Celebrating 125 Years: Native Plant Trust

Jobs & Internships

Join a Great Team, Work for a Great Cause

Passionate about native plant conservation, horticulture, or botanical education?

Native Plant Trust welcomes your skills and enthusiasm! We provide a collaborative, congenial atmosphere for our employees at our headquarters and botanic garden, Garden in the Woods, in Framingham, MA, and at our native plant nursery, Nasami Farm, in Whately, MA. See the green boxes below for descriptions of open positions.

We also provide rewarding internships in our Conservation, Horticulture, and Public Programs departments. Our internships offer opportunities to get your hands dirty (literally) while gaining valuable experience. Scroll down the page to learn about the internships available for the next year.

About Native Plant Trust

Native Plant Trust leads the movement to conserve native plants in the wild and use them in designed spaces. We do this to increase the beauty and resilience of New England and the planet. From our base in Massachusetts, staff and trained volunteers work throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs.

We welcome visitors from all over the world to Garden in the Woods, our renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham. We also operate a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manage six plant sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization, the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, and among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents.

Native Plant Trust is entering an exciting time of transition and expansion. Having recently celebrated our 125th anniversary, we are seeking to elevate the visibility and impact of the organization with an anticipated doubling of staff in the next five years. Doing so requires strategically investing in staff, systems, and programs that facilitate organizational growth and growth in the movement to protect native plants in the wild and use them in the built environment.

Employment at Native Plant Trust is on an “employment-at-will” basis. An employee or the organization may terminate employment for any reason, at any time, with or without notice.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access and to being a welcoming and safe place for all who engage with us. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

  • Open Positions

    Philanthropy Assistant - Full Time

    Position Summary

    Native Plant Trust seeks a full-time Philanthropy assistant, based at our headquarters in Wayland, MA. The Philanthropy assistant, together with a five-person team, supports all fundraising activities of the organization’s $5M+ annual operating budget, planned giving program, capital projects, and endowment funds.

    This is a non-exempt, hourly, full-time, year-round, benefit-eligible position reporting to the Philanthropy manager. Compensation range is $21.63 - $24.40/hour for 40 hours/week (annualized to $45K–$50K/year). The work schedule is 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

    Primary Responsibilities

    Gift Processing

    • Processes donations and membership dues received in a variety of financial formats, such as checks, credit cards, stock, and electronic fund transfers
    • Drafts accurate gift acknowledgements and pledge forms
    • Prepares and mails gift acknowledgements and membership materials
    • Adheres to ethical standards and confidentiality regarding personal and financial information

    Member/Donor Stewardship

    • Prepares large and small mailing lists in differing formats for electronic and paper communications, in addition to sending small to mid-sized mailings in-house
    • Proofreads fundraising materials, such as event invitations and electronic newsletter
    • Assists donors across the region, and country, with a comprehensive array of benefits
    • Assists with event preparations and logistics; including recording registrations, creating name badges and handout materials, meeting and greeting guests, and helping with event set-up and break-down
    • Communicates efficiently and effectively internally and externally via phone, email, and letters

    Data and Records Management

    • Creates and updates constituent records within a CRM database (currently Altru by Blackbaud)
    • Maintains data integrity, such as merging duplicate records and linking files
    • Organizes and maintains digital and paper records in accordance with professional business and fundraising standards
    • Collates data for internal and external reports
    • Enters volunteers’ contact reports into CRM

    Skills, Experience, Attributes, Education, and Certifications

    The ideal candidate should have/be:

    • Highly detail-oriented, thorough and organized work habits
    • Flexibility and ability to prioritize responsibilities
    • Professional, courteous manner to interact with a variety of people in person, by phone, and in written communications
    • Ability to work effectively on detail-oriented tasks with repeated interruptions
    • Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively
    • Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, Google suite and databases
    • Comfort with learning new technology
    • At least one year of related experience preferred
    • High school diploma or equivalent

    Physical Demands and Work Environment Factors

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

    • Lift boxes and materials weighing at least 20 pounds
    • Sit or stand at a desk for long periods of time white engaging in computer work, including typing, utilizing a computer mouse or touch screen, engaging in virtual meetings, listening to audio through speakers, and reading text and images in a digital format
    • Use repetitive hand and arm motions involved in sorting and handling documents
    • Engage with a computer screen, speakers, and video camera
    • Use a phone for audio calls
    • Bend, stoop, kneel, pull and push drawers, and lift boxes to file, retrieve, and move records and other materials

    To Apply

    Please submit a letter of interest and resume (MS Word or PDF format, with your last name the first word of the file name), along with three references to Sara O’Brien, Director of Public Programs and Interim Philanthropy Manager, sobrien@NativePlantTrust.org, using the subject line “Philanthropy Assistant Application.”

    Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Annual Internships

Native Plant Trust offers the following annual internships in conservation and horticulture.

  • Atkinson/Lovejoy and Everett Conservation Internships - APPLICATIONS CLOSED

    Two of Native Plant Trust’s core initiatives–the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEPCoP) and the Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV) program–engage professional and community volunteers in rare species monitoring, habitat management, reintroduction and augmentation projects, and long-term conservation planning. We work closely with Natural Heritage programs and with conservation organizations in all six New England states.

    Native Plant Trust is pleased to offer two 25-week internships in 2026. These positions with the New England Plant Conservation Program and Plant Conservation Volunteers program offer a range of hands-on learning opportunities. Interns work closely with Conservation Department staff, supporting these programs by communicating with landowners and volunteers to enable surveys of rare plants on public and private lands, using GIS and databases to gather and share information, and conducting field work including rare plant surveys, habitat management, and seed collection. Interns focus on an area of interest by working on an active botany, ecology, or conservation project, and are invited to join educational botanical field trips. Training is provided, and interns may also enroll in Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses.

