PART TIME: Horticultural Assistant

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County is seeking a Grounds Maintenance Technician to support landscape development and maintenance across parks, buildings, and rights-of-way. Responsibilities include implementing fertilizer and pesticide programs, maintaining plantings according to landscape plans, and preparing soil and site finish grades.

The role requires strong safety awareness and the ability to work with a team in an outdoor, municipal environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with six months or more landscape experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to operate heavy landscape equipment.
• Ability to read and follow landscape plans and maps.

Responsibilities

• Designs landscape enhancements and submits recommendations.
• Installs and maintains trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, and other plantings per plans.
• Implements fertilizer and pesticide programs; sends soil/plant samples for analysis; maintains records.
• Performs soil preparation including cultivation, amendments, and finish grade.
• Researches and reports findings; edits reports and publications.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Skills

Landscape knowledge

Communication skills

Equipment operation

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Soil testing equipment

Job description

REPORTS TO: Division Administrator
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Merit - Serves at the discretion of the Department Director
PAY GRADE: 110
SAFETY SENSITIVE: No

Purpose of Job

The purpose of this job is to research and prepare information for developing and servicing the outdoor environment at Athens-Clarke County Government parks, buildings, and rights-of-way. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordinating and accomplishing the objectives involved in landscape development and maintenance, as well as performing additional tasks as assigned.

Job Related Requirements

May be required to work on religious holidays. Regular and predictable attendance is required. Must work cooperatively with others. When requirements include vehicle operation, responsible for the safety, readiness, and operation of the vehicle and must abide by ACC's safe driving policy.

High school diploma or equivalent with six (6) months or more experience with landscape maintenance or construction, landscape architecture or design, urban planning, recreation planning, or a related field; or any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. Must possess a valid driver's license.

Duties

• Designs and or submits recommendations for landscape enhancements.
• Installs, evaluates and provides maintenance of trees, shrubbery, flowers, grasses, and other plantings from general instructions or landscape plans.
• Implements fertilizer and pesticide programs, including sending soil and plant samples for analysis, interpreting analysis results, implementing applications, and maintaining related records.
• Performs soil preparation including cultivation, amendment, and finish grade.
• Researches and provides reports/summaries of finding on topics relevant to the division; edits and critiques reports, and other publications.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of the Landscape Management Division of the Central Services Department.
• Knowledge of landscape, horticulture, irrigation systems, soil analysis, heavy grounds maintenance equipment, and policies and procedures as necessary in the completion of daily responsibilities.
• Knowledge of all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards, and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge and proficiency in interpreting landscape construction drawings, street maps, horticultural information, and other related charts, records, and reports.
• Knowledge and proficiency in the use of soil preparation tools, pruning tools, sprayers, spreaders, construction tools, irrigation tools, landscape supplies, and safety equipment.
• Skill and or understanding of using tractors, backhoes, loaders, dump trucks, mowers, power tools, and a variety of landscape maintenance tools and supplies.
• Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, operations, and equipment needs as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with fellow employees, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
• Ability to demonstrate good management and human relations skills.
• Ability to handle the required mathematical calculations.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information

(ADA) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment such as tractors, backhoes, front-end loaders, forklifts, various trucks, mowers, tillers, power tools, pruning tools, sprayers and spreaders, construction tools, irrigation tools, and other equipment and supplies needed for grounds keeping and landscape maintenance. Must be able to use body members to work, move or carry objects or materials. This position requires: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up-to 50 pounds of force frequently. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those of heavy work.

DATA CONCEPTION

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Requires the ability to hear, speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants/from supervisors.

LANGUAGE ABILITY

Requires the ability to read a variety of work orders, government ordinances, equipment maintenance manuals, employee handbooks,journals, records, reports, landscape designs, maps, policies, labels, ordinances and informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to prepare daily work reports, pesticide application notifications, equipment service requests, purchase orders, disciplinary actions, performance appraisals, and data for soil test samples using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control, and confidence.

INTELLIGENCE

Requires the ability to learn and understand complex principles and techniques; to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation and to make an independent judgment in the absence of management.

VERBAL APTITUDE

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of administrative, technical, or professional languages including horticultural terminology including Latin plant names, and botanical nomenclature.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; utilize and determine percentages; compute ratio and proportion and calculate area dimensions.

FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with transit and other construction equipment.

MOTOR COORDINATION

Requires the ability to coordinate hands, fingers, and eyes accurately in using various types of landscaping and grounds keeping machinery and equipment. Requires the ability to lift, bend, push, pull, manipulate equipment/tools and objects as the position necessitates.

MANUAL DEXTERITY

Requires the ability to handle a variety of hand and power tools as well as heavy machinery and equipment. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have moderate levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

COLOR DISCRIMINATION

May require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency.

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION

Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words). (Hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Requires the ability to communicate via telephone and/or two-way radio.

ACCGov is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. ACCGov is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Leah Jagatic, HR Coordinator, Human Resources, 762-400-6370 or [e-mail].