Job Detail

Parks Care Specialist

Location: Boston, MA
Salary:

The Friends of the Public Garden (Friends) is one of the oldest parks advocacy groups in the nation, with a mission to renew, care, and advocate for the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. These parks have been an integral part of Boston’s identity for generations, and are called upon to serve the recreational and restorative needs of millions of people. The Friends partners with the Boston Parks & Recreation Department to meet its strategic goal of excellence by conducting major capital improvement projects and providing best practices for ongoing care of soils, trees, turf, the public art collection of sculpture & fountains, and other important park elements. Building upon this goal of excellence, we are looking to hire a Parks Care Specialist.

The Parks Care Specialist (Specialist) reports to the Director of Parks Care & Capital Projects (Director) and assists the Director as needed in all aspects of the Soils, Tree, Turf & Shrub and Sculpture Conservation programs of the Friends. 

The Specialist’s specific duties include the following:

1. Horticulture Program

• Manage the contracted turf care and irrigation programs
• Assist the Director as needed with the tree and shrub program

2. GIS Database Program

• Manage and update the data (database) including monthly maintenance records
• Manage the tree label program and integrate data into the tree database

• Integrate the tree and bench sponsorship data and into database
• Expand the database to include other information, including sculpture, benches, turf areas, infrastructure
• Create and update data-based maps as needed – for office display, communication needs, and for on-site use

3. Development Support

• Work with the Director of Development in carrying out the tree and bench sponsorship program.

4. Communications & Outreach Support

• Assist the Director of Communications & Outreach in providing content for all communications of the Friends, including the website, newsletters and annual reports.
• Support advocacy needs with data and mapping
• Manage the use of Friends signage by contractors and maintain the signage.

5. Parks Care Volunteer Program

• Manage the parks care volunteer groups (Rose and Border Brigades), including scheduling, contractor support, equipment, and materials as needed

6. Archive Program

• Manage, maintain and improve the Friends archival records relating to parks care, capital projects, and historical information.
• Create, maintain, and expand parks care and parks management reports and publications for use by staff and volunteers.

Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, or a closely related field and a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant work experience are required
• Strong technical knowledge of landscape design principles, plant identification, plant selection, and turf & irrigation management
• Proficiency with GIS, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite applications, and Adobe Creative Suite applications
• Excellent administrative, written, and oral communications skills
• Ability to be flexible, maintain a positive attitude, and to work harmoniously in a fast-paced, customer-service oriented, small office environment

The successful candidate will:

• Be highly organized, collaborative, self-starter with a strong work ethic
• Have an interest in the history, mission and programs of the Friends and a commitment to beautifully maintained and cared for parks

To apply:

Send cover letter and resume to opportunities@friendsofthepublicgarden.org.

No phone calls please. Resumes received without cover letters will not be considered.

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