    These are non-exempt, hourly, full-time, seasonal positions based at our headquarters in Wayland, MA. Compensation is $15.00/hour for 40 hours/week for 25 weeks (max wages $15,000). The work schedule is 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday, with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend hours. Shared housing may be available at $300 per month. These positions report to the Community Science Coordinator and work collaboratively within the Conservation Department and with other Native Plant Trust Departments.

    The ideal start date is Monday, February 23, 2026, with some flexibility.

    Primary Responsibilities

    ● Communicate professionally with landowners, volunteers, and staff to enable surveys of rare plants on public and private lands both by phone and in writing

    ● Support volunteer surveys of rare plants and seed collection efforts by providing materials, timely information, and answers to questions

    ● Use GIS, databases, and other technology to map, and communicate information about rare plants

    ● Enter data and ensure the quality of observational and spatial data collected by volunteers

    ● Perform botanical surveys of rare plant species and their associated plant communities

    ● Participate in habitat management, seed collection, and other Departmental and organizational efforts

    ● Contribute to the advancement of an active botany, ecology, or conservation project and present results


    Skills, Experience, Attributes, Education, and Certifications

    ● Demonstrated interest in conducting botanical field work

    ● Ability to communicate clearly (in writing and orally) and interact well with the public

    ● Strong organizational skills, and the ability to work on multiple projects while remaining detail and deadline oriented

    ● Willing to travel throughout New England

    ● Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace, and other standard computer operating programs. Ability to perform basic spatial analysis and map making in ArcGIS Pro is preferred

    ● Some knowledge of the flora and habitats of New England is preferred.

    ● Personal transportation to regular work locations is required. Transportation will be provided to field sites.


    Physical Demands and Work Environment Factors

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

    ● Sit or stand in an office while conducting computer work.

    ● Walk, stand, kneel, crouch, and crawl for extended periods of time in field sites with uneven terrain.

    ● Conduct field work during inclement weather.

    ● Engage with a computer screen, speakers, and video camera.

    To Apply

    Please submit a letter of interest and resume in a single PDF document to CommunityScience@NativePlantTrust.org, using the subject line “Conservation Intern Application” and your last name as the first word of the file name. Review of applications will begin Monday, January 5, 2026.

    These positions exist thanks to the generous donors who funded the Herbert J. & Esther M. Atkinson/Lovejoy and Marylee Everett conservation internships.

  • Chester B. Allen, Jr., Native Plant Propagation and Horticulture Internship

    Come back soon to view the details about our 2026 internship.

  • Elizabeth Farnsworth Native Plant Internship/Native Plant Horticulture Internship, Garden in the Woods

    Native Plant Trust is pleased to offer two 26-week internships in 2026, based at Garden in the Woods, our renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham, MA. Interns assist in all aspects of botanic garden operations at Garden in the Woods, including instruction in ecological horticultural practices (such as planting, pruning, weed management, propagation, and seed collection), renovation and construction of new gardens, inventory and plant recordkeeping, and public education. They will gain hands-on experience identifying and cultivating native plants in a botanical garden. Interns are expected to undertake an independent study project and present the results to staff and garden members. There will be opportunities to take field trips and classes at Native Plant Trust. This is an exceptional learning opportunity to gain valuable career experience in caring for gardens and natural areas, planning and leading projects, and managing volunteers.

    These are non-exempt, hourly, full-time, seasonal positions reporting to the director of Horticulture. Compensation is $15.00/hour for 40 hours/week for 26 weeks (max 1,040 hours, max wages $15,600). The work schedule is Monday - Friday, with weekend days. Horticulture interns working at Garden in the Woods can rent a room for the internship in a shared house, a 5-minute walk away from the Garden, for $300/month. This includes all utilities except the internet and phone.

    The ideal start date is at the end of March/beginning of April 2026. End date in September 2026. Flexibility in start and end dates is available on a case-by-case basis.

    Primary Responsibilities

    Garden care and maintenance

    • Weeding, editing, path and trail maintenance
    • Planting, transplanting, plant propagation
    • Plant identification, ecology, field trips, hands-on skill building
    • Seed collection

    Independent study, administration, and communication

    • Research and preparation of an independent study presentation
    • Detailed record keeping (plantings and moth project)
    • Assist with garden-wide events, public programs, and retail garden shop logistics
    • Interactions with colleagues, volunteers, staff, and public

    Skills, Experience, Attributes, Education, and Certifications

    The ideal candidate is passionate about ecology and eager to learn about ecological horticulture and native plants of New England. Strenuous manual labor, consistent with outdoor work in all types of weather, is expected and desired.

    Physical Demands and Work Environment Factors

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

    • lift items weighing at least 50 lbs.
    • stand or crouch for long periods of time
    • may use repetitive wrist and hand motions involved in weeding, planting and general garden maintenance
    • reach, with hands and arms
    • use specific vision abilities (close vision and color vision)
    • have some close visual contact with a computer monitor
    • work outdoors in all weather conditions, from cold to hot, and raining to full sunshine. Reasonable accommodations are provided during the summer months when excessive heat may be present, including breaks for water and shade or shifts in schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

    To Apply

    Please submit a letter of interest and resume (MS Word or PDF format, with your last name the first word of the file name), along with three references to Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture, ulorimer@nativeplanttrust.org, using the subject line “Horticulture Intern Application.”

    Application deadline is February 15, 2026.