Assistant Director of Public Programs

Company: Queens Botanical Garden Society
Location: Flushing
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Assistant Director of Public Programs About This Opportunity The Assistant Director (AD) of Public Programs is responsible for the strong organizational and communication skills to manage all aspects of public programming. The specific charge of the position is the creation, coordination, and implementation of visitor-friendly and engaging mission-driven public programs. The AD will ensure that programs reflect the mission and public programming vision of QBG, attract diverse audiences of all ages, and are guided by its long-range plan to increase and drive visitation to the Garden. The AD must be a strategic thinker, build external partnerships easily, and be an effective communicator across all departments. Public Programs Vision The Queens Botanical Garden’s vision is to be a leading cultural, educational, and environmental resource with dynamic programming that reflects the diversity of our audiences in an accessible, engaging, and welcoming way, and that celebrates nature, arts, culture and the history of our community in this unique garden setting. Responsibilities Effectively curate and produce public programs in various genres and scales (e.g. workshops, demonstrations, performances, exhibitions, lectures, festivals and community events, etc.) that reflect QBG’s mission and public programming vision; plan for expanded programming as new Education Center opens Lead the planning, execution, evaluation, and reporting of all public programming Direct and manage event and related staffing including instructors, volunteer groups, and other QBG staff Supervise part time coordinator providing public programs support, interns and other relevant staff Collaborate with various internal departments (Visitor Services, Development, Marketing, Security, Horticulture, and Education) to strategize long-term programming strategies and vision Help integrate Compost, Education, Visitors Service and Farm programs and activities into the planning of garden-wide public programs Lead regular interdepartmental committee meetings around public programming and gallery curation Move forward Public Program and audience goals in the new strategic plan both independently and in collaboration with other departments Manage Public Programs budget, track expenses and revenue for all events; meet revenue goals Handle expense reconciliations including management and reconciliation of public programs credit card Assist Marketing and Development staff to seek sponsorship and funding opportunities Develop and sustain partnerships with local organizations, artists, and vendors Serve as public face for the Garden at events, provide press interviews and information, and represent the Garden at community meetings when needed Collect and track appropriate data to assess program needs and areas and improvements, and make necessary adjustments, this might include surveys Collaborate with Marketing, Education, and Interpretation staff on materials and signage related to programs and exhibitions Work with Marketing to develop and support implementation of outreach strategies to increase attendance and participation in program offerings Write and compile program descriptions for marketing purposes May serve as manager in charge on occasional weekends Assist with other garden wide initiatives Qualifications Bachelor's degree in education, the Arts, Museum Studies, Environmental Studies, or related fields Seven or more years of professional experience creating public programs /or education programs Event planning and execution experience, especially in public spaces, cultural institutions, botanical gardens or related spaces Supervisory experience required Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills Have great attention to detail, highly organized with effective project management and problem solving skills Capable of working both independently and collaboratively across departments Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multi-task between responsibilities while maintaining high quality of work Previous experience managing a budget, tracking revenue and expenses, and running reports Knowledge of botanical gardens, horticulture, art and culture Bilingual language skills a plus (especially Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, or Korean) Demonstrated ability to create and implement systems Artistic, building, and/or decorating skills a plus Commitment to DEIA values and practices Requires the ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the campus for extended periods Must be capable of lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds regularly, and occasionally up to 50 pounds with assistance Schedule & Salary This is a full-time exempt position with weekly on-site work and some flexibility to work remotely. Benefits offered include excellent medical, vision, dental and life insurance, generous PTO, paid holidays, employee discounts, access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions, pension and other retirement savings plans. The schedule for this position is five days per week generally from Tuesday through Saturday, with some Sundays and occasional evenings when key programming takes place. Salary: $73,000 - $77,000 For consideration, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents via our Career Center. If you encounter difficulties with uploading documents to the portal, please send via email to Human Resources. Health & Safety: proof of full Covid-19 vaccination strongly recommended for employment. Queens Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). The Garden does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin, disability (physical or mental), age, marital status, veteran/active military service member status, political affiliation, mental illness, socioeconomic status or background, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, genetic information, immigration or citizenship status, status as victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking, arrest or conviction record, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, employment/unemployment status, salary history, credit history, marital/partnership stratus, caregiver status, height and weight, or any other legally protected status. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources via email or phone 718-886-3800 x 203.

Keywords: Queens Botanical Garden Society, West Orange , Assistant Director of Public Programs, PR / Public Relations , Flushing, New Jersey