Lead Steward (2026 Season)
Lead Stewards maintain company standards of quality, aesthetics and ecological best practices in Refugia’s award-winning Greenway Network of functional, resilient and immersive native habitat throughout PA, DE & NJ. The ideal candidate is a hands-on motivated problem solver with 3+ years experience leading a team in professional landscape maintenance.
This is a not an entry level position. We are looking to meet a dedicated horticulturist who is passionate about functional resilient landscapes with a proven track record in upholding standards of quality, aesthetics and ecological best practices at a variety of scales. Must-have’s include:
Strong ability to read a landscape and reinforce design intent while balancing plant succession
Confidence to balance immediate tasks with long-term to-do’s, defining priorities for co-workers and delegating tasks accordingly
Robust experience managing properties with an eye towards client budgets; both current and future
This is a full-time position effective March 2026; with the possibility of some Fall 2025 onboarding (depending on applicant availability).
Benefits package include company holidays, PTO, 401k with employer match, healthcare/dental stipend, paid parental leave, continuing ed. workwear stipend.
Summer Internship Program 2026
Refugia’s three month summer internship is a unique opportunity for those seeking to immerse themselves in real-world landscape design and stewardship with an award-winning, mission-driven firm. During this internship, candidates will experience multiple facets of ecological design-build, its methodology and best practices.
This is a field focused internship with regular opportunities to shadow the Design, Nursery, Sales and Install teams. Plus involvement in company-wide field trips and educational events.
Applications welcomed from BLA, BSLA, MLA, BS, BHort, MHort and those with an academic background in forestry, ecology, arboriculture related field.
Paid full-time 3 month internship. Flexible start and end dates. Housing not included.
Applications open & more info available december 2025.
ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN & STEWARDSHIP?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We hire year-round when meeting candidates with unique qualifications or experience. We encourage talented individuals to introduce themselves via a cover letter, resume and portfolio (if applicable) via email Successful applicants often:
Have a proven track record in ecologically driven residential design and/or stewardship
Exhibit expertise working with native plant habitats
Demonstrate an awareness of landscape design-build from multiple vantage points
Are enthusiastic about our Greenway Network methodology and best practices
speaking engagements
We love what we do, and we love talking about it!
We’ve spoken to home gardeners at the Philadelphia Flower Show, appeared as podcast guests to discuss our Greenway initiative, presented to the trade at ecological landscape conferences and offered in-the-field education for schools and neighborhood groups.
Whatever the context, we feel strongly that spreading the word about the importance of an ecologically orientated landscape matters.
seasonal field work
thank you for your interest in working with refugia
Check back here for Seasonal Help positions most often posted in the Spring + Fall.
We look to forward to meeting you!