Garden Manager

Cause Capacity • San Francisco, CA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

California Wild Natives is hiring an experienced, hands-on Garden Manager to lead garden care in the field across client gardens in San Francisco and the Peninsula, with occasional visits to North Bay and East Bay gardens. The role is on-site, full-time, Monday through Friday during daytime hours, with no weekends or holidays. The Garden Manager reports to the Garden & Operations Manager and leads Fine Gardeners in the field, serving as the on-site supervisor when the manager is absent. The work combines advanced horticulture with crew leadership, training, and operational communication. The position pays $35–$40 per hour depending on experience, plus paid travel time between job sites, mileage reimbursement, a travel stipend, and bridge tolls. A 401(k) plan is expected to launch in January 2027, and paid sick leave is offered. After a successful 90-day introductory period, the employee may be considered for a salaried position.

California Wild Natives is a small, women-led Bay Area fine gardening, garden design, and garden management company. It uses sustainable practices, with a focus on California native plants, healthy soil, biodiversity, and minimizing ecological impact. The Garden Manager will care for residential gardens as long-term partnerships with clients and support the company’s ecological and quality standards.

The Garden Manager oversees assigned gardens, sets daily work priorities, resolves horticultural issues, conducts quality checks, and recommends improvements. The role includes detailed pruning, irrigation programming and repair, soil and plant-health assessment, planting projects, renovations, and seasonal improvements. The manager leads and mentors Fine Gardeners, provides hands-on training, supports onboarding, and fosters a collaborative and accountable team. Operational duties include tracking work in Asana and Google Drive, communicating updates and recommendations, maintaining tools and equipment, identifying material needs, and supporting seasonal planning.

The successful candidate can independently run gardens, teach and develop other gardeners, maintain high quality standards, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions. They are organized, self-directed, collaborative, and interested in building a long-term horticulture career rooted in sustainability and native ecology. The role requires a reliable personal vehicle because job sites are not easily reached by public transit, as well as the ability to work outdoors in all weather and perform physical tasks including lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of professional gardening, fine gardening, or landscape maintenance experience; home gardening does not count.
• Experience leading, supervising, or training other gardeners in the field.
• Formal horticultural training, such as an associate or bachelor’s program, a certificate, or continuing education coursework.
• Intermediate-to-advanced pruning skills and strong plant identification skills.
• Working knowledge of hand tools and power equipment.
• Irrigation experience, including programming timers and making field repairs.
• Understanding of soil health, plant pests and diseases, and treatment options.
• Strong attention to detail, communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver’s license and a reliable personal vehicle.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, work outdoors in all weather, and frequently bend, kneel, lift, and reach.
• Ability to work full-time, Monday through Friday during daytime hours; no weekends or holidays are required.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of California native plants and ecological gardening practices.
• Experience caring for high-end residential gardens.
• Irrigation certification or advanced irrigation experience.
• Bilingual ability, especially in Spanish.
• Experience with Asana and Google Drive.
• Residence in San Francisco or on the Peninsula.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the care and maintenance of assigned client gardens and ensure they meet Wild Natives’ quality standards.
• Set daily priorities and organize garden tasks, balancing efficiency with quality.
• Identify and resolve horticultural issues involving plant health, irrigation, soil, pests, and disease.
• Conduct regular garden quality checks and recommend improvements to management.
• Lead and mentor Fine Gardeners in the field, serving as the on-site lead when the Garden & Operations Manager is absent.
• Provide hands-on training in pruning, planting, irrigation, plant identification, tool use, and safety.
• Support onboarding of new team members and provide feedback on their development.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
• Perform and oversee detailed pruning of trees, shrubs, perennials, and native plant communities.
• Program and adjust irrigation timers, and troubleshoot and repair irrigation systems in the field.
• Assess and improve soil health; diagnose plant-health concerns and treatment options.
• Lead planting projects, garden renovations, and seasonal improvements.
• Track tasks and projects in Asana and Google Drive, and communicate updates to managers promptly.
• Share garden observations and recommendations professionally, including with clients as needed.
• Maintain and organize tools, materials, vehicles, and equipment, and flag site material needs.
• Help with seasonal planning and workload management.
• Learn the company’s gardens, client priorities, quality standards, task-tracking tools, and communication routines during the first 90 days.
• Build working relationships with the Garden & Operations Manager and Fine Gardening team, and independently manage assigned gardens.

Benefits

• Paid travel time between job sites.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Travel stipend.
• Bridge tolls.
• 401(k) plan launching January 2027.
• Paid sick leave.
• Potential consideration for a salaried position after a successful 90-day introductory period.
• Opportunity for growth in a supportive, collaborative team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree