Gardener/ Manager

Philadelphia PA

Description

Hiring Garden Crew Manager for 2022 Season Kylin Arts (kylinarts.com) is a high end gardening company that designs, installs, and maintains residential properties in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. We work in neighborhoods ranging from West Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Cheltenham, Bala Cynwyd, Ardmore and Narberth. Our crew travels to several properties each day to tend to ornamental perennial beds, shrubs and small trees. Whether we are working in a mature ornamental garden, or a newly planted pollinator garden, we ensure that each property is treated with the same level of care and attention to detail. Through our work we aim to design and maintain outdoor spaces that engage the human soul, provide habitat and food for animals, and nurture the soil and plants. We take a people, planet and pet friendly approach to horticulture, that keeps native and edible plants in the mix and invasive plants and chemicals out. Kylin Arts is a playful, engaging place to work. We are a small, hardworking team that love being outside. We are seeking folks to join our crew who are curious, adaptive, diligent, open minded and enthusiastic about plants. We are seeking to hire a Manager of our gardener crew with a minimum 3+ years of field experience or a combination of equivalent education and field experience to independently manage one of two crews of gardeners and to grow with our company. This position offers a skilled, motivated gardener the opportunity to directly work in a variety of perennial gardens and fosters creative autonomy. The managerial position requires thoughtful communication, attention to detail, and creative problem solving. Strong plant identification skills, native plant knowledge and understanding of local ecology is encouraged. This position is offered full time beginning late February through mid-December. We are seeking applicants who are interested in committing to continuing with the crew for several years. Qualifications Available full time beginning late February through mid-December. We are seeking applicants who are interested in committing to continuing with the crew for several years. 3+ years of professional gardening experience (or a combination of managerial, professional gardening and equivalent schooling). A strong foundation of plant knowledge: identification of common weeds, annuals, and perennials; as well as the environmental conditions that each plant best thrives Must have a clean driving record, a valid license and facility driving pick up trucks Ability to do physical activity on a daily basis (ie: shoveling rocks; moving large quantities of mulch; consistently lifting 40 lbs, occasionally lifting 75 lbs; kneeling/ bending for long periods of time) Preparedness to work outdoors in all types of weather Punctuality and reliability Strong time management skills and ability to multitask: Including turning in paperwork on time (job logs, receipt filing and time sheets) Exceptional communication skills Scheduling flexibility is a must. The average work day is an 8 hr day, however some days may run longer or shorter. Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative Problem solving skills and ability to improvise Positive attitude and eagerness to learn Ability to work quickly and efficiently, with high attention to detail Managerial experience preferred (not gardening specific) Smartphone necessary for recordkeeping and tracking materials/labor for invoicing Knowledge of IPM and irrigation systems is a plus Responsibilities Oversee a crew of 2-4 people during weeding, managing invasive plants, pruning, addressing plant health, mulching, fertilizing, raking, aesthetic maintenance and more Delegate tasks as needed to maintain workflow and ensure high quality results Drive company vehicle from base to properties with tools 5 days per week, tracking mileage and ensuring vehicles are stocked and organized Communicate with clients and keep accurate notes of property maintenance. Communicate with the owner, office manager and field managers about changes, needs, and new ideas. Review daily clients and relevant documentation; load all necessary tools Track hours/consumables/materials used at a property and submit weekly paperwork Train team members on plant identification, garden techniques, body mechanics, and workplace safety Assist in installations; planting/transplanting ornamental annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees; condition and prepare soil for planting Prune and maintain plants according to season, plant health and client needs Application of fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides (all organic) onto plants Install, repair, and maintain walls, walks, fences, and garden beds (hardscaping) Clean and maintain tools and equipment Attend managerial meetings Paperwork: Fill out joblogs, time logs, file receipts and other appropriate paperwork daily. Other duties as necessary. You will love this job if you: Take your work personally and aim to produce exceptional work Work incredibly hard and want to work with others who know how to dig deep Are playful, positive and deeply caring, and seek a team that reflects these same values Have an unquenchable thirst for plant nerdiness, and actively seek out ways to further your knowledge Appreciate a work environment that is challenging and artistically creative Enjoy working outside and getting down and dirty with plants and bugs Have an interest in native plants and the local ecology that they help to support Additional information Hours are subject to season, weather and client demands but are generally Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm Managers are responsible for meeting at 4826 Osage Ave at 7am each morning, packing the company vehicle with daily tools, and driving the company vehicle to client properties by 8am. Hourly rate is $21-23/hour, depending on experience This position will start late February 2022 and the season continues until mid December though we are looking for applicants who are committed to continuing on for several years. Please send your resume along with an explanation of why you think you would be a good fit for our team. Kylin Arts LLC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse and multicultural team. As a company we believe that businesses have a responsibility to center, create space for, and uplift marginalized communities in society, including BIPOC, people from working class backgrounds, women, formerly incarcerated people and LGBTQIA people.