Position: Director of Horticulture
Company: New York Green Roofs
Location: New York, NY, USA

New York Green Roofs is a design/build and bid/build urban landscape firm specializing in green roofs and other green infrastructure and urban landscape projects. We work in the commercial, high-end residential and institutional markets, creating and maintaining some of the world’s most iconic rooftop landscapes. We are looking for an experienced horticulturist to oversee the best maintenance practices of plantings of our growing portfolio, advise on plant palette design for new and existing projects and train and develop our horticulture team (both on new plantings and ongoing maintenance). This is a hybrid field and office position with opportunities for remote work as practical.

In this role you will do the following:

Site Evaluations and Strategic Site Management

• Work directly in the field to establish and implement high aesthetic and horticulture best practice standards of garden implementation and maintenance
• Audit all sites seasonally for horticultural needs and opportunities
• Serve as in-house IPM expert
• Develop planting and site records for each site’s maintenance plan
• Review and advise on irrigation schedules including monitoring of wi-fi controlled systems
• With the field teams, identify garden needs and communicate opportunities for upsell to Maintenance Division Manager

Training and Team Development

• Develop the horticultural acumen of the installation and maintenance teams and oversee quality control
• Train applicator apprentices
• Participate in recruiting and onboarding of new team members
• With the Construction and Maintenance Division Managers, oversee the organization, care, and repair of tools and materials needed to perform daily operations

Design & Project Management

• Represent horticulture in interdepartmental projects by collaborating with Designers, Project Managers and Maintenance Division Manager to develop appropriate plans and provide horticultural perspective
• Assist in plant sourcing and procurement
• Assist and / or lead plant layout in the field
• Participate in field work and provide on-site follow up / feedback to ensure sites are appropriately installed and managed

You Must Meet These Qualifications:

• 5 years minimum experience in urban horticulture
• Effective time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and prioritize work to meet deadlines
• Ability to effectively communicate with team, management and clients
• Friendly and comfortable creating and maintaining relationships with clients, vendors, and crew members of all ages and from all backgrounds (this includes face to face interaction, phone calls, emails, text messages, etc.)
• Read and interpret planting plans
• Proficient with Office and Adobe Suite
• Valid NYS Applicator License (minimum 3 years’ experience)
• Self-motivated, responsible, disciplined, and persistent
• Able to work independently and on a team
• Experience leading teams in the field through direct field work (must own work boots and clothes that can get dirty when working with the field teams)
• Degree in horticulture or a related field (or commensurate experience)
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a commercial vehicle in and around NYC
• Experience working with nurseries (ordering and sourcing plants)
• Green roof experience is preferred
• NYC experience preferred

Salary $65,000 – $80,000 and PTO (commensurate with experience), 8 paid holidays, health benefits and a retirement plan with 3% employer match provided.

This position is open immediately. Less than 1% of NYC buildings have green roofs. The need for them is real. This is a great opportunity to join an organization of creative, solutions-based team players in a progressive and safe work environment as we keep pace with growing demand.

Send cover letter and resume to amy@newyorkgreenroofs.com