Seasonal Tree Program Assistant

Bartram’s Garden seeks to fill a Seasonal Assistant position to work in support of the Garden’s Southwest Tree Program.  This program works in unison with the Southwest Tree Program and its accompanying high school youth intern cohort, the ROOTS Tree Crew. The Seasonal Tree Program Assistant’s responsibilities include general tree work and maintenance throughout Southwest Philadelphia, logistical and operational support of the ROOTS Tree Crew, and additional administrative and data entry tasks.  

Duties and Responsibilities

General tree work: planting, pruning, watering, and basic tree maintenance, and assistance to the Tree Program Coordinator on specific directed work and projects within Southwest Philadelphia. 

Supporting logistics and operation of summer (12) and year-round (6) ROOTS Tree Crew paid high school interns.

Collating and organizing the program data of the SW Tree Program. 

Attending community events when needed, including assisting in canvassing and tabling for program.

Supporting ongoing Bartram’s Garden youth education programs and special events when necessary. 

Qualifications

Prior relevant tree/environmental experience and/or K–12 youth experience

Candidates currently seeking ISA arborist certification a plus

Ability to drive and operate heavy-duty vehicles including F350 stake body pick-up truck and 10-seat passenger van

Proficiency in daily use of Microsoft Office 365, specifically managing personal email communication in Outlook and creating Word documents and Excel spreadsheets

Ability to lift 50 pounds and to perform physical tasks in all temperature and weather conditions. Kneeling, squatting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time and on uneven ground will be required.

Ability to operate equipment and tools safely and efficiently, including power and hand tools, saws, and other equipment

Ability to work well independently and as part of a team

Ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion

Experience working in communities of color; commitment to racial, economic, environmental, and social justice

Personal or professional familiarity with Southwest Philadelphia is preferred

Position Requirement

The following clearances are required prior to start date:

Pennsylvania Criminal History Check through the Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH)

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Check through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

FBI Criminal History Check

Physical Demands
The Seasonal Tree Program Assistant is a physically demanding position that is conducted outdoors, often in difficult weather conditions, and in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to move and operate tools and equipment; stand and/or walk for extended periods of time and on uneven ground; kneel and/or squat for extended periods of time and on uneven ground; and work in immediate proximity to general public in a safe and friendly manner. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The administrative components of this position require the ability to sit/stand at a desk, work on a computer, and use a monitor for extended periods of time

Schedule and Compensation 

Running through December 12, 2025, this is a non-exempt, seasonal position with an hourly rate of $19 and weekly schedule of up to 35 hours. The Tree Program Assistant will be required to work a flexible schedule that will include Saturdays and shifts often including early mornings and late nights.  

Application Information
To apply, please send your resume along with a brief note describing your interest in the position to jobs@bartramsgarden.org. Only those whose applications are being considered will be contacted. No phone calls or visits, please. 

The John Bartram Association is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Bartram’s Garden recognizes the value of promoting a diverse workforce. All individuals, including those from historically under-represented groups, are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, any form of personal or professional connections to Southwest Philadelphia will be considered a plus for all applicants. If desired, applicants are invited to reflect in their cover letter or other written statement on how their professional and lived experiences position them for their requested role.

About Bartram’s Garden

Bartram’s Garden is a 50-acre public park and National Historic Landmark in Southwest Philadelphia, situated on Lenape territory on the banks of the Tidal Schuylkill River. Welcoming more than 125,000 visitors annually, it is a venue for art, an access to the tidal river and wetlands, an outdoor classroom, and a living laboratory. Bartram’s Garden attempts to hold the colonial legacy of the land with a commitment to learn and share the whole truth about of the plants of Southwest Philadelphia and the people who grow them. The site encompasses the Bartram family’s 18th-century house and farm buildings, the country’s oldest surviving botanic garden, a reclaimed meadow, tidal wetlands, the Sankofa Community Farm, recreational trails, and the riverfront with an accessible public boat dock and community boathouse.

The Garden is operated and maintained by the non-profit John Bartram Association in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department. The mission of the John Bartram Association is to create equitable relationships among people and nature through immersive, community-driven experiences that activate the Bartram legacy, Garden, and House, on land and on the Schuylkill River, in Southwest Philadelphia.

Bartram’s Garden has been working to build its local Southwest-focused programs and activities and strengthen its community partnerships with nearby families, schools, and neighborhood groups. Thanks to plans for significant upcoming site investments, including major construction projects and expanded partnerships, the Garden is in the midst of transformation, with unprecedented opportunities for growth and renewal.