Director of Gardens
Core
Designing, curating, and overseeing perennial and seasonal plantings in Central Park's Conservatory and Shakespeare Gardens.
Role type
Director of Gardens (Senior Management)
Builds
Seasonal floral displays and maintained garden collections for public visitors
Domain
Public Parks / Ornamental Horticulture
Deliverable
product features
Required skills
Plant selection and procurement, Planting design and mapping, Pest and weed management, Irrigation system operation, Staff supervision and performance management, Volunteer mobilization and training, Budget management, Capital project coordination
Preferred skills
Knowledge of historic garden design, Sustainability framework application
Technologies
Outdoor mechanical equipment, Automatic irrigation systems
Responsibilities
Develop and execute complex seasonal planting plans for annuals, perennials, and woody plants; Supervise Assistant Curators and Gardeners to maintain over 450 plant species; Manage departmental budget, inventories, and administrative reporting; Coordinate with events, park maintenance, and community relations teams; Lead volunteer programs for large-scale planting efforts.
Seniority
Director, strategic leadership & operational management