Landscaper

Primary Reason Why Classification Exists

To perform skilled manual landscaping work for the Parks and Recreation department.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class is responsible for the maintenance of all landscaped areas within the City. Emphasis of the work is on serving as a crew leader with other maintenance personnel engaged in landscape maintenance. This classification also provides manual labor to other divisions such as maintenance of city cemeteries, Greenways, Parks, as well as athletic field turf/grounds maintenance. The incumbent in this class also serves as an advisor to City Tree Board and Appearance Committee. Work is performed with some degree of independence since other supervisory personnel may not be present. Work is supervised by a maintenance or operations supervisor and is evaluated on basis of attaining individual and team performance objectives, quantity and quality of work, safety of crew members, and responsiveness to requests or complaints.

• Performs technical work in designing, planting, and maintaining landscaped areas for all City facilities including parks, athletic facilities, cemeteries, greenways, entrance sign area, and other various beauty spots
• Plans, schedules, maintains the pruning, trimming, and weeding of new and existing landscaped areas; collaborates with other personnel to schedule varied work projects; creates work schedules, calendars, and work orders for landscaping
• Provides training on planting programs including selecting species, landscape design, and site selection; prepares reports of tree planting and tree care techniques
• Assists with Tree City USA program; maintains and help preserve trees in City facilities; implements a cooperative tree planting program including developing materials, brochures, extent of work completed, spending each year; serves as a liaison with the Community Appearance program to create and maintain landscaped areas throughout the City; coordinates the City's effort in the Living Tree Memorial Program; works with City Tree Board, Appearance Commission, and other committees on landscaping and beautification projects; attends meetings, forestry classes, workshops, and clinics
• Keeps track of all work completed including related to utility tree removal; attends meetings and makes recommendations for consideration by the NC Forestry Service
• Plants trees, flowers and shrubs; prices and purchases materials and supplies; installs borders around shrubs and flower beds to landscaped areas in the City; design downtown hanging baskets, planter boxes and containers; mulch and watering areas as needed
• Contacts vendors to secure prices and purchases materials for projects
• Develops and implements grounds fertilization, maintenance, and pesticide application programs for City facilities
• Provides assistance with cemetery crews; locates grave sites; assists with data collection and recording; clears grave sites of old flowers; re-fills sunken graves; sows grass
• Operates various vehicles and equipment, trucks, tractors with various attachments, mowers, weed eaters, shrub/tree pruning equipment, chain saws, and a variety of hand tools; inspects and maintains all vehicles, equipment, tools
• Empties trash cans; picks up litter; clears walks and parking lots; vandalism repairs; mows, trims grass, removes debris at City facilities, Greenways, cemeteries, parks, Depot, parking lots, and other areas; rakes and removes leaves; mulches and water planted/landscaped areas
• Provides assistance to Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Division
• Assists with special events and Holiday decorations
• Performs related tasks as required

• Thorough knowledge of landscaping, turf grass, and grounds maintenance practices
• Thorough knowledge of tree, plant and turf disease and necessary chemicals for remediation
• General knowledge of effective communication principles and practices
• Ability to operate various vehicles, landscaping and mowing equipment as well as small hand tools
• Ability to analyze soil conditions and make recommendations for improvement
• Ability to work outdoors throughout the year
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, the public, public officials, appointed boards and commissions, and vendors
• Ability to speak before public groups, boards, and commissions and represent the City; ability to use tact, judgment, and discretion when interacting with the public
• Ability to operate a personal computer and associated software; ability to read and write
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others

• Valid North Carolina commercial driver's license (CDL-B)
• Licensed Pesticide Applicator's License (Ornamental & Turf)
• First Aid, CPR and AED certifications preferred

Salary : $18 - $22