Garden Assistant (Part-Time/Seasonal)

Job Description

The Horticulture Department seeks individuals with an interest in public horticulture to assist with gardening work during the 2026 growing season. Duties and responsibilities include assisting horticulture staff in the planting, cultivating, and care of trees, shrubs, flowers and other flora as well as leading a group of 5-6 student youth in these same tasks for 6 weeks in July and August.

About Us

Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) is a private non-profit cultural institution located on 39 acres of New York City public land in Flushing, New York. In FY25, the Garden served approximately 259,000 visitors, including 21,560 schoolchildren. A recently completed visitor survey reveals that 45% of visitors speak a language other than English at home. This fact underscores the importance of the mission and the challenges and opportunities QBG faces daily in creating programs, exhibits and landscapes that serve the needs of people who live in and visit one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the nation. The Garden has committed itself to addressing the complex and ever-changing needs of its diverse community and to being the place where people, plants, and cultures meet.

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities
Preparing soil, planting, weeding and mulching
Fertilizing and watering
Pruning and grooming trees, shrubs and plants
Mowing Lawns
Operating and caring for hand and power gardening tools and equipment
Sharpening and general upkeep of grounds tools
Availability to supervise teens as part of the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in July and August
Under the supervision of QBG horticulture staff, Garden Assistants will be expected to work with volunteers who may come to us as individuals or as part of a group

Education and Experience

Qualifications
One year of experience and/or training in gardening work, including planting, cultivating, and caring for trees, plants, shrubs and lawns
A high school diploma or GED
A Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the state of New York
Comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds safely
Ability to perform diverse, sometimes repetitive, tasks that can be physically demanding including kneeling, bending, stooping, and reaching
Willingness to learn about use of tools and equipment
Good interpersonal skills
Bilingual language skills, English and a second language, a plus
Experience working with youth and leading groups a plus

Additional Information

Schedule: This is a part-time seasonal position. Positions are available for up to 28 hours per week, Tuesday through Friday, April 1 through November 20, and may include some weekend work.
Salary: $20/hour

Application Instructions

For consideration, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents via our Career Center: https://queensbotanical.org/employment/#garden-assistant

If you encounter difficulties with uploading documents to the portal, please send via email to Human Resources at hr@queensbotanical.org.