Horticulturst/Forestry Laborer

City of Idaho Falls; United States; On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

PERSI retirement

Job summary

The City of Idaho Falls is hiring a full-time Horticulturist/Forestry Laborer to plant, maintain, and beautify city flowerbeds, planters, trees and the general environment.

You will work with seasonal crews and volunteers, and operate a range of horticultural tools to keep public spaces vibrant and safe.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or equivalent with some specialized training.
• Six months of related experience or equivalent combination.
• Knowledge of botany, landscape design, plant cultivation, and forestry.

Responsibilities

• Planting, transplanting, fertilizing, cultivation and maintenance of flower beds and planters.
• Pruning, trimming, and removal of trees and shrubs; may lead a seasonal crew.
• Operate horticulture tools and equipment (rototiller, chainsaws, hedgetrimmers, etc.).
• Design and maintain beds and planters to enhance city beautification.
• Coordinate volunteers for Adopt-a-flowerbed program.
• Monitor greenhouse and nursery stock; apply fertilizers and pesticides as needed.

Skills

Botany knowledge

Landscape design

Plant growth

Communication

Physical labor

Education

High school diploma

Vocational training

Tools

Rototiller

Sod cutter

Chainsaws

Job description

Be a part of a dynamic team whose common goal is to make a difference in our community. It is amazing to know that by being a part of the City of Idaho Falls team, you would be doing important work for our community that affects people’s lives. Every day brings new challenges and rewards!

Job Description

General Purpose The City of Idaho Falls is currently accepting applications for the position of Horticulturist/Forestry Laborer. This full-time position performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled duties related to the planting, maintenance and beautification and upkeep of city flowerbeds, planters, trees and general environment.

Supervision Received

Works under the close supervision of the Horticulturist/forestry Technician and the general supervision of the Horticulturist and Urban Forester.

Supervision Exercised

Provides supervision to seasonal work crew and volunteers.

Essential Functions

• Performs planting, transplanting, fertilizing, cultivation, and maintaining City flower beds and planters, and assists in pruning, trimming, and removal of trees and shrubs; may lead a project crew during various seasonal operations.
• Uses and maintains rototiller, sod cutter, chainsaws, hedgetrimmers, vacuum seeder and other horticulture implements.
• Uses dump truck bucket truck, tractor/loader, chipper.
• Designs and maintains flowerbeds and planters to enhance beautification of the City.
• Solicit and coordinate volunteers for the Adopt-a-flowerbed Program.
• Maintains, monitors and cares for greenhouse and nursery stock.
• Applies fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides and needed.
• Assists with the ordering of nursery stock by submitting purchasing orders and inventorying nursery stock as it is received.
• Creates and maintains a seeding and fertilization schedule for the greenhouse and nursery to insure plants are ready when needed.
• Assists to monitor inventory and stock; apprises supervisory personnel of inventory shrinkage and need to place orders; may initiate re-order processes.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education and Experience: A. Graduation from high school; one (1) year of specialized training provide through vocational college, professional workshops or in-service desirable; AND B. Six (6) months relevant experience performing above or related duties; OR C. An equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Some knowledge of botany, landscape design, decorative plant cultivation, plant growth, entomology, soil science and forestry; ANSI standards; the use of and application of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides essential to the control of noxious weeds, insects, and pests; hardy and acceptable zone 4 plants; city ordinances related to street trees and shade trees; various diseases common to local tree species; fungal diseases, green house pests and nutrient deficiencies common to plants and flowers and related prevention and control methods; growth requirements or various perennial and annual plant species; procedures essential to successful removal, transplanting, and pruning of various types of park plants, shrubs, and trees. Working knowledge of pesticide laws and record keeping requirements; technical plant physiology; botany, landscape design, decorative plant cultivation, plant growth, entomology, soil science and forestry. Ability to follow routine verbal or written work instructions and assignments; ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; ability to establish effective working relationships with supervisors, fellow employees, public and volunteers; ability to perform strenuous physical labor; ability to work outdoors under extreme weather conditions. Ability to answer questions from the public regarding the type and care of plants.
3. Special Qualifications: Must possess a valid Idaho Driver’s License.
4. Work Environment: Tasks require a variety of physical activities generally involving muscular strain. Physical demands may occur in activities related to walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching, lifting, etc. Talking, hearing and seeing required in the daily performance of job duties. Exposure to weather, environmental hazards and dangers resulting from working around dangerous equipment. Mental application utilizes memory for details, emotional stability and discriminating thinking and creative problem solving.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $18.91 - $21.18

Benefits

• Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, vision and life coverage.
• You will also be eligible for retirement benefits through PERSI.
• PERSI is a defined benefit plan that offers guaranteed retirement benefits for full-time employees.

Join a team that’s shaping one of the best places to live and work in the country. As the largest city in eastern Idaho—and consistently recognized for job growth and livability—the City of Idaho Falls offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment. Our employees enjoy meaningful public service careers across 11 departments, including parks and recreation, utilities, public safety, and more. We offer competitive pay, generous benefits, and retirement through the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). With a strong community spirit, beautiful natural surroundings, and year-round recreational and cultural activities, Idaho Falls is more than a workplace—it’s a place to grow, thrive, and make a difference.