The Horticultural Society of New York · 1 day ago
Workforce Development Associate
New York, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Entry Level
$58K/yr - $62K/yr
2+ years expThe Horticultural Society of New York is seeking a proactive and empathetic Workforce Development Associate to support trainees in their workforce development programs. This role involves building professional skills, connecting trainees with employment opportunities in horticulture, and facilitating workshops to prepare them for careers in the green industry.
Environmental EngineeringHorticultureNon Profit
Responsibilities
Drive successful job placements for trainees by cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with local horticulture employers, parks departments, community-based organizations, and sustainability partners
Actively seek out and secure employment, internship, and mentorship opportunities aligned with trainees’ goals and current green industry needs
Partner with local horticulture organizations, urban greening initiatives, parks departments, park conservancies, Business Improvement Districts, and sustainable landscaping businesses to identify job placements and internship opportunities
Promote program services and highlight trainee achievements to partners and in professional networking settings. Maintain updated records on referrals, placements, and trainee progress, ensuring these are communicated back to stakeholders
Connect trainees to relevant partnership resources, including job placement, internship opportunities, and skills training, based on each trainee's career aspirations
Represent The Hort at workforce development coalition meetings with peers and trainings to stay informed of trends, new practices, and best approaches to career coaching
Plan and execute outreach efforts, including tabling at community events and partner organizations, presenting HORTNYC program information
Build trusting and supportive relationships with trainees to support confidence and skills
Actively participate in bi-weekly horticulture and core-skills related trainings to align workforce development strategies with green industry standards
Provide insight and feedback on participant progress, contributing to continuous program improvement and team-wide coaching strategies
Offer cover letter, resume, interview skills, and goal-setting support to all exiting trainees
Develop and lead workshops and networking events designed to prepare trainees for the professional demands of the local nature-based green industry
Collaborate with program facilitators to ensure training content aligns with employer expectations and industry trends
Maintain and track program metrics and trainee records—including hours spent on tasks, skill acquisition, and job placement outcomes—and prepare accurate reports for internal stakeholders and external partners as needed
Analyze program data to identify trends, inform decision-making, and support continuous improvement initiatives
Visit worksites to check in on crews, drop off materials, and provide additional support
Support the development of post-training or alumni network that keeps former trainees informed of the opportunities and developments in the green careers industry
Coordinate and develop a referral process for trainees who complete the training program
Provide incremental retention follow-up up to two years on all participants who completed training
Maintain ongoing relationships with community organizations regarding referrals
Identify and recommend professional development opportunities for alumni to promote long-term career retention and growth
Partner with the HR team to facilitate orientations, organization-wide trainings, re-orientations, and exit interviews for trainees
Collaborate with HR Coordinators to recruit qualified candidates for HORTNYC programs, ensuring alignment with program goals and participant eligibility criteria
Support full-cycle recruitment efforts, including outreach, application review, candidate screening, interview, offers, and on-boarding
Represent HORTNYC at partner organization presentations, career fairs, and community events; facilitate interactive program trainings and informational sessions, present program details, distribute materials, and answer questions to increase awareness and support recruitment
Support performance-related conversations
With the HR team, develop The Hort’s newsletter, circulate HR roundups, events, and brainstorm other ways to work across internal units
Appropriately redirect questions as needed
Qualification
Required
Ability to work a Saturday through Wednesday schedule
2+ years professional work experience
1+ year Experience as a Career Coach, Employment Counselor, or experience 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
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 required or 2-4 years of related experience
Benefits
Generous Paid Time Off package
Term life insurance policy
Employee Assistance Program
Pre-tax benefits include transit
Flexible Spending Account
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k)-retirement plan is available after one year of service
Company
The Horticultural Society of New York
The Horticultural Society of New York improves human life through horticulture and creates green spaces of social infrastructure.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase