Careers & Opportunities

Part-Time Seasonal Programs Operations Assistant

Date posted: 6/22/2026

Application deadline: 7/22/2026

Position start and end date: August-November or December 2026

Bartram’s Garden seeks a part-time (on-call) Seasonal Programs Operations Assistant to serve as a member of the team that supports operations at this 50-acre Southwest Philadelphia dynamic civic common and public river garden. Reporting to the Director of Public Programs, the part-time seasonal (on-call) Program Operations Assistant floats as needed between sub-departments within the Program Operations team and supports Bartram’s mission by providing program and event assistance, Welcome Center support, light custodial tasks, and safety-first, world-class customer service.

Position Responsibilities

• Support Bartram’s Garden staff event leads with set-up, clean-up, and chaperoning of special events

• Independently and collaboratively set up layouts of tables, chairs, and A/V gear

• Greet guests in a warm, friendly, and positive manner and provide assistance and direction to visitors and program participants

• Proactively handle custodial tasks that crop up in the course of events (cleaning up spills, cleaning and restocking bathrooms, clearing trash, etc.)

• Engage with partners and visitors on the premises in a wide range of situations and provide support, including assisting Event Leads with the de-escalation of potential conflicts.

• Support parking coordination and traffic direction during large events.

• Support the operation and maintenance of the Welcome Center in collaboration with the Welcome Center Coordinator:

• • Process point-of-sale transactions, including event registration, ticketing, and retail sales.

• • Help maintain the appearance of the Welcome Center as a clean, professional, and well-cared-for space that aligns with the Welcome Center Coordinator’s aesthetic vision.

• • Work with staff and visitors to create a pleasant, safe, and professional environment.
  • Provide clear information to visitors regarding Bartram’s Garden’s offerings.

• Come “off the bench” regularly to provide Custodial and Event Support during regular operating hours during times of heavy site usage or to fill in for staff members who are out, taking direction from the Sitewide Custodial Coordinator and the Program Logistics Coordinator in prioritizing and executing tasks.

• Assist custodial/event staff with custodial tasks as assigned.

• Perform routine light cleaning, inventory, and supply organization tasks as assigned.

• Approach all people with respect and dignity, including those in violation of city park rules and regulations. Inform them of the violation and encourage voluntary observance when appropriate and safe to do so.
• Maintain high standards in safeguarding sensitive ecosystems and historic buildings

Candidate Profile 

• Willingness to routinely pick up shifts on short notice and fill in for colleagues who unexpectedly call out

• Interest in varied work that, depending on the day and the emergent needs of the Garden, may include periods of high-pressure public-facing work, periods of physical outdoor labor, and/or the efficient completion of quiet, detail-oriented tasks.

• Ability to apply oneself fully to trainings to achieve competence quickly in a variety of roles
• Willingness to work variable hours, both in terms of days/times and total hours worked per week

Qualifications

• Must have the ability to work holidays, weekends, early mornings and late nights, as needed (on call), indoors & outdoors, and in all weather conditions.

• Strong communication skills with emphasis on emotional intelligence, de-escalation, and conflict resolution.

• Ability to stay calm and alert under pressure in fast-paced and changing environments.

• Must be able to lift 40 lbs. and to perform physical tasks under a variety of conditions

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

• Commitment to racial, economic, environmental, and social justice preferred.

• Personal or professional familiarity with Southwest Philadelphia is preferred.

Schedule and Compensation

Please submit a brief cover letter and resume/CV by July 22^nd, 2026. Start date will be in August; end date between mid-November and mid-December 2026. This is a non-exempt, seasonal, part-time position that, depending on need, will range from 0 to 35 hours per week at an hourly rate of $19. Additionally, this position may be asked to support annual site-wide events, which include Twilight in the Garden, Indigenous People’s Day, Harvest Fest, and Handmade Holidays.

To Apply

Email your resume to with the subject line “Program Operations Assistant.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Finalists will be contacted to interview with the Visitor Services Manager and additional members of the Bartram’s Garden staff. No phone calls or visits, please.

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.

Bartram’s Garden:
Bartram’s Garden is a 50-acre public garden in Southwest Philadelphia, situated on Lenape territory on the banks of the Tidal Schuylkill River. It is a venue for art, access to the tidal river and wetlands, outdoor classroom and living laboratory. Bartram’s Garden attempts to hold the long legacy of the land with a commitment to learn and share a more complete truth about its plants and the people who grow them.

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. The garden was founded in 1728 by John Bartram, whose passion for plants and the natural world continues to nurture and inspire horticulturists and nature lovers from all walks of life. Located in Southwest Philadelphia, the 50-acre public historic garden is preserved, enhanced, and maintained by the John Bartram Association as America’s oldest surviving botanic garden in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Philadelphia.

Today, Bartram’s Garden offers opportunities for visitors to connect with and learn about plants, nature, history, art, and science. It encompasses the 1731 Bartram house and farm buildings, botanic garden, reclaimed, meadow, tidal wetlands, community farm, recreational trails, and the Schuylkill riverfront with its community boathouse and accessible public boat dock.

In recent years, Bartram’s Garden has been working to build its local Southwest Philadelphia–focused programs and strengthen its local community partnerships. Continuing to broaden and deepen these relationships and build sustaining relationships with families, local institutions, churches, schools, and academic institutions utilizing the Bartram legacy as inspiration for learning and environmental stewardship is at the heart of our vision for a great civic common and river garden. The Garden is in the midst of transformation, with opportunities for growth and renewal. With the construction of the Bartram’s Mile Trail and the first major house and garden restoration in nearly a century, the profile and visitation at Bartram’s Garden have increased. Capitalizing on this momentum, we are planning many campus investments, including a future riverfront restoration, freshwater mussel hatchery, and climate resistance field station. These opportunities are focused on building our capacity to serve as Southwest Philadelphia’s largest city park, expanding our role as an anchor community space and cultural asset.