Landscape & Sustainability Manager

Cb•Boston, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Esplanade Association seeks a seasoned Landscape & Sustainability Manager to lead stewardship, horticultural enhancement, and long-term ecological sustainability across the 64-acre Charles River Esplanade. The manager serves as the organization’s primary resource on park maintenance and improvement projects, monitoring and reporting on the condition of living and built infrastructure and overseeing day-to-day horticultural, maintenance, and volunteer activities. Working with the Esplanade Association’s senior leadership team, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), staff, volunteers, contractors, and partners, the manager guides the strategic direction and implementation of landscape, horticulture, and sustainability programs. The role balances park care and visitor experience with ecological health, operational resilience, climate adaptation, and public engagement. The position is full-time and exempt, with an average 40-hour workweek. The schedule is currently Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with infrequent, predetermined evening or weekend commitments. When the Smith Family Pavilion and Charlesbank Campus opens, the schedule is expected to shift to Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours may vary according to program needs, including additional evening, weekend, or early morning hours around the grand opening. Work takes place indoors and outdoors across seasons and includes physical activity such as bending, reaching, carrying, climbing, and lifting up to 40 pounds. Applicants are subject to a CORI check.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, environmental science, horticulture, sustainability, or a related field.
3 to 5 years of project management experience combining grounds or facilities care with environmental strategy.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong professional relationships.
Strong project management, organizational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Experience developing and managing budgets.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn and adapt to various software.
Demonstrated ability, or clearly demonstrated capacity, to organize, manage, and motivate staff and volunteers effectively.
Ability to work well under pressure and with rapidly changing priorities.
Knowledge of the Charles River Esplanade and passion for parks, historic landmarks, recreation, culture, education, green space, and sustainability.
Ability to safely operate and/or drive a variety of light and heavy equipment, such as a chainsaw, pole saw, string trimmer, basic lawnmower, and hand tools.
Valid Massachusetts driver’s license at the time of appointment and for the duration of employment.
Ability to bend, reach, carry, climb, and lift up to 40 pounds as necessary to perform assigned duties.

Nice To Haves

SITES AP credential.
ISA Certified Arborist credential.
Massachusetts Master Gardener Certificate.
Bilingual or multilingual skills.

Responsibilities

Lead annual and seasonal planning for stewardship, maintenance, and enhancement of the Esplanade’s living and built infrastructure, including the Tree Management and Succession Plan.
Oversee landscape and horticultural operations performed by staff and contractors, including planting design, irrigation, soil health, turf care, invasive-species control, and tree care.
Maintain standards for horticultural excellence, landscape quality, ecological health, operational efficiency, and visitor experience.
Allocate staff, volunteers, equipment, and resources to meet operational goals.
Lead the Esplanade Association’s sustainability strategy in alignment with its 2024 Climate Action Plan, environmental regulations, and industry best practices.
Oversee environmental projects and research, including green infrastructure, stormwater management, riverbank restoration, waste reduction, and energy and water conservation.
Track organization-wide sustainability goals and performance metrics and prepare annual progress and impact reports.
Work with staff, partners, and regional organizations to follow relevant environmental projects and regulations and advance shared environmental objectives and sustainable practices.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate horticulture staff, seasonal employees, interns, and volunteers; review staffing and recommend workflow and responsibility improvements.
Manage contractors and consultants supporting landscape maintenance, tree care, and capital projects.
Promote approachability, kindness, safety, professionalism, cleanliness, organization, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Build and maintain relationships with DCR staff, community partners, donors, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Support environmental education, garden tours, public outreach, and sustainability-focused programming; collaborate with internal teams to incorporate landscape and sustainability initiatives into visitor experiences and public programs.
Support departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and grant applications and reporting.
Maintain presentation-ready inventories, records, GIS/maps, databases, and operational documentation.
Manage equipment, tools, and vehicles and keep service and maintenance up to date.

Benefits

15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 2 personal days per year; vacation increases to 17 days after two years of service.
11 holidays, including specified days off and floating holidays depending on holidays worked.
Health and dental insurance, with the Esplanade Association paying 80% of the monthly premium.
Health savings account with a $2,500 Esplanade Association contribution for employees enrolled in its health plan.
403(b) retirement plan.
Commuter benefits, including pre-tax deductions up to $300 per month.
Paid professional development opportunities.
Competitive salary of $70,000–$80,000 per year.
Training and development.
Employee discounts.
Free uniforms.
Opportunity for advancement.