Part-time Groundskeeper/Custodian

Job Title: Groundskeeper/Custodian

Type: Part-Time ( 20 hours a week) 

Start: September 2026

About Solar One

Solar One is a 501c(3) organization that empowers communities in the New York City metro area to thrive in the face of the challenges brought on by climate change and embrace a world that is low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive.  

Initially founded in 2004 to manage Stuyvesant Cove Park, a two-acre native plant park and a small environmental education center, Solar One has grown into an award-winning organization with a thriving array of programs. Solar One's mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. We empower learning that changes how people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging and educating diverse stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Job Summary

The Groundskeeper/Custodian supports the Horticulture, Events, and Education teams by maintaining the Solar One Environmental Education Center and Stuy Cove Park, located along the East River between 18th and 23rd streets. The Education Center is a 1,200-square-foot classroom/event space with a capacity of 86 people. Stuy Cove Park is a 1.9-acre (approximately 7,700 sq. ft.) public waterfront park that features a 1,400-foot-long greenway with landscaping and seating, providing the community with a unique and beautiful green space for relaxing, picnicking, exercising, and more. 

Essential Functions: 

• Maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the Education Center and the Park by: 

  • Clean all paths of plant debris, trash, and litter daily.

    • Dispose of potentially hazardous items (i.e., abandoned belongings, feces, drug paraphernalia, etc., from the park)

  • Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and attention to detail across all pathways, gardens, and park features, including benches and drinking fountains.

  • Empty trash cans and replace bags in designated park areas; bring full bags to the trash collection area.

  • Perform routine custodial duties, including cleaning, sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, and waste removal from the education center.

• Assist with snow and ice removal.

• Set up and break down classrooms or work areas as required.

  • Operate and maintain hand tools, power tools, and maintenance equipment

  • Maintain and repair all relevant hand and power tools.

   

• Identify safety hazards 

• Receive all deliveries and sort mail

• This work involves shoveling, bending, lifting, squatting, reaching, and walking several miles daily on concrete.

• Must be comfortable working outdoors in the sun, extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow

• Must be able to lift 50 lbs

• Flexible to work additional hours and adjust shift times, on occasion, when needed.

Job Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent, preferred.

• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience as a custodian and/or groundskeeper is preferred

  • • Must have hands-on experience safely using hand and power tools

   

• Must be able to communicate fluently in English (speaking, reading, and writing). Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a supportive team dynamic are essential. 

• Conversational Spanish is highly preferred but not required

• Must be comfortable working outdoors in the sun, extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow

• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

• Experience working with soil, plant matter, and some household chemicals in an environment that includes rodents, wild birds, dogs, and insects is preferred but not required. 

• Exposure to hazardous materials. Personal protective equipment will be provided.

• Must be flexible to work additional hours and adjust shift times, on occasion, when needed

• Must be authorized to work in the United States

• Upon hire, candidates must complete paperwork authorizing that a background check can be conducted (this is handled by a third-party company)

• Must be able to maintain safe boundaries and professional relations with a diverse parkgoer community. 

Pay and Benefits

• Full-time position

• $26-$30 per hour (based on experience)

• 20 hours a week, vacation and special event coverage

  • This role may occasionally involve evening and weekend hours for event support. Additional on-call hours will be required to manage emergencies, storm conditions, snow removal, and other situations as needed. 

   

• Evenings and weekends needed.

Solar One is an equal opportunity employer. Solar One strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of renewable energy and resilience and people in a rapidly changing world. Solar One recruits and employs through a lens of equity and encourages people of all races, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law to apply.

Salary : $26 - $30