Installation Design Specialist & Crew Lead
$25–$35/hr based on experience | Part-Time, W-2 | Client tips paid out on your paycheck
10–20 hrs/week on average | Install days usually Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday | Potential for full-time within 6 months to a year
At GardenistaJax, we don't just install plants — we create living works of art. We're a boutique landscape company that designs, installs, and maintains landscapes and custom planters across Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the surrounding area.
We are not a lawn service, and we don't cut grass. Our work is about the details: thoughtful plant choices, clean lines, precise spacing, and finished spaces our clients love for years. We'd rather do it right than do it fast, and we're looking for people who feel the same way.
We're looking for a field leader with a designer's eye: someone who knows North Florida plants inside and out, has led a crew, and can see the big picture of a design while working alongside the team to bring it to life. This person will be our right hand in the field.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?
You See the Big Picture and the Small Details
You can look at a design plan and a bare yard and see the finished landscape. You can also spot when one plant is 6 inches off, or when the mulch line isn't right.
You Care More About Quality Than Speed
You'd rather take the extra 10 minutes to get it right than rush to the next job. You take pride in work that looks intentional, finished, and beautiful up close.
You Know North Florida Plants Inside and Out
Perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, palms, ornamental grasses: you know them, and you know what actually survives here. You understand:
- Coastal Zone 9a conditions: salt spray, sandy soil, wet-season drainage, and the occasional freeze
- Seasonal color: what to plant when, and what can handle Florida heat and weather extremes
- Right plant, right place, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles
- Common pests and diseases, and how to spot problems early
- What's available at local nurseries, so you can find a smart substitute when a plant is out of stock
Speaking of plants — when you email us, put the position title in your subject line followed by your favorite plant for a coastal North Florida landscape. It's one of the ways we know you read every word.
You Have a Designer's Eye
You have real landscape design experience. When a plant isn't available or the site doesn't match the plan, you don't just guess. You can suggest an alternative that keeps the integrity of the original design.
You Lead From the Front
You've led a crew before, and you know the best crew leads work right beside their team. They dig, plant, mulch, and set the standard for everyone around them.
You're Highly Skilled in Technology
Our business relies heavily on tech, from the Slack crew brief to the client file. You're confident with it, and you're happy to help teammates who aren't.
You Want to Grow With Us
We're intentionally starting this role part-time, but GardenistaJax is growing fast. For the right person, this role grows into designing projects, creating proposals, and taking on more responsibility, with pay that grows alongside it.
WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE DOING
- Working alongside the crew as a hands-on installer: digging, planting, mulching, trimming shrubs, operating power tools, and working full days in Florida heat and humidity
- Leading install crews of 3–5 team members and setting the pace, quality, and attitude on site
- Making sure each design is installed as planned, and catching problems before they become client problems
- Suggesting design alternatives on site when needed. Before digging, you'll text photos of any proposed changes for approval, so every change is intentional.
- Making sure the crew completes every item on the Slack crew brief and every client request, follows HOA and community rules, has called Sunshine 811 before digging, and follows heat safety practices
- Walking the final punch list before leaving the site
- Making sure the crew takes quality before/after photos and videos and uploads them to the correct Google Drive client folder the same day, and helping create great photo and video content for our business
- Providing tech support and coaching for team members who are less comfortable with our tools
- Assisting with consultations, site visits, measurements, and plant buying
- Over time, designing projects and helping create client proposals
TECHNOLOGY YOU'LL USE
Daily: Slack (crew briefs), Asana, Google Workspace (Drive, Calendar, Gmail), iScape or similar landscape design software, and your smartphone camera and GPS.
A strong plus (we'll train the right person): Jobber (we're implementing it now), HoneyBook, Gusto, and Quo.
HUGE PERKS IF YOU HAVE THEM
- Irrigation installation, troubleshooting, or repair
- Hardscape, landscape lighting, or drainage experience — we don't offer these services yet, but we plan to as we grow
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Regularly lifts and carries 50+ lbs of plant material, soil, mulch, and stone
- Stands, bends, kneels, and works with hands for extended periods outdoors
- Works full days in Florida heat, humidity, and sun with minimal shade
- Comfortably and safely operates standard landscaping power tools
SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION
- $25–$35/hour, based on experience — our pay rate is set above typical local landscape crew wages, which accounts for travel
- Part-time, W-2 position — 10–20 hours per week on average
- Install days are usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Potential for full-time within 6 months to a year as GardenistaJax grows
- Client tips are paid out on your paycheck
- Additional bonuses or stipends are open to discussion for the right candidate
- As a small, growing business, this role does not currently include benefits or mileage reimbursement
- All tools and equipment are provided
REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY
- Must be 18 years or older
- Minimum 2 years of experience leading a landscape crew
- Minimum 2 years of landscape design experience
- Strong knowledge of North Florida plant material
- Must be willing to travel to job sites across Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the surrounding area
- Must have your own reliable transportation and a valid driver's license — you'll use your own vehicle at times and will sometimes drive the company work van
- Clean driving record
- Must be able to pass a background check
HOW TO APPLY
Ready to lead a team that creates living art? Email gardenistajax@gardenistajax.com with:
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Tell us about a time a plan didn't match the site. Maybe a plant was unavailable, the space was different than expected, or the client changed their mind. What did you change, how did you decide, and how did you communicate it?
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Photos of your work: 3–5 photos of landscapes you've designed and installed. Include a sentence or two about each one: what the space was, what you designed, and what you'd want us to notice.
Applications that don't follow every instruction in this posting will not be considered. Qualified applicants will receive a short questionnaire as the next step.
GardenistaJax is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by law.
