Careers & Opportunities
Join our team!
See position details below for current openings and application information. No phone calls or visits, please. All applications should be directed to ; please read the full position details before applying.
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.
Employee Benefits at Bartram’s Garden
Based in a beautiful setting, Bartram’s Garden offers a range of competitive benefits, including:
- Comprehensive health coverage plans (including medical, vision, prescription and dental) for employees and their eligible dependents.
- A generous annual paid time off (PTO) package, sick time, vacation, and winter break.
- Paid short-term and long-term disability coverage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
We are also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program qualified employer.
Contract Opportunity: Archives Research & Organization
Contract Opportunity: Archives Research & Organization
Date posted: 6/24/2026
Application deadline: 7/10/2026
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: 6-month limited contract
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $16,000, at a rate of $35/hour
This position is responsible for conducting research from materials in the Bartram’s Garden archival collections, including but not limited to the John Bartram Bowman Special Collections Library, to identify and organize historic information, maps, and documents to inform the Long-Range Landscape Plan being developed through the services of a multi-disciplinary consultant team starting in November 2025. The contractor will also summarize and make accessible extensive electronic documents, including research memos on garden history, environmental history, historic maps, archeological findings from on-site digs, and historic artifacts. Utilizing archiving technologies and AI tools, the contractor shall provide, categorize, and organize the collection for ease of access, including for further research, for the purpose of completing the Long-Range Landscape Plan.
Core responsibilities include:
•Develop, arrange, and describe key archival collections in accordance with accepted standards and practices, including use of AI tools
•Process, digitize, and preserve archival materials and collections, including but not limited to architectural records, public documents, and artifacts
•Provide reference services to make relevant materials available for the consultant team and the committee involved in the Long-Range Landscape Plan through appointment requests
•Create digital catalog of archival holdings, including e-memos and electronic research materials
•Support the accession and deaccession of collection items to the archives
•Provides input into the institution’s Living Collections Plan
Qualifications
•Professional knowledge of fundamental archival principles, theoretical concepts, techniques, and functions, and the ability to apply the knowledge to practical problems
•Thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of computer software and AI tools for archival cataloging and management, such as the EMU collections management system
•Skill to create standard vocabulary for subject terms, personal names, corporate names, and geographic place names according to Library of Congress authority term rules, and the ability to search other online authority files
•Ability to arrange, analyze, and interpret non-current record collections and to assess their value for historical and other scholarly research
•Ability to use archival collections and related resources to accomplish the necessary research to allow the implementation of archival theory and practice at the highest professional level
Physical Requirements
This position includes sitting, standing, kneeling, climbing stairs, walking over varied terrain, repeated adjustments to varied lighting conditions, use of a keyboard and monitor, and lifting or moving objects up to 20 pounds.
Application Information
To apply, please send your resume along with a cover letter describing your interest in the position to. Include “Archives Research & Organization” in the email subject line. Only those whose applications are being considered will be contacted. No phone calls or visits, please.
Bartram’s Garden recognizes the value of promoting a diverse workforce. All individuals, including those from historically underrepresented 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 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 co-create equitable relationships among people and nature through immersive, community-centered 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.
With funding support from the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and the William Penn Foundation, the Garden is launching the development of its Long-Range Landscape Plan in Fall 2025. The plan will be developed over an 18-month period with an interdisciplinary team of design and ecology professionals, along with members of the staff and board, and an advisory panel of nationally known experts. This position will support the research- and archive-related needs for developing the Long-Range Landscape Plan.
Seasonal Part-Time Program Operations Assistant
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:
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- Process point-of-sale transactions, including event registration, ticketing, and retail sales.
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- 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.
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- 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 22nd, 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.
RFP: Management and Operation of Event Planning and Catering at Bartram’s Garden
Request for Proposals: Management and Operation of Event Planning and Catering at Bartram’s Garden
Date posted: 5/21/2026
Deadline: 7/1/2026 at 5pm
The John Bartram Association (“JBA”) is issuing this RFP as a part of selecting a caterer to provide private event planning and catering at Bartram’s Garden (the “Garden”). JBA requests proposals from all individuals and firms that would like to manage and operate private event services at Bartram’s Garden (“Event Planning and Catering”). By entering into an agreement for Event Planning and Catering, JBA intends to provide a high-quality event amenity for the Philadelphia community at the Garden, to promote the use of the Garden, and to generate additional revenue to support JBA’s mission.
Artist Vending Opportunities
Interested in selling your handmade items at Bartram’s Garden? We have opportunities for vending at various events and festivals throughout the year, as well as the possibility of vending wholesale through our Welcome Center. As a neighborhood park, our mission is to prioritize connections in Southwest Philadelphia.
Please fill out the Vending Interest Form. We’ll be in touch if it feels like a good fit. Feel free to contact Tahnisha Thomas at with any questions. Thanks!
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Vending Interest Form
Complete this form to be considered for our 2026 events!
