff development, and project planning across the park's landscapes. The role requires independent leadership, hands-on supervision, and collaboration with the AVP of Horticulture & Maintenance.
You will oversee horticultural operations, data management in CMMS, and coordination with contractors for irrigation, plantings, and seasonal displays, ensuring safety and quality standards park-wide.
Qualifications
- Minimum five years in park management, gardening, landscaping, or groundskeeping.
- Two+ years in a supervisory role with staff training experience.
- Proven irrigation system maintenance and controller programming experience.
Responsibilities
- Lead staff and provide day-to-day direction across park zones.
- Assist AVP with staffing, performance appraisals, and talent acquisition for seasonal and full-time staff.
- Develop zone maps, data collection, and standard operating procedures for maintenance.
- Oversee CMMS data entry, task creation, and trainings for zone leaders.
- Coordinate plant sourcing, installation supervision, and project planning for capital works.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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Hudson River Park is a dynamic, 4-mile-long park along the West Side of Manhattan serving millions of visitors each year and featuring distinctive and varied landscaped public piers, gardens and lawn areas, athletic fields, esplanades, docks, public art and other special features. The Park was created by New York State legislation in 1998 that also created the Hudson River Park Trust (“Trust”) as a public benefit corporation a mission to design, construct, maintain and operate this unique space that also includes a 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary and numerous habitat enhancements.
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The Horticulture Department consists of 11 full-time employees, including a Horticulture Supervisor, one staff person assigned to the volunteer program and one to composting. The park landscapes are divided into 8 zones and managed by the remaining full-time staff in the Department. Additionally, from April 1 thru Dec 1, the Horticulture Department will have 8-10 seasonal employees to assist with overall maintenance of the landscapes.
The Assistant Director will report to the AVP of Horticulture & Maintenance and provide day to day leadership of zone management, horticultural infrastructure and equipment, quality assurance, staff supervision and development, project planning and management. In addition, the Assistant Director from time to time, may be tasked to provide project management support elsewhere within the Operations Unit of the Trust. The successful candidate shall monitor horticultural systems, tasks, and activities throughout the park and help implement horticultural plans established by the AVP. The Assistant Director must be able to work independently, provide assistance and direction to staff, and make timely, sound decisions.
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- Communicate and provide direction to staff on daily assignments. Follow up with staff in field to offer guidance and ensure completion of tasks within a reasonable timeframe.
- Provide hands-on training to staff in horticulture maintenance standards and techniques including the proper and safe use and maintenance of tools and equipment.
- Ensure staff compliance with and adherence to all applicable safety standards commensurate with policy and regulations including OSHA, standard operating procedures, and guidelines.
- Assist the AVP with staff performance appraisals and career development.
- Assist the AVP with talent acquisition process; provide initial screening of labor pool, interview candidates and make recommendations for hiring of seasonal and full-time staff.
- Assist the AVP with the creation of zones, maps and collection of landscape data within each zone that will help to inform distribution of labor, critical areas in need of attention, project planning, etc.
- Assist the AVP with preparation of procedures, standards, and manuals for horticultural maintenance regiments and practices.
- Fill-in on an as needed basis for zone leaders to ensure daily park openings and supervise staff within designated zone.
- Assist staff by supervising daily data entry into CMMS (Cartegraph Asset Management) and creating work tasks; provide review and additional support to zone leaders with CMMS (Cartegraph) by reviewing data accuracy and facilitating trainings.
- Perform inspections of landscape for each zone. Providing a detailed report of the landscape quality.
- Ensure that staff are keeping their zones, workspaces and M&O facilities clean, orderly, and secure.
- Prepare plans for small/medium/large scale renovations of gardens, landscape and turf areas including but not limited to; site analysis, design concept, preparation of plans, specifications, scopes of work, and cost estimates for implementation or inclusion in operating or capital budgets.Identify, procure, and manage design services for larger scale renovations by following the Trust’s procurement guidelines.
- Plan and manage the installation of seasonal displays throughout the park.
