About Pease Park Conservancy
Our mission: Pease Park Conservancy (the Conservancy) celebrates the diverse ecology and history that make Austin’s first public park valuable and unique. The Conservancy works to restore, enhance, and maintain this treasured public green space for the sustainable use and enjoyment of all.
Our vision: We want Pease Park to be known as an accessible urban green space for all, where land stewardship, environmental innovation, and inclusive programming embrace the community’s history and inspire its future.
Our culture: We are committed to creating and fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees and volunteers feel valued and respected.
Position Description
The Native Horticulture Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of horticulture care within Pease Park, including Native Woodland, Native Riparian, Rain Garden/Arroyo, Celebratory Planting, Enhanced Woodland, Planters, and greenhouse, as directed by the Park Operations Director. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with team members within Park Operations, as well as across departments to ensure proper care and protective management of Pease Park.
Specific Responsibilities
Proactively maintain and enhance native horticultural and landscape areas through sustainable practices with a focus on invasive species control and biodiversity
Work in a wide range of areas on a regular basis, including but not limited to: Native Woodland, Native Riparian, Rain Garden/Arroyo, Celebratory Planting, Enhanced Woodland, Planters, and greenhouse
Anticipate and schedule seasonal work required to sustain assigned areas
Maintain accurate inventory of tools and supplies, notifying supervisor when repairs are needed
Assist with conservation, facilities maintenance, and programs as needed
Assist in the development and execution of Community Activated Park Projects, Annual Operations and Maintenance Plan, and Phase Plan
Assist the Chief Revenue Officer in the development of grant proposals
Assist the Director of Community Engagement with the development of educational program curriculum
Operate small and large equipment, including utility vehicles, backpack blowers, string trimmers, edgers, and others as needed
Communicate issues regarding infrastructure, furnishings, safety hazards, quality of the park user experience issues as needed
Interact with park users in a courteous and professional manner
Experiencia y habilidades requeridas
Educational experience in Horticulture, Arboriculture, Natural Science, Master Gardener, Master Naturalist programs, or related fields preferred
One or more years of professional experience in horticulture, native plant propagation and establishment, gardening, invasive species management
Experience with gardening techniques and operation of associated equipment
Strong plant identification skills of native and invasive species in the Austin area
Strong communications and time management skills
Skilled at building close and good-natured relationships with people from all walks of life
Experienced at fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging
Able to leverage people’s differences as strengths
Texas Driver’s License required
Abilities Required
Able to perform heavy, physical labor daily in all weather conditions
Able to work independently and as a part of a team
Able to prioritize work functions and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly throughout a workday
Able to operate power equipment throughout a workday
Able to stand, crouch, and climb to use ladders and perform various types of manual labor throughout a workday
Safety Requirements
Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and be in compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards that could cause an injury or accident (e.g. spills, obstacles in walkways). If an employee discovers a potentially dangerous condition, they should alert their supervisor and other employees immediately.
Salary and Benefits
The Native Horticulture Coordinator position is full-time, exempt with compensation of $42,000-$47,000 per year, commensurate with experience. We have a generous benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance, a 403(b) savings plan with employer matching, generous time off, and much more.
How to Apply
Send your resume and a thoughtful cover letter letting us know about who you are and why you are a good fit for the position to bret@peasepark.org. Candidates selected for an interview will be requested to provide references.
Additional Information
The Conservancy has an office located at 1609 Shoal Creek Blvd, Suite 305, just across North Lamar Blvd. from Pease Park. This is a full-time position with a significant in-the-park presence required and non-standard operating hours.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity Statement
Pease Park Conservancy respects, values, and celebrates our community’s diverse life experiences and heritages and resolves to ensure that all voices - including historically underrepresented voices - are valued and heard. We aim to be an inclusive organization with respect to gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexuality and sexual identity, education, and disability.
We are committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for the greenspace nonprofit sector, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
To promote informed, authentic leadership fr cultural equity, Pease Park Conservancy will:
view our mission through the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion to ensure the well-being of our staff and the communities we serve
acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services and report organizational progress
explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusivity
prioritize and support high-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact our organization’s work, and how best to address them in a way that is consistent with our mission
practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions
commit time and resources to expand diversity in leadership within our board, staff, committees, and advisory bodies
lead with respect above all