Plant Care Technician

Full-Time or Part-Time -$25/hr - $30/hr

Variegated NYC is a growing interior landscaping company that designs, installs, and maintains stunning interior plantscapes and provides exquisite floral arrangements for a diverse clientele across New York City. Our mission is to create vibrant, healthy environments that elevate the spaces where people live and work.

We're looking for a reliable, plant-loving Plant Care Technician to keep our clients' interior plantscapes healthy and looking their best. This role is centered on recurring maintenance visits: you'll run a regular route of offices, retail spaces, and hospitality venues across the city, watering, cleaning, pruning, and troubleshooting plants so every space looks as good as the day it was installed. You'll be the face of Variegated that our clients see most often.

Responsibilities

Routine Plant Maintenance

• Complete scheduled care visits at client sites, following a set weekly or biweekly route

• Water plants correctly for each species, container, and light condition, checking soil moisture rather than watering on autopilot

• Prune, groom, and remove dead or yellowing leaves so every plant looks clean and full

• Dust and wipe down foliage, containers, and top dressing, and tidy the area around each plant before you leave

• Rotate plants as needed for even growth and light exposure

Plant Health and Troubleshooting

• Inspect plants each visit for pests, disease, root problems, and signs of over- or under-watering

• Treat common pest issues using approved, client-safe methods, and flag anything serious to the Care and Install Lead

• Fertilize on schedule and adjust care based on season, light, and building conditions

• Identify plants that are declining and recommend replacements before they become a client concern

Replacements and Small Installs

• Swap out declining plants with fresh replacements, repotting and dressing them to match the original design

• Support small installs, seasonal refreshes, and holiday decor work when your route allows

• Pick up and transport replacement plants, tools, and supplies between the studio, warehouse, and client sites

Client Service and Reporting

• Represent Variegated professionally on-site, communicating clearly and courteously with clients, front desk staff, and building management

• Log each visit in our system, including notes, photos, and any issues or requests

• Pass client feedback, access changes, and upsell opportunities (new spaces, additional plants, floral needs) along to the team

• Follow building rules for check-in, service entrances, and freight elevators

Team Support

• Support the install and studio team during busier periods or larger projects

• Communicate proactively with the Plant Care Manager about schedule conflicts, supply needs, or anything affecting a visit

Requirements

Required

• Genuine interest in plants and a willingness to learn proper care for a wide range of tropical and interior species

• Ability to travel independently across NYC by subway, bus, or on foot, carrying tools and supplies between multiple sites per day

• Ability to lift and carry plants, water, and materials (up to 40 lbs regularly) and use a ladder safely for tall or hanging plants

• Physical stamina for long days, often covering numerous sites in a single day, with frequent walking, bending, kneeling, and standing

• Availability for occasional late-night and weekend install shifts on a rotating basis, with advance notice

• Reliability and punctuality, since clients expect us on a consistent schedule

• Detail orientation and genuine pride in leaving every space looking polished

• Self-directed and independent: you'll manage your own route and time without a supervisor on-site, and know when to flag an issue versus solve it yourself

• Clear communication and a friendly, professional manner with clients and building staff

• Very responsive in team chat throughout the day, and proactive about communicating: you share updates, photos, and issues before anyone has to ask

• Comfort using a smartphone for schedules, visit logs, and photos

• Authorization to work in the US

Preferred

• 1+ years of experience in interior plant care, horticulture, a plant shop, a nursery, or a related green industry

• Working knowledge of common interior plant pests and diseases and how to treat them

• Experience working in commercial or corporate environments and interacting with clients or building staff

• Valid driver's license, for occasional replacement runs and install support

Benefits

• Generous PTO: Holiday, Vacation, & Sick Pay

• Health Coverage: Company-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance

• Employee Discount: Discounts on plants and planters for personal use, and occasional free leftovers to take home.

• Team Culture: Frequent team dinners, happy hours, fun events, and an annual holiday party.

• Overtime Opportunities: Optional late-night and weekend install shifts with additional compensation, for those who want extra hours