Gardener II

*ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT FULL-TIME ANNUALLY PAID PARKS EMPLOYEES* * This vacancy is only open to 1) current permanent Parks employees serving in the Gardener civil service title or 2) on leave from the title or 3) Parks employees who are reachable on the Gardener civil service list, Exam No.

• [Please indicate your list# on your cover letter and resume.] Major Responsibilities
• Plant and cultivate trees, flowers and shrubs.
• Prepare soil and seed beds. Grade, sod, weed, mulch and mow lawns.
• Operate and maintain Parks & Recreation mowing equipment and irrigation system.
• Supervise employees and volunteers and instruct them in proper gardening techniques and all aspects of general park maintenance.
• Maintain records and prepare written reports.

Work Location: TBD How to Apply: Go to cityjobs.nyc.gov and search for Job ID#

• All applicants must apply via cityjobs.nyc.gov. The City is no longer using ESS to accept applications.

*Current Employees please include your ERN on your cover letter and resume.

NOTE: All resumes must be received no later than the last day of the posting period. *Posting period extended to 09/25/2026. Previous applicants to Job ID# 735511 are still under consideration and need not reapply. References will be required upon request.

Fees: Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee between $40.00 to $101.00 based on the salary range of title. Hired candidates who are not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $104.50 background check fee.

nyc.gov/parks MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF CIVIL SERVICE LISTS IS PROHIBITED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

For information about applying for Civil Service Exams go to: Civil Service Exams

• Department of Citywide Administrative Services (nyc.gov)

Minimum Qualifications

• One year of full-time experience in gardening work, including experience in each of the following planting, cultivating and caring for trees, plants shrubs and lawns; or
• A certificate from a horticulture or botanic program containing college-level courses, such as programs offered by the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, etc.; or
• A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to 1 above.

Thirty semester credits from an accredited college, at least fifteen of which must be in horticulture, agriculture, agronomy, plant pathology, botany, landscape design or architecture, entomology, forestry, floriculture, plant production and/or crop management, may be substituted for the one year of the work experience described in 1 above.

• To be appointed or assigned to Gardener
• Assignment Level II, after meeting the qualification requirements for Gardener
• Assignment Level I, candidates must have one additional year of satisfactory, full time experience in gardening work, including experience in each of the following areas: propagating, planting, cultivating, and caring for trees, plants, shrubs and lawns.

To be appointed or assigned to Gardener

• Assignment Level II, candidates must have a Commercial Pesticide Applicator
• Category 3A License issued by the New York State Department of Environmental conservation.

This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Driver License Requirement: A motor vehicle driver license valid in the State of New York.

This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Preferred Skills

• Permanent Gardeners will receive preference in hiring.

Residency Requirement

Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service. New York City residency required within 90 days of hire for all other candidates.