Reports to: Garden Section Manager
Employment Status: Full-time (Non-Exempt)
 

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year to experience the beauty of our formal gardens, art collections, and the legacy of our founder, Marjorie Merriweather Post. Our gardens are a central part of that experience, and we are seeking a Gardener to help maintain the vibrant landscapes that make Hillwood such a special place for visitors.

About the Role:
As a Gardener, you will help maintain the beauty, health, and presentation of Hillwood’s historic gardens and grounds. Working as part of the Horticulture team, you will perform a variety of seasonal garden and landscape maintenance tasks that ensure the estate remains a welcoming and inspiring environment for visitors year-round.

Your work will include planting trees, shrubs, annuals, and bulbs; pruning and caring for plants; maintaining lawns and garden beds; and supporting general grounds maintenance such as mulching, watering, leaf removal, and debris cleanup. You will also assist with operating garden equipment and responding to seasonal needs such as snow removal or storm cleanup.

This role plays an important part in preserving Hillwood’s horticultural excellence while contributing to the daily visitor experience across the estate.

About Us:
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment where all voices are heard. We inspire both staff and visitors through the legacy of our founder, Marjorie Merriweather Post, and her dedication to art, culture, and beauty. As a private cultural institution, Hillwood offers stable, year-round employment independent of government funding cycles, providing exceptional visitor experiences regardless of external circumstances.

We Offer:

• Mental wellness support
• Free admission to the museum and festival days
• Casual Monday
• A collaborative and welcoming team environment
• Discounts on museum shop merchandise and café items
• Free on-site parking

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform routine gardens and grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, blowing walkways, mulching, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, watering, and leaf removal
• Plant and maintain trees, shrubs, annuals, and bulbs throughout the gardens
• Operate power equipment such as lawn mowers, blowers, string trimmers, and other landscape tools safely and effectively
• Assist with hauling compost, operating small tractors, and transporting garden materials
• Support snow and ice removal efforts using blowers, shovels, and plow equipment
• Respond to priority situations during storms or other emergencies to help clear debris and maintain safe grounds conditions

Work Schedule:

This position generally comprises ten 8-hour days within a two-week pay period. The Gardener position is designated as essential staff and may be required to report to work or remain on post during extreme weather events or emergency situations, including storm preparation, debris removal, and snow clearing.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience performing lawn, garden, and grounds maintenance tasks
• Knowledge of operating landscape equipment and garden tools safely
• Ability to perform physical outdoor work in varying weather conditions
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to follow safety procedures and work collaboratively with staff across departments

Work Environment:

This position involves significant physical activity and outdoor work. Employees frequently stand, walk, climb, kneel, crouch, and lift materials as part of routine gardening tasks. Work may involve operating machinery, working near mechanical equipment, and exposure to outdoor weather conditions throughout the year.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Notice:

The preceding description indicates the general nature and responsibilities of this position and may not include every duty required. Responsibilities may evolve based on operational needs.

This is a seasonal position with the potential to become a permanent role.

Hillwood is seeking applicants from all backgrounds and educational levels to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color and people with marginalized identities to apply for open positions. We strive to make the hiring process as accessible as possible. Please do not hesitate to share what will make the process best for you. We cannot guarantee all accommodation; our team will make accommodations where possible with sufficient notice. When sending your resume via the ADP Careers portal, please let us know of any accommodation you may find helpful while engaging in our process. 

To apply for this position, visit HERE