Garden Manager

Brooklyn Grange is seeking a focused, positive, hard-working leader to help expand our Maintenance Program for client based gardens and landscapes. The Design/Build/Maintenance division is charged with the care of varied sites that include terraces, indoor tropicals and green walls, green roofs, rooftop meadows, backyards, streetscaping, and edible landscapes.

The Garden Manager is an aesthetically driven, focused team member who can maintain Brooklyn Grange’s standards for landscaped spaces. Responsibilities include oversight and management of client sites, including: execution of gardening tasks, ensuring quality gardening practices on-site, team management, customer service, and recordkeeping.

This position requires strong leadership and systems acumen, adept people skills, versatile plant knowledge, and frequent physical labor in varied weather conditions. The Garden Manager will also model and help ensure a culture of kindness, respect, support, and inclusivity for our team, as well as for the clients and community with whom we engage.

• Oversee and execute all aspects of plant maintenance, quality control, and successful upkeep of Brooklyn Grange’s client green spaces
• Perform all aspects of plant maintenance, including but not limited to planting, pruning, deadheading, weeding, mulching, irrigating, pest and disease treatment, mowing, holiday decor, and cleaning/sweeping.
• Develop and foster client relationships, timely and professionally communicate with clients, and manage client expectations
• Manage, support, and help train Assistant Garden Managers and Gardeners: cultivate onsite skills and horticultural growth; establish consistent standards and expectations re: quality; provide and receive feedback.
• Assist on re-design of client gardens as-needed.
• Coordinate with the Head of Horticulture and Maintenance and other Garden Managers on plant selection, plant orders, van use, and other logistical matters.
• Log daily tasks and garden observations in company’s online record system
• Contribute to the upkeep of Brooklyn Grange’s facility spaces, including our tool storage, plant nursery, and vehicles

• Has 4+ years of experience in landscape maintenance, including leading teams on site
• Holds a strong knowledge of Eastern plants of zones 4 through 7b including: plant ’s, growth habits, bloom times, training requirements, and preferred soil types and hydration requirements.
• Can train others on best gardening practices
• Has a strong understanding of pest/plant disease identification and management
• Is highly organized and systems-oriented, with an eye for efficiency.
• Can multitask and prioritize workload.
• Is self-motivated and independent, has a strong work ethic, and can learn quickly.
• Is also collaborative, thrives as part of a team, and can motivate and support team members.
• Is a clear communicator
• Can lift 50 lbs. repeatedly, and can squat, kneel, bend over, & reach for extended periods of time.
• Is comfortable working on rooftops, near ledges, and at other heights, while wearing appropriate safety gear
• Preferred but not required experience with power tools and irrigation systems management
• Has a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and is comfortable driving in New York City