Landscape Technician I

Salary : $38,833.60 - $62,129.60 Annually
Location : Recreation Dept. (Main - 109 W Second Ave), Gastonia, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 01729
Department: Recreation
Division: Parks & Cultural Svcs/Recreation Centers
Opening Date: 12/19/2025
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt


General Definition of Work
Performs responsible skilled work in the repair, maintenance and care of the City's parks, City facilities, beautification areas, athletic fields and related structures and equipment; Performs rough carpentry and painting in the repair, maintenance and construction of ground structures and equipment; Does related work in Park and facility maintenance as required.
Work is performed under regular supervision. Supervision may be exercised over a small crew or unskilled helpers.
Essential Functions/Duties

• Participates in the skilled and semi-skilled grounds, parks, facility, and field maintenance; 20%
• Performs various duties associated with field preparation; 20%
• Operates a variety of mowers in grass cutting operations; 20%
• Cuts, prunes and trims trees, shrubs, hedges and maintains landscape areas; 15%
• Performs rough carpentry and painting in the repair, maintenance and construction of ground structures and equipment;10%
• Assists in repairing irrigation and small equipment; 5%
• Operates light automotive or power equipment in connection with above tasks; 5%
• Runs errands, picks up and delivers supplies and materials. Assists in all areas of Recreation Maintenance as required. Performs other tasks as required. 5%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities


Working knowledge of the tools, materials and equipment used in grounds maintenance; general knowledge of the materials, equipment, tools and techniques of the standard building trades; good knowledge of safety precautions applicable to the duties of the class; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to use common hand tools; ability to operate simple machinery and equipment; good physical condition.

Education/Experience/Physical Demands/Special Requirements/Additional Information


EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:


Any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of high school, and experience in grounds maintenance and horticulture work.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:


Ability to push, pull, or lift 50 lbs.; manual dexterity required with ability to operate mowers, tractors, and other lawn equipment in a recreational environment such as an athletic field or park area.

The physical activity of this position includes


Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.


Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.


Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.


Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.


Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.


Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.


Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.


Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.


Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.


Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.


Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.


Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.


Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.


Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.


Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.


Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.


Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.


Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.


2. The physical requirements of this position


Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.


3. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision
The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: (Check all of the following which apply): operate machines such as lathes, drill presses, power saws and mills where seeing job is at or within arm's reach performs mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a non-repetitive nature such as carpenters, technicians, service people, plumbers, painters, mechanics, etc.


4. The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position


The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions; Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.


The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.


The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.


The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.


The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.


The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.


The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.


The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.


The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.


The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.


The worker frequently is in close quarters, crawl space, shafts, manholes, small-enclosed rooms, small sewage and water line pipes, and other areas that could cause claustrophobia.


The worker is required to function in narrow aisles or passageways.


Must possess a valid appropriate driver's license with acceptable driving history. Drug screening criminal background, and a POET (post offer employment testing) are required.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.

The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H
High Deductible Health Plan with HSA
Dental
Vision
Life
Supplemental Insurance Plans
Pension (Local Government Employees' Retirement System)
401(k)
457
Short-term/Long-term Disability
Dependent Care Plan
Employee Assistance Program
On-Site Health Clinic
Employee Educational Assistance Program
Sick Leave (12 days per year)
Initial Employment Vacation: Starting at 12 days per year
Holidays (11 days per year)
Personal Day (1 day per year)

A comprehensive list of benefits can be found online at