Application Guide
How to Apply for Assistant Manager of National Programs
at American Horticultural Society
🏢 About American Horticultural Society
The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is a well-respected nonprofit with a 100-year legacy of connecting people to plants and gardening. As the steward of the historic River Farm in Alexandria, VA, AHS offers a unique mission-driven culture that blends environmental stewardship with community engagement. Working remotely, you'll be part of a passionate team dedicated to lifelong learning and garden advocacy.
About This Role
This role is the operational backbone of AHS's national programs, from coordinating the prestigious Awards program to managing logistics for the Children & Youth Garden Symposium. You'll directly impact thousands of gardeners, educators, and youth by ensuring programs run smoothly, participants receive excellent support, and marketing reaches the right audiences. It's a chance to grow your project management skills while contributing to a greener world.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start by checking emails from program participants and updating the event database with new registrations. Mid-morning, you'd draft a promotional email for an upcoming webinar and coordinate with a speaker on logistics. After lunch, you'd process invoices for award winners and prepare materials for the next Garden Network meeting, ending the day by updating the project timeline.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who American Horticultural Society Is Looking For
- A detail-oriented organizer who enjoys managing multiple program logistics simultaneously (e.g., processing invoices, updating databases, coordinating speaker travel).
- A clear communicator with strong writing skills, able to craft program descriptions, newsletters, and social media posts that engage gardeners and educators.
- Someone with a genuine interest in horticulture, environmental education, or nonprofit work—even if not an expert—who is eager to learn about gardening programs and AHS's history.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Excel for data tracking and Outlook for scheduling), with comfort learning new tools like CRM systems or event platforms.
📝 Tips for Applying to American Horticultural Society
Tailor your resume to highlight program coordination, event logistics, or customer service experience, even if in a different field (e.g., education, hospitality).
In your cover letter, mention specific AHS programs like the River Farm or National Children & Youth Garden Symposium to show you've researched their work.
Demonstrate your writing skills by submitting a clean, error-free application and optionally including a brief writing sample (e.g., a newsletter blurb or event description).
Emphasize your ability to work remotely and stay organized without direct supervision—mention tools you use (e.g., Trello, Asana, or shared calendars).
Show enthusiasm for gardening or environmental causes by mentioning personal experiences (e.g., community garden volunteer, Master Gardener trainee, or home gardening hobby).
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express genuine interest in AHS's mission and specific programs (e.g., the Awards program recognizing garden leaders, or the Youth Symposium).", 'Highlight your organizational and communication skills with concrete examples (e.g., coordinated a multi-speaker event, managed a mailing list, or wrote promotional materials).', 'Mention your ability to provide excellent customer service to diverse participants (members, award nominees, educators) and handle invoices/data accurately.', "Convey flexibility and willingness to support various programs—emphasize that you're a team player who can pivot between tasks like logistics, marketing, and data entry."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore AHS's website thoroughly, especially the 'Programs' section to understand each program (Lifelong Learning, Garden Network, Awards, Youth Symposium).
- → Read about River Farm's history and current initiatives—it's AHS's headquarters and a key part of their identity.
- → Check AHS's recent news or blog posts to see current priorities (e.g., new webinar series, award winners).
- → Look at AHS's social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to see how they engage members and promote programs.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending a generic cover letter that doesn't mention AHS by name or their specific programs—it shows lack of research.
- Overlooking the remote work aspect: failing to demonstrate self-discipline, communication skills, and experience working independently.
- Focusing only on gardening knowledge without emphasizing operational skills (logistics, data, customer service)—this role is about program management, not horticulture expertise.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to American Horticultural Society!