Landscape & Sustainability Manager

Job Title: Landscape & Sustainability Manager

Department: Park Projects & Stewardship

Reports to: Director of Park Projects & Stewardship

Position Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary: $70,000 - $80,000

The Esplanade Association is seeking a seasoned Landscape & Sustainability Manager to lead park stewardship, horticultural enhancement, and the long-term ecological sustainability of the Charles River Esplanade. This dynamic management role will be the organization’s eyes and ears throughout the 64-acre Esplanade, tracking and reporting on the condition of living and built infrastructure in the park, and overseeing the day-to-day horticultural, maintenance, and volunteer activities that keep the park thriving, beautiful, well-maintained and environmentally resilient.

Working collaboratively with the Esplanade Association’s senior leadership team, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), staff, volunteers, and partners, this position will guide the strategic vision and implementation of the organization’s landscape, horticulture and sustainability programs. Through thoughtful management, innovation, and effective communication, the Landscape & Sustainability Manager will help ensure that every decision supports the health of the park, enriches the visitor experience, and advances the Esplanade Association’s mission of stewardship and public enjoyment for generations to come.

Represent the Esplanade Association as the primary resource, both internally and externally, on maintenance and improvement projects on the Charles River Esplanade through innovative living and built infrastructure management, horticultural excellence, environmental initiatives, and community engagement efforts, promoting ecological health, operational resilience, and an exceptional park experience for all.

Strong candidates will:

• Balance care of the park’s living infrastructure, including trees, lawns, fields, ornamental gardens, and riverbank areas, and its built infrastructure, including benches, seasonal fountains, playgrounds, and bike racks, with a keen eye toward how these features and amenities are affected by regular visitor use, special events, and a changing climate.
• Apply sustainable land management practices by championing native/near-native and beneficial plantings, water conservation, soil health, and environmentally responsible maintenance techniques.
• Identify and implement landscape improvements that enhance visitor experience while supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship goals.
• Build strong partnerships with staff, contractors, and stakeholders to successfully plan, maintain, and improve high-quality public landscapes and green infrastructure assets.

The Landscape & Sustainability Manager is successful when:

• The park’s 1900 trees, 3.3 miles of riverbank, 260+ benches, 13 ornamental gardens, 3 playgrounds, seasonal fountains, and recreational lawns and fields receive planned and ad hoc care in line with DCR and industry standards, on time and on budget.
• The Park Care team is well managed with clear responsibilities, balanced workloads, and opportunities for professional growth within the organization.
• EA’s climate action goals are tracked and reported out on a regular basis, and new goals are added in alignment with new research and industry best practices, staff input/ability, and funding availability.

• Lead the planning of annual and seasonal stewardship, maintenance, and enhancement of the Esplanade’s living and built infrastructure, including the Tree Management and Succession Plan [link]
• Oversee the execution of all landscape and horticultural…