Deputy Director of the Greenbelt Native Plant Center

Deputy Director of the Greenbelt Native Plant Center

NYC Parks cares for 14% of the land in New York City.  The mission of the Division of Forestry, Horticulture and Natural Resources (FHNR) is to protect, restore, expand and manage New York City’s natural spaces and green infrastructure to maximize their benefits and promote their value within and outside of the urban ecosystem.  The Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC) is the Division’s native plant nursery and regional seed bank.  Programs provide live plants, develop bulk seed and bank genetically appropriate seed to meet city and agency needs.

NYC Parks offers competitive pay & a generous benefits package that includes pension, excellent health coverage, paid vacation/sick days and a healthy work-life balance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.  www.nyc.gov/parks.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under direction of the GNPC Director, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative, coordinate closely with the Nursery Manager to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the 12-acre site and its 5 programmatic areas.
• Oversee the operation of the GNPC office, including supervision of office staff and issues relating to personnel, timekeeping, purchasing and receiving.
• Oversee bookkeeping and reporting related to nursery plant and seed production contracts; maintain nursery budgets. Working with the Nursery Manager, plan annual budgets and purchases and initiate new spending requests.
• Prepare and oversee external contracts to increase foundation seed to grow native plants as consolidated orders.
• Interface with FHNR staff on reports, work plans, goals, accomplishments and other necessary documentation to coordinate and integrate GNPC operations into FHNR.
• Attend various meetings, public forums and conferences; report to Director and coordinate responses and follow-up.
• Working with the Nursery Manager, facilitate outreach and interface with the Staten Island Borough Office and with Citywide Technical Services to make emergency and on-going repairs and improvements. Interface with FHNR and Parks on staffing needs, new needs requests and capital new needs related to physical plant. Develop scopes of work for future capital requests.
• Assist on the science-related mission of GNPC; review literature, grant opportunities, assist with writing, attend meetings and participate in field visits.
• Field new requests for collaboration, services, etc. Coordinate GNPC volunteer, intern and educational requests and opportunities; work with Director to expand these programmatic areas.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with major study in horticulture, arboriculture or landscape architecture and four years of full-time, paid experience in horticultural work of which two (2) years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial or executive capacity; or
2. A satisfactory equivalent.  However, all candidates must have at least a high school diploma or evidence of having passed an examination for a high school equivalency diploma and one year of supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial or executive experience as described above.

Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service.  New York City residency required for all other candidates.

PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

1. A master’s degree from an accredited university with specialization in environmental sciences, horticulture or a related subject.
2. Strong knowledge of agency structure and divisions and/or government operations.
3. Excellent writing, supervisory, administrative and interpersonal skills.
4. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Access.
5. Valid New York State driver license.

Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 plus excellent benefits

Apply by: 09/21/18

For external applicants, please apply through www.nyc.gov/careers

1. Go to www.nyc.gov/careers/search
2. Search for Job ID#: 361650

For details about NYC Parks: www.nyc.gov/parks

References will be required upon request.