• Job Description

  Req#: 511211

  PHS LandCare Field Specialist I
  DEPARTMENT: PHS Healthy Neighborhood
  REPORTS TO: PHS LandCare Program Manager
  POSITION SUMMARY: PHS LandCare Field Specialist I

  The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) plays an essential role in the vitality of the Philadelphia region by creating healthier living environments, increasing access to fresh food, growing economic opportunity, and building deeper social connections between people. PHS Healthy Neighborhoods team delivers this impact through comprehensive greening and engagement initiatives in more than 250 neighborhoods. Together with community partners, PHS carefully designs projects that build on neighborhood strengths and aspirations to use greening to improve the environment, health, and quality of life in their communities. Together with the City and community-based organizations, PHS works to transform Philadelphia’s vacant land into neighborhood assets by building and managing a network of local contractors and community groups to stabilize, clean, green and maintain vacant lots in Philadelphia.

  The PHS LandCare Field Specialist I, this role requires a dynamic, talented, and extremely motivated Field Specialist, with growth potential. This individual helps with supervising, managing, and monitoring landscape construction activities on assigned projects in accordance with schedules, budgets, drawings, and specifications, while maintaining the highest-level quality of work.

  ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  • Conduct site visits, verify addresses, and document all changes to existing site conditions.
  • Monitor LandCare maintenance sites to ensure quality control and best practice application of construction techniques.
  • Approve monthly invoices and ensure technical standard adherence after verifying maintenance work meets PHS specifications.
  • Perform site audits and update maintenance inventory.
  • Conduct community outreach to promote visibility, including distribution of flyers.
  • Collect photos, community feedback, and testimonials after project completion as needed.
  • Respond to community, city, and other agency requests and questions related to the LandCare program
  • Assist with the selection of new stabilization sites, including completing site surveys and AutoCAD drawings to document existing site conditions.
  • Conduct site visits to confirm understanding of scope and specs by contractors and community groups.
  • Coordinate services and communicate proactively with contractors to facilitate satisfactory and timely job completion.
  • Assist with job contract administration, project-related data entry scope of work development, scheduling, project meetings, project records and documents.
  • Manage development of project schedule and milestone compliance.
  • Support procurement of materials as needed.
  • Assist with tracking and approving all invoices and change orders related to project implementation.
  • Maintain expert knowledge of existing site conditions to support LandCare team.
  • Believe in PHS’ core values and seek to realize these values through LandCare’s work.
  • Other duties as assigned.

  EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

  Qualifications/Specification:

  • Minimum degree required:

  Associate’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience

  • Years of experience:

  Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience

  Driver’s License:

  • Valid driver’s license and a clean, safe driving record

  Qualifications include:

  • Well-organized, self-motivated, and willing to work both individually and as part of a team structure
  • Proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel
  • Team player with excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills across varied audiences and platforms (email, phone, in person, text, etc)
  • AutoCAD experience preferred
  • Working knowledge of urban horticulture and landscape management
  • Full understanding of the Landscape/Construction process
  • Familiarity with Philadelphia and surrounding counties and comfort traveling throughout the city and region preferred
  • Passion for community-based urban greening initiatives
  • Proven success at prioritizing tasks and meeting project budget, deliverables and timelines in a composed and professional manner
  • Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and constituencies across platforms
  • Self-starter and independent worker
  • Strong problem-solving skills to quickly address challenges as they arise
  • Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office)
  • Comfortable working in diverse urban environments and spending most of the day outside doing field work
  • Ability to work outside under various weather conditions and occasionally work on some weekends and weeknights
  • High-level attention to detail and commitment to producing quality work

  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

  PHYSICAL DEMANDS

  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds, work in bending and standing positions for extended periods.
  • Spend up to 7.5 hours/day operating a motor vehicle.

  Standard Hours (including travel, evening, and weekend hours): 37.5 hours/week, some evening and weekend events

  Flower Show requirements: Participates in PHS events throughout the year including annual fundraising events and the Philadelphia International Flower Show, expected to work a total of (9) 8-hour workdays (=72 hours) with 75% (=54 hours) worked at the Show including 3 weekend days.

  Full-time year-round position

• About the company

  The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region.

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