- Assist the AVP with plant sourcing, procurement including cost vs. quality analysis, qualification of nurseries, scheduling, and delivery.
- Provide field supervision for all plant material installations and add new horticultural assets and associated data into CMMS (Cartegraph).
- Continuously evaluate systems and landscape features and recommend plans for short- and long-term improvement.
- Review and provide feedback on landscape design plans associated with capital projects.
- Maintain the accuracy of horticultural data in CMMS (Cartegraph).
- Manage and serve as point of contact for contractors, including but not limited to, irrigation, compost consultant, tree care, landscaping services, etc.
- Evaluate design, impact, and installation and maintenance of all temporary and permanent installations within the park; coordinate with HRPT departments and external entities as necessary.
- Oversee commissioning and acceptance of all newly constructed horticulture elements from the Trust’s Design & Construction department, work to resolve any discrepancies that would impact acceptance by the Trust. Oversee receipt of all post construction deliverables, such as attic stock, maintenance instructions, warranty information, etc.
- Liaise with Design & Construction staff and monitor capital projects with horticulture installations, ensure quality and health during the construction process in consultation with the AVP.
- Conduct inspections of trees, plant material, and turf areas consistent with the Trust’s plant healthcare program.Identify pest and/or disease infestations, underperforming species; research potential causes in consultation with the AVP and/or identify and retain specialty consultants to address conditions.
- Implement and monitor parkwide soil testing program. Ensure nutrient, pH, and salt levels are maintained within acceptable range to provide optimal growing conditions and plant health.Interpret and benchmark results, prescribe and direct augmentation of conditions as required in consultation with AVP.
- Oversee the management of the seasonal greenhouse at Pier 40.
- Monitor parkwide irrigation system, maintain schedules of and programs for each controller; develop programs consistent with macro and microclimates, time of year, and current weather patterns.
- Perform regular audits of programs and usage rates against actual flow data to ensure optimal performance and calibration.
- Perform regular zone inspections to maintain system integrity and functionality.
- Direct supplemental watering where and when necessary.
- Research and recommend rainwater collection systems where possible to support watering operations.
- Assist the AVP and working in partnership with staff from the Hudson River Park Friends with the development and implementation of the volunteer program; assist with volunteer recruitment and training, attend and manage volunteer events as required. Identify viable projects and arrange logistics to support volunteer events throughout the park. Logistical support includes assigning and directing staff, preparing, and staging tools, equipment and materials, and cleaning up.
- Lead or support other horticulture specific events including but not limited to garden or compost tours and pumpkin smash.
- Other Supervise and perform snow/ice removal throughout the park and Route 9A bike path.
- Identify grants or revenue generation opportunities to support the care of Hudson River Park.
- Must be able to work, when assigned, on a limited number of events other than horticulture specific that are hosted by Hudson River Park Trust on evenings and weekends. Examples of special events include but are not limited to Pride Sunday, Submerge Science Festival, Blues BBQ, etc.
- Must be willing and able to perform duties of other divisions/positions as directed or required commensurate with need and incumbent’s level of skill and be available for “stand‑by” work on a predetermined basis or emergency response.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture (preferred), Horticulture, Environmental Design, or other related field or equivalent progressive work experience.
- Minimum of five years of professional experience in park management, gardening, landscaping, or groundskeeping.
- Minimum of two years in a supervisory role with demonstrated experience training staff in landscape techniques, equipment operation, and safety protocols
- Proven hands‑on experience with irrigation system maintenance, repairs, and controller programming.
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- Act in a professional manner at all times with other staff, contractors, vendors and park patrons.
- A valid driver’s license with a clean history.
- Direct physical labor (lifting up to 50 pounds, bending, squatting, digging, etc.) is expected and must be willing and able to work in all weather conditions.
- Candidates should have an interest in learning and acquiring new skills.
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- Annual Salary $90,000-$110,000.
- Holiday and weekend work required.
- Health, dental and vision insurance.
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