Seasonal Horticulture Intern

Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre urban oasis, is located in the heart of Manhattan’s Flatiron District at East 23rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. Madison Square Park Conservancy raises the funds that support a program of commissioned contemporary public art, lush horticulture, Park maintenance, Park security and other free cultural programs.

Our curated, public green space connects our city neighborhood to nature. Madison Square Park is proud to be a world class garden that houses a vibrant horticultural program. Our dedicated gardeners curate seasonal exhibitions, take meticulous care of our trees and lawns, and keep our collections of plants and flowers thriving year-round. The seasonal Horticulture Intern will report to the Horticulture Manager and assist the horticulture team, working closely with one another to carry out all tasks necessary to preserve and improve the park gardens. This part-time position will allow prospective horticulture or park professionals to become familiar with public horticulture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Horticulture:
- Perform horticultural maintenance including, but not limited to mulching, woody and herbaceous pruning, weed identification and removal, and application of fertilizer, soil amendments, or other supplements to world class standards.
- Plant and remove annual displays in annual beds, and replace or add other perennial material as needed.
- Address the watering needs of all areas including annual beds, perennials, lawns, perimeter trees, and Worth Square.
- Aerate, edge, rake, seed, and observe lawn areas.
Operations:
- Remove litter and natural debris from garden beds, lawns, and containers.
- Operation of, or a desire to learn how to operate, a variety of power tools, hand tools, and landscape machinery including lawn mowers, string trimmers, blowers, edgers, mulchers, etc.
Administration:
- Act as an ambassador to park patrons and be a park steward.
- Work both independently and alongside Park staff, Park volunteers, and Contractors.
- Respond to emails, radio inquiries, and requests in a timely and appropriate fashion.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must have a high school diploma/GED, and at least 200 hours of relevant experience in gardening work. Applicants should be enthusiastic about nature and sustainability efforts. This position is best suited for someone intending to apply to, already enrolled in, or recently graduated from a professional certificate or degree-granting program in horticulture, agriculture, forestry, botany, or landscape maintenance.

Excellent written and oral skills
Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
Detail-oriented and organized
Ability to lift at least 40 pounds and work in a variety of weather conditions. This opportunity does require lifting, bending and some tasks that may be considered physically strenuous.
Ability to work effectively on multiple projects and to meet deadlines
Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and new projects

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND SCHEDULE

Compensation is $16.00/hr.
30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard included./ 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard reimbursement provided.
Projected Duration: June 1, 2022 – September 1, 2022

The Horticulture Intern will work two days per week from 7:00 AM to 3:30 AM, with the flexibility to work evenings and weekends depending on the needs of the Conservancy. The applicant must be able to commit to the entire season.

TO APPLY

To apply, please email the following as one attachment in one document to jobs@madisonsquarepark.org with the subject line “Seasonal Horticulture Internship:”

Cover letter
Resume
Description of relevant experience

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will be held on Zoom and in person. We encourage applications from people with BIPOC identities. Applications will be accepted until April 18, 2022.

Please be aware that Madison Square Park Conservancy has required COVID-19 vaccination for all employees. The organization will consider accommodations for a disability and religious-based reasons.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The Conservancy prohibits discrimination against applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record or any other characteristic protected by law.