Job Description

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, .

Posting Information: 

Salary: $22/hour 

Housing: Optional onsite housing is availble for this position at a reduced rent. Additional onsite responsibilites may be required.

Hours per week: 40

Job Classification: Full-time, nonexempt

Job Type : Onsite, travel required between properties 

Location: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover, and The Crane Estate, Ipswich, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact :

As a Horticulture Assistant, you’ll have the unique opportunity to contribute to two historic public gardens on the North Shore, each with their own distinct character. While at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, you may find yourself harvesting heirloom vegetables from the walled potager garden or weeding beautiful new entry gardens. At The Crane Estate, you may be training clematis along the walled Formal Garden or working with perennials in the garden border. With a striking variety of gardens to look after, every day will bring something exciting and different! You will contribute to the Trustees’ mission by painstakingly caring for these historic and beloved public gardens and inspiring their next generation of admirers. 

Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens is a historic 91-acre property with gardens including a potager garden, formal cutting garden, Italianate rose garden, perennial garden, orchard, meadows and the newly created Entry Garden composed of a mix of introduced and native pollinator friendly plantings, the greenhouse complex, and nursery.

The Crane Estate is a 2,000-acre Country Place Era estate with a historic mansion and complimentary gardens built between 1909 and 1928. Cultivated gardens surround the mansion, garden beds surround an inn located on the property and, in addition, there is a greenhouse, a cutting garden and a holding area. 

The Role :

As Horticulture Assistant, you will conduct horticultural tasks in garden areas on the properties, greenhouse complex, and landscapes. You’ll work side by side with the site Horticulturist for these spaces, as well as with volunteers and other property staff. This position is a full-time role suited to a skilled professional gardener with an energetic, positive personality and strong work ethic. You will share your time between Stevens-Coolidge in North Andover and The Crane Estate in Ipswich and will report to each on-site Horticulturist. You will bring your professional fine-gardening skill and experience, passion for plants, attention to detail, and a positive, collaborative nature. You will work independently and as part of a team. 

Specifically, you’ll:

• Employ your hands-on horticultural skills and technical expertise toward the care and maintenance of plantings in the gardens. Tasks include planting, pruning, weeding, dividing, deadheading, staking, tying and training, mulching, raking, and edging. 

• Assist the Horticulturist with plant labeling and documentation

• Assist with all aspects of greenhouse care, including potting up, pinching, pest management, and watering 

• Assist with supplemental watering in the gardens 

• Ensure that all equipment is in good working order through preventative maintenance 

• Support volunteer sessions and positively motivate volunteers 

• Engage with the public in an open and positive manner 

• Other duties as assigned, with or without accommodation

If living in Trustees housing:

• Be the first point of contact for any alarms at the Steven's Coolidge
• Provide general security - patrolling the house and gardens once a week
• Watering property plants with guidance from the Horticulturists during off-hours
• Monitoring property greenhouses and responding to sensors during off-hours

This is a full-time, nonexempt position [40 hours per week] reporting directly to the Horticulturalists. 

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• Required:
• Two or more years of formal education in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture or a closely related field of study 
• One to three years of hands-on experience as a professional fine gardener.
• Proficient using hand tools for horticultural tasks such as pruners, soil knives, edgers, loppers, shovels, rakes etc. 
• Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in the care and maintenance of annuals and perennials 
• Experienced in the pruning of shrubs and small trees 
• Competent in identifying ornamental plants, weeds and invasive plants 
• Familiar with pests and diseases of ornamental landscape plants 
• Able to use power equipment for garden care such as mowers, blowers, and string trimmers 
• Strong communication skills 
• Willing and able to work in variable outdoor weather conditions 
• Ability to lift 40 pounds required 

• Preferred:
• Experience supervising staff, interns, and/or volunteers preferred 
• Pesticide Applicator’s License preferred 
• Experience in the public garden field preferred. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.

• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy.
• This role will driving vehicles over 10k pounds.

• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Have questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org !

Benefits

Your Benefits:

• Housing is available at a reduced rent for this role.

• Sick time: 15 days per year

• Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated)

• 12 observed holidays, 3 floating

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits. 

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave

• Life Insurance 

• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice. 

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions. 

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns. 

• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property

• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property 

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here:  Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity .

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org .

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