Qualified Gardener

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

Job summary

City of Greater Geelong is seeking a dedicated Parks and Gardens worker to manage and maintain open and outdoor spaces, including parks and streetscapes. The role requires a Certificate III in Horticulture or Parks and Gardens and involves both hands-on grounds work and community liaison.

The successful candidate will have extensive horticultural maintenance experience, be capable of operating park maintenance equipment, and hold a current medium truck licence (desirable).

Qualifications

• Certificate III in Horticulture / Parks & Gardens or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in horticultural maintenance in parks environments.
• Experience operating a range of park maintenance plant and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Follow directions from Team Leader and senior staff; conduct weeding, mowing, propagation, and spraying as required.
• Undertake site preparation, planting, maintenance, and liaison with community groups/public.
• Operate and maintain plant/equipment (sprayers, mowers, tractors) in compliance with laws and safety policies.
• Follow health and safety policies and contribute to a customer-focused, commercially driven operation.
• Record maintenance works/time sheets/plant sheets in the Council maintenance system.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Horticultural maintenance

Operate maintenance equipment

Working with Children check

National Police Check

Education

Certificate III in Horticulture / Parks & Gardens

Tools

Medium vehicle licence

Job description

Job no: 500900
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Classification: Band 3 - $70,838.95 pa plus super
Categories: Parks & Natural Assets

About the role

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.

Work type: Permanent Full-time
Classification: Band 2 $68,630 pa plus super (unqualified)
Band 3 $70,838 pa plus super (qualified)

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.
• Displaying 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 Councils Management Maintenance system.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have a Certificate III in Horticulture / Certificate III in Parks and Gardens or similar, or a genuine passion for horticultural maintenance in the parks environment.

• 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. (desirable however not essential)
• 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.

We are the City

From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience. We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.

We Acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the Land, Waterways and Skies. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We Acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of our Greater Geelong community today.