GARDENER 2 - FORESTRY

City of Wichita; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Wichita is seeking a skilled gardening and grounds maintenance supervisor to lead a crew in maintaining City parks and facilities. You will perform supervision, operate standard tools and small engines, and ensure safe, efficient work practices under general supervision.

This role requires a valid Kansas class A CDL within six months, pesticide applicator certification, and ability to work outdoors in varied conditions.

Qualifications

• One year of horticultural maintenance, tree care, or landscape maintenance experience.
• A valid driver's license.
• A valid Kansas class A CDL within six months of hire; Canadian or Mexican citizens may need CDL from home country.
• Ability to obtain State of Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification within one year.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Maintain trees including cultivating, transplanting, irrigating, pruning, spraying, and fertilizing.
• Maintain cleanliness and general maintenance of equipment, vehicles, and trailers.
• Remove snow from walks and other areas.
• Operate forestry-related small engine equipment including chainsaws.
• Repair irrigation systems.
• Supervise other employees as needed.
• Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Skills

Supervision

Team leadership

Clear communication

Outdoor work tolerance

Pesticide handling

Chainsaw operation

Tiller operation

Irrigation knowledge

Hazard awareness

Planning & organizing

Tools

Chainsaw

Garden tiller

Spray equipment

Irrigation equipment

Job description

This is gardening and grounds maintenance and supervisory work. Work is performed independently under general supervision, with directions for technical work being provided by a supervisor.

The day and hours for this position is: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Bargaining Unit: Service Employee's International (SEIU)

**Employees within the department or division shall be given first consideration**

**Posting may close at anytime

• Maintains trees, including cultivating, transplanting, irrigating, pruning, spraying, and fertilizing.
• Maintains the cleanliness and general maintenance of work-related equipment, vehicles, and trailers.
• Removes snow from walks and other areas.
• Maintains tree stock prior to planting season.
• Operates and maintains spray equipment to apply appropriate tree pest control measures as needed.
• Balls and burlaps trees as needed.
• Supervises other employees as needed.
• Operates forestry related small engine equipment including chainsaws.
• Repairs irrigation systems.
• These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive.
• Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

• Knowledge of the standard tools, equipment, materials, methods, and practices used in gardening and grounds maintenance work.
• Knowledge of hazards and safety precautions of the work.
• Working knowledge of horticulture, floriculture, irrigation systems, symptoms of plant disease, parasites, and insect pests, and of the means and methods used for their control.
• Skill in the use of standard hand and power equipment employed in the propagation and cultivation of garden and grass areas.
• Ability to push and/or pull and operate a large garden tiller.
• Ability to safely and skillfully use a chainsaw.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 150 pounds with the assistance of another.
• Ability to tolerate outdoors, open grounds, windy conditions, and pesticide and herbicide handling.
• Ability to shovel snow using a three-pound shovel, and lifting up to a ten-pound load 36 inches high and moving it up to six feet.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a State of Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in General Knowledge Category 9A--Noxious Weeds or a General
• Knowledge 3-A, 3-B ornamental and turf pest control at the department's discretion.
• Ability to maintain a valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL). If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to have or obtain a CDL from your home country.
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Required Experience and Training

• One (1) year of experience either in horticultural maintenance, tree care, or in landscape maintenance work.

• A valid driver's license.

• A valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL) within six (6) months of hire. If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to have or obtain a CDL from your home country.

• Ability to obtain State of Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in General Knowledge Category 9A--Noxious Weeds or a General within one year of employment.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of a sponsorship.

Preferred Experience and Training

• A valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL).

Please note that this position is part of a random drug testing pool, and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.

Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.

Starting pay for current City employees will be determined by City of Wichita policy or applicable bargaining unit agreement.