Gardener / Qualified Gardener

City of Greater Geelong; Warrnambool; On-site; AUD 69,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Greater Geelong in Warrnambool, Victoria, is seeking a Gardener/Qualified Gardener to manage open and outdoor spaces, including community parks and streetscapes. The role emphasizes sustainable practices and customer-focused service.

The successful candidate will have horticultural experience, a medium truck licence, and a Working with Children check, with band 2 or band 3 salary levels depending on qualification.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of a range of plant materials and their growing conditions.
• Extensive experience in horticultural maintenance in parks.
• Experience operating park maintenance machinery and equipment.
• Current Medium truck licence and compliance with safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Weed, mow, propagate, and spray as required.
• Prepare sites, plant, and maintain gardens; liaise with communities.
• Operate and maintain park equipment safely and efficiently.
• Record maintenance work time and plant data in the management system.

Skills

Horticultural knowledge

Plant maintenance

Equipment operation

Safety compliance

Education

Medium truck licence

Tools

Park maintenance equipment

Job description

Gardener / Qualified Gardener City of Greater Geelong•Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

In this role, you will be responsible for the effective and sustainable management of Council’s open and outdoor spaces including community parks, reserve assets, streetscapes, and recreational spaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Follow all reasonable directions given by the Team Leader and other more senior staff in accordance with operational requirements which may include, but is not limited to: weeding, mowing, propagation, spraying of appropriate insecticides, herbicides and fungicides to a regular or modified program as required.
• Undertake tasks including site preparation, planting, maintenance, and liaising with community groups and the public.
• Operate and maintain plant and equipment, which may include, but is not limited to, sprayers, hand/small ride on mowers, small tractors and related machinery, in an effective and efficient manner and in compliance with relevant laws/regulations, codes of practice and applicable directives.
• Work within all Council health and safety policies and procedures.
• Display a positive personal contribution in assisting the City Parks and Gardens Unit in providing a customer focused service and commercially driven operation.
• Effective and efficient recording of maintenance works undertaken time sheets and plant sheets or recorded on Council’s Management Maintenance system.

Contract, Salary & Hours

Work type: Permanent Full-time Classification: Band 2 $68,640 pa plus super (unqualified) Band 3 $70,838 pa plus super (qualified)

Qualifications & Experience

• Good knowledge of a range of plant material including their growing conditions and maintenance requirements and ability to further develop knowledge through research and practical observation.
• Extensive experience in the broad range of horticultural maintenance activities performed in the Parks environment.
• Experience in operating a range of Park’s Maintenance plant and equipment.
• A current Medium truck licence.
• Current Working with Children check (Employee).

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check and a pre-employment medical assessment as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

Child Safety Responsibilities

We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy .

Diversity and Inclusion

At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment.

For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.

Contact

Enquiries: Matthew Osborn | Parks Operational Leader | [e-mail]

Email: [e-mail]