Job Title: Seasonal Gardener and Community Education Facilitator
Job Type: Part-time (Seasonal)
Start and end dates: Mid-March to Early November
About Solar One
Solar One, a nonprofit leader in New York City, is seeking a part-time gardener and community education facilitator for the 2026 growing season at Stuyvesant Cove Park. “Stuy Cove” is a predominantly native food forest built atop a capped brownfield in Lower Manhattan and is one of only two green spaces in NYC that actively encourage public foraging. Our 2-acre waterfront site is a living laboratory for urban ecological regeneration, and since 2004, Solar One’s park staff have educated urbanites about the complex interdependencies of plants, wildlife, and people through children’s programs, park tours, school field trips, volunteer days, community workshops, and more.
Job Summary
The Seasonal Gardener will work approximately 20 hours per week from mid March through early November 2026. The Seasonal Gardener will work with the Horticulture Manager to plan and execute general gardening tasks while instructing and supervising rotating teams of park interns and volunteer groups. The Seasonal Gardener will help the Horticulture Manager organize and prepare for our 2026 workshops, field trips, wild-food events, and community-based educational projects.
Job Requirements:
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1-2 years of experience or training in horticulture, agriculture, permaculture, or landscape.
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A flexible schedule, with availability in the evenings and weekend hours.
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A passion for the work of climate, food, and social justice.
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Interests in outdoor education, wildcrafting, youth development, socially engaged art, landscape design, and/or horticultural therapy.
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Strong communication skills and a resilient mindset.
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Must be comfortable working outdoors in the sun, extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow
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Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
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Experience working with soil, plant matter, and some household chemicals in an environment that includes rodents, wild birds, dogs, and insects is preferred but not required.
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Exposure to hazardous materials. Personal protective equipment will be provided.
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Must be authorized to work in the United States
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Upon hire, candidates must complete paperwork authorizing that a background check can be conducted (this is handled by a third-party company)
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Must be able to maintain safe boundaries and professional relations with a diverse parkgoer community.
Pay and Benefits
Solar One is an equal opportunity employer. Solar One strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of renewable energy and resilience and people in a rapidly changing world. Solar One recruits and employs through a lens of equity and encourages people of all races, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law to apply.
