Botanical Garden Maintainer Horticulture (Full-Time/Union)

TurfNet; Union (NJ); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Pension and retirement plans

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Queens Botanical Garden is seeking a Botanical Garden Maintainer Horticulture (Full-Time/Union) to perform maintenance of grounds, equipment, and facilities. You will assist Gardeners in caring for living collections and managing plantings, while maintaining detailed records of work performed and materials used.

The role requires 3 years of professional landscaping experience, a high school diploma, and the ability to operate a wide range of tools and machinery under supervision.

Qualifications

• High school graduation required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in professional landscaping, gardening, and equipment maintenance.
• Ability to operate a wide range of gardening tools and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain grounds, greenhouses, paths, and facilities; snow removal and waste handling as needed.
• Assist Gardeners in care of living collections and transplanting trees/shrubs.
• Keep records and prepare reports on work performed and materials used.
• Supervise seasonal staff and volunteers.
• Drive and operate motorized equipment as required.

Skills

Record keeping

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Equipment maintenance

Lawn care

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Leaf blowers

Chainsaws

Lawn mowers

Rototiller

Hedge trimmers

Power edgers

Skid steer

Excavator

Job description

Botanical Garden Maintainer Horticulture (Full-Time/Union)

Botanical Garden MaintainerHorticulture(Full-Time/Union)

Code No. 92810

General Statement of Duties and Responsibilities

Under general supervision, performs responsible maintenance and repair of botanical garden grounds, equipment, and facilities; performs related work.

Assists the Gardeners in maintaining and caring for living collections in the Garden and Arboretum, performs related work as required.

Keeps records and prepares reports on work performed and materials used.

Examples of Typical Tasks

Maintenance and repair of grounds, property, greenhouses, path, sidewalks and other equipment, structures, and facilities in a botanical garden(which includes snow removal and assistance with garbage pick-up).

Undergeneralsupervision assists the Gardeners in the following tasks:

• Preparation of soil and seed beds. Grades, sods, weeds, mulches and mows lawns. Assists in repairing damaged planted areas, fertilizing and watering soil. Is trained in pruning and spraying trees, shrubs and plantsand assists with integrated pest control.
• Performs groundskeeping tasks such as mowing, trimming and edging, turf renovation, leaf collection, pruning, litter and debris removal, ice and snow removal, perimeter sidewalk cleaning
• Operation and care of hand and power gardening tools and equipment. Makes necessary operating adjustments to and repairs and maintains same
• Manages 88 station inground 2-wire irrigation system with computer controller. Performs electrical repairs, plumbing repairs, scheduling, programming, cleaning, and troubleshooting system alarms
• Keeps records and prepares reports on work performed and materials used
• Drives vehicles and operates any other motorized equipment incidental to the performance of duties
• Assists in and performs tasks such as digging up, balling, burlapping and transplanting trees and shrubs. Digs up and transplants sod.
• Performs tasks involved in maintenance and operations of greenhouses and nurseries.
• Supervises subordinate seasonal employees as well as volunteers
• As directed, performs various tasks in connection with cleaning of groundsincluding removal of snow, trash and other obstructionsand painting of fixtures and equipment

Qualification Requirements

High school graduation and three (3) years of experience in professional landscaping,gardening work,and equipment maintenance and repair.

Appointments or Promotions

Appointments to positions of this class are subject to personnel administration policies and procedures of the botanical garden concerned, provided that all appointees must possess at least the qualifications recommended above.

License Requirements

A motor vehicle operator's license valid in New York State at time of appointment and ability to maintain.

Additional Requirements

• May involve weekend, evening and emergency (for example, snow removal) work
• Machine and equipment operation and maintenance, small and large, including leaf blowers, string trimmers, edgers, aerator, rototiller, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, walk behind mowers, zero turn mowers, tractor, skid steer, excavator, pickup truck, dump truck, woodchipper, utility vehicle, electric golf cart, snow plows, snow blowers,
• Performs heavy physical labor on a daily basis in all weather conditions,
• May be required to pass a written and/or practical test

Strength in several of the following is desired

• Excellent record keeping, communication (both verbal and written), and interpersonal skills
• Training staff in proper use of equipment
• Training and working alongside subordinate staff

Roman type is generally taken directly from the New York City job description.It has been added for clarification for Queens Botanical Garden. Some language in this description is taken from other City titles.

Schedule

This is a full-time Union position with benefits. This position requires a 40 hour/week Sunday through Thursday 7am-4pm schedule.

Employment Type

Full-time

Benefits offered include excellent medical, vision, dental and life insurance, generous PTO, paid holidays, employee discounts, access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions, pension and other retirement savings plans.

Experience Requirements

Three (3) years of experience in professional landscaping, gardening work, and equipment maintenance and repair.

Educational Requirements

High school graduation

Special Requirements

• May involve weekend, evening and emergency (for example, snow removal) work
• Machine and equipment operation and maintenance, small and large, including leaf blowers, string trimmers, edgers, aerator, rototiller, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, walk behind mowers, zero turn mowers, tractor, skid steer, excavator, pickup truck, dump truck, woodchipper, utility vehicle, electric golf cart, snow plows, snow blowers,
• Performs heavy physical labor on a daily basis in all weather conditions,
• May be required to pass a written and/or practical test