The Horticultural Society of New York
Workforce Development Associate
The Horticultural Society of New York, New York, New York, us, 10261
Workforce Development Associate
The Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort) seeks a proactive, empathetic, and relationship-driven Workforce Development Associate to support trainees in our growing workforce development programs. As a key member of both the Human Resources and Workforce Development teams, the associate plays a dual role—supporting participants in building professional and personal skills while connecting them with employment opportunities in horticulture, urban greening, and environmental stewardship.
Responsibilities
Drive successful job placements by cultivating relationships with local horticulture employers, parks departments, and sustainability partners.
Secure employment, internship, and mentorship opportunities aligned with trainees’ goals.
Partner with urban greening initiatives and sustainable landscaping businesses to identify placements.
Promote program services and highlight trainee achievements to partners and in professional networking settings.
Maintain updated records on referrals, placements, and trainee progress.
Represent The Hort at workforce development coalition meetings.
Plan and execute outreach efforts, including tabling at community events.
Build trusting relationships with trainees to support confidence and skills.
Participate in bi‑weekly trainings to align strategies with green industry standards.
Provide cover letter, resume, interview skills, and goal‑setting support to exiting trainees.
Develop and lead workshops and networking events designed to prepare trainees for the local nature‑based green industry.
Collaborate with program facilitators to ensure training content aligns with employer expectations.
Maintain and track program metrics and trainee records, and prepare accurate reports for stakeholders.
Analyze program data to identify trends and support continuous improvement.
Visit worksites to check in on crews, drop off materials, and provide additional support.
Support the development of a post‑training alumni network.
Coordinate and develop a referral process for trainees who complete the training program.
Provide incremental retention follow‑up up to two years for all participants who completed training.
Identify and recommend professional development opportunities for alumni.
Partner with the HR team to facilitate orientations, trainings, re‑orientations, and exit interviews for trainees.
Support full‑cycle recruitment efforts, including outreach, application review, candidate screening, interview, offers, and onboarding.
Represent HORTNYC at partner organization presentations, career fairs, and community events.
Support performance‑related conversations.
Develop The Hort’s newsletter and circulate HR roundups, events, and brainstorm other ways to work across internal units.
Required Qualifications
Ability to work a Saturday through Wednesday schedule.
2+ years professional work experience.
1+ year experience as a Career Coach, Employment Counselor, or in career development.
Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional networks that lead to job placements or industry partnerships.
Experience working with individuals who have faced barriers to employment, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and accessibility.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate across departments to drive project or task success.
Ability to handle sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality.
Strong commitment to accessibility and equity, particularly for underserved and under‑resourced populations.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Highly organized and able to work independently while managing multiple projects at once.
Comfort traveling throughout NYC via public transportation.
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite or similar platform.
Preferred Qualifications
Bilingual English/Spanish.
Background in workforce development, non‑profit or nature‑based green careers.
A degree in social work or related fields, such as psychology, vocational rehabilitation, or occupational rehabilitation from an accredited institution or 2‑4 years of related experience.
Physical Requirements
Comfort working on a computer for prolonged periods of time.
Comfort traveling across NYC using public transportation.
Other Information Salary Range:
$58,000 to $62,000
Schedule:
Saturday through Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.‑5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified.
Employment Classification:
Full‑Time Regular
Positions Available:
1
Reports to:
Senior Director of People & Culture
Benefits The Hort offers all full‑time regular employees a generous paid time off package, term life insurance, and employee assistance program. Pre‑tax benefits include transit, flexible spending account, medical, dental, and vision insurance. A 401(k) retirement plan is available after one year of service.
How To Apply To be considered, submit your application, resume, and a detailed cover letter sharing your interests. Only complete applications will be reviewed. No phone calls.
Equal Opportunity Employer The Hort is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. It is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available for these individuals during the hiring process. Please email jobs@thehort.org should you require reasonable accommodation during the hiring process.
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Responsibilities
Drive successful job placements by cultivating relationships with local horticulture employers, parks departments, and sustainability partners.
Secure employment, internship, and mentorship opportunities aligned with trainees’ goals.
Partner with urban greening initiatives and sustainable landscaping businesses to identify placements.
Promote program services and highlight trainee achievements to partners and in professional networking settings.
Maintain updated records on referrals, placements, and trainee progress.
Represent The Hort at workforce development coalition meetings.
Plan and execute outreach efforts, including tabling at community events.
Build trusting relationships with trainees to support confidence and skills.
Participate in bi‑weekly trainings to align strategies with green industry standards.
Provide cover letter, resume, interview skills, and goal‑setting support to exiting trainees.
Develop and lead workshops and networking events designed to prepare trainees for the local nature‑based green industry.
Collaborate with program facilitators to ensure training content aligns with employer expectations.
Maintain and track program metrics and trainee records, and prepare accurate reports for stakeholders.
Analyze program data to identify trends and support continuous improvement.
Visit worksites to check in on crews, drop off materials, and provide additional support.
Support the development of a post‑training alumni network.
Coordinate and develop a referral process for trainees who complete the training program.
Provide incremental retention follow‑up up to two years for all participants who completed training.
Identify and recommend professional development opportunities for alumni.
Partner with the HR team to facilitate orientations, trainings, re‑orientations, and exit interviews for trainees.
Support full‑cycle recruitment efforts, including outreach, application review, candidate screening, interview, offers, and onboarding.
Represent HORTNYC at partner organization presentations, career fairs, and community events.
Support performance‑related conversations.
Develop The Hort’s newsletter and circulate HR roundups, events, and brainstorm other ways to work across internal units.
Required Qualifications
Ability to work a Saturday through Wednesday schedule.
2+ years professional work experience.
1+ year experience as a Career Coach, Employment Counselor, or in career development.
Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional networks that lead to job placements or industry partnerships.
Experience working with individuals who have faced barriers to employment, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and accessibility.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate across departments to drive project or task success.
Ability to handle sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality.
Strong commitment to accessibility and equity, particularly for underserved and under‑resourced populations.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Highly organized and able to work independently while managing multiple projects at once.
Comfort traveling throughout NYC via public transportation.
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite or similar platform.
Preferred Qualifications
Bilingual English/Spanish.
Background in workforce development, non‑profit or nature‑based green careers.
A degree in social work or related fields, such as psychology, vocational rehabilitation, or occupational rehabilitation from an accredited institution or 2‑4 years of related experience.
Physical Requirements
Comfort working on a computer for prolonged periods of time.
Comfort traveling across NYC using public transportation.
Other Information Salary Range:
$58,000 to $62,000
Schedule:
Saturday through Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.‑5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified.
Employment Classification:
Full‑Time Regular
Positions Available:
1
Reports to:
Senior Director of People & Culture
Benefits The Hort offers all full‑time regular employees a generous paid time off package, term life insurance, and employee assistance program. Pre‑tax benefits include transit, flexible spending account, medical, dental, and vision insurance. A 401(k) retirement plan is available after one year of service.
How To Apply To be considered, submit your application, resume, and a detailed cover letter sharing your interests. Only complete applications will be reviewed. No phone calls.
Equal Opportunity Employer The Hort is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. It is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available for these individuals during the hiring process. Please email jobs@thehort.org should you require reasonable accommodation during the hiring process.
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