Volunteer Nursery Assistant

Part-Time, approximately 5-10 hours per week (flexible)

Reports to: Land Manager

About Howard EcoWorks

Howard EcoWorks is an environmental nonprofit in the greater Baltimore region dedicated to restoring local ecosystems and creating green career pathways. Our mission is to empower communities and diverse workforces to conserve and restore our natural systems for future generations. Our hands-on conservation crews install and maintain rain gardens, conservation landscapes, and stormwater management projects across Howard County and the region, and we train the next generation of green-industry workers while we do it. We are a growing, mission-driven team that cares about both our ecosystems and the people working to restore them.

Our values: Stewardship · Impact · Accountability · Growth · Inclusion · Safety

About the Role

The Native Plant Nursery Assistant provides operational support for Howard EcoWorks' Seeds of Change native plant nursery at Holly Hills, our 16-acre farm and native plant nursery in Glenwood, MD. Reporting to the Land Manager, this volunteer role helps grow, maintain, and sell the native plants that supply our conservation projects, community partners, and public plant sales, advancing native plant conservation while directly supporting one of Howard EcoWorks' diversified revenue streams.

Working alongside Howard EcoWorks staff and volunteers, the Native Plant Nursery Assistant grows and propagates native plants; helps maintain nursery infrastructure such as raised beds, irrigation systems, and high tunnels; supports accurate plant inventory and tracks sales; coordinates plant deliveries and customer pick-ups; and supports public plant sales at Holly Hills and at community outreach events, occasionally serving as the primary lead for sales activities. The Nursery Assistant also coordinates with and supports the Assistant Land Manager and helps welcome visitors, neighbors, and community members to the property.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong interest in native plant propagation, nursery operations, and customer engagement who wants meaningful hands-on experience alongside a mission-driven team.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Support native plant sales at Holly Hills and at public outreach events, occasionally serving as the primary lead for sales activities
• Support nursery operations, including growing and propagating native plants
• Support the maintenance of infrastructure, including raised beds, irrigation systems, and high tunnels
• Support the maintenance of an accurate plant inventory
• Support the management of plant deliveries and customer pick-ups of plant purchases
• Coordinate with and support the Assistant Land Manager in their activities
• Engage with visitors, neighbors, and the community in positive ways
• Support a culture that reflects Howard EcoWorks' values of stewardship, impact, accountability, growth, inclusion, and safety

Qualifications
Required

• Passion for native plants and environmental conservation
• Knowledge, identification skills, and experience with native plant growing and propagation
• Customer service experience
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Self-starter who is independent, professional, motivated, dependable, and reliable
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions

Preferred

• Experience working in a retail nursery, garden center, greenhouse, or high-tunnel operation
• Familiarity with point-of-sale systems, inventory tracking, or sales record-keeping
• Knowledge of conservation landscaping, pollinator habitat, or ecological restoration
• Experience supporting community events, farmers' markets, or public outreach activities

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Performs outdoor and greenhouse fieldwork in varying weather conditions
• Positions self to propagate, pot, and maintain plants (e.g., bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching)
• Transports and moves plants, soil, and equipment weighing up to 30 lbs. as needed
• Remains in a stationary position and/or moves throughout the property and event sites as needed

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact the Administrative Services Manager.

Hours & Schedule

This is a part-time, volunteer position of approximately 5-10 hours per week. Hours are flexible, Monday through Friday, with evenings and weekends available if desired. The specific weekly schedule is arranged by agreement with the Land Manager.

Volunteer Benefits

While this is an unpaid position, Howard EcoWorks values the time and talent of our volunteers and offers:

• Public recognition in the Howard EcoWorks newsletter and on Howard EcoWorks social media
• Access to Howard EcoWorks-sponsored trainings and professional development opportunities
• Inclusion in the Howard EcoWorks Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
• Mileage reimbursement at the federal rate for approved travel on behalf of Howard EcoWorks
• Documentation of volunteer service hours for academic, professional certification, honor society, or reference purposes
• Letters of recommendation or reference for future employment, education, or service opportunities, based on demonstrated performance
• Hands-on skill-building in native plant propagation, nursery operations, and customer engagement
• Inclusion in team celebrations, staff events, and community gatherings
• A meaningful opportunity to contribute to local ecosystem restoration and community impact

Our Commitment to an Equitable, Diverse & Inclusive Workplace

Howard EcoWorks is committed to building a culturally diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and strongly encourages applications from candidates from underrepresented communities, including program alumni and those with non-traditional career pathways. We value lived experience alongside formal qualifications.

Howard EcoWorks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, occupation, personal appearance, political opinion, source of income, citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic status, prior justice involvement, or any other characteristic protected by law. In accordance with the Maryland CROWN Act, we prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles associated with race.

Consistent with fair-chance hiring practices, we do not ask about criminal history on our applications or during initial screening. Any inquiry into criminal background occurs no earlier than a first in-person interview and is followed by an individualized assessment.

This position involves direct contact with minor program participants and is subject to a mandatory background check under Maryland law and HEW policy.

Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and volunteer engagement process. To request an accommodation, contact the Administrative Services Manager.