Landscape Specialist I

Job Description

Job Description

Department: Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs 

Pay Grade: 505

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Code: R880

JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of this classification is to perform landscaping duties that enhance, protect, and maintain the physical integrity, natural beauty, and physical resources of the City parks, grounds, athletic fields and landscaped areas. Work involves a combination of manual labor, tool and equipment operation, the application of pesticides and herbicides, and the safe operation of tools and equipment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

· Performs specialized landscaping duties throughout City parks, recreational areas and grounds surrounding City buildings and facilities; tills and prepares soil; plants, waters, mulches, prunes, and shapes trees, bushes, or shrubs; plants, waters and mulches flowers; removes weeds; blows leaves from curbs, walkways and parking lots; and picks up fallen limbs and other debris.

· Clears sidewalks, walkways, and trails of debris and/or mud.

· Collects trash and debris and transports to appropriate receptacles/dumpster sites.

· Cleans signs in the parks, as needed

· Applies pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to plants as dictated by type and condition of plant, seasonal needs, plant life cycle, and potential disease, insects, or other plant threats; prepares chemicals using established formulas; loads application equipment; and follows safety guidelines.

· Maintains lawns, athletic fields and irrigation areas; prepares ground for seeding and/or sod; measures, cuts and lays sod; sows grass seed; waters, aerates and fertilizes grass areas; mows, trims and edges lawns and athletic fields.

· Pressure washes sidewalks, patios, pavilions, buildings, and/or other structures.

· Assists in installation and maintenance of irrigation systems; lays PVC pipes for irrigation systems; assists in installs and/or sets up electrical wires for valve boxes; assists in setting irrigation controls for scheduled watering days and times; maintains and repairs water lines, sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads; repairs electrical lines.

· Performs minor construction repair on wood fences, metal fences and boardwalks; and brick paver repair, as needed.

· Operates and maintains a variety of hand and power tools and light to heavy equipment such as lawn mowers, seed and fertilization spreaders, edgers, trimmers, chain saws, rakes, tillers, herbicide/pesticide sprayers, trencher, sod cutter, tractors, backhoes, skid-steers, and dump trucks; performs preventive maintenance and routine repair on tools and equipment; informs supervisor of major equipment problems and/or need for replacement; ensures tools and supplies are properly cleaned, stored and secured.

· Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Requires a High school diploma or GED; supplemented by two (2) years of experience performing landscaping and/or grounds keeping work; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Licenses or Certifications:

· May be required to possess a Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License in Category 24 - Ornamental and Turf Pest Control.

· Possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license with a satisfactory motor vehicle record (MVR).

Special Requirements:

· None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Knowledge of the principles, techniques, safety requirements and tools and equipment used for landscaping, turf maintenance and pesticide/herbicide application.

· Knowledge of the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems.

· Skill in the proper and safe use of landscaping tools, equipment and motorized vehicles.

· Ability to perform heavy manual labor and equipment operation.

· Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

· Ability to exchange information for the purpose of clarifying details within well-established policies, procedures and standards.

· Ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

· Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

· Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. May include counting, recording of counts, and basic measuring.

· Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form. Involves semi-routine standardized work with some latitude for independent judgment concerning choices of action.

· Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is medium which requires the ability to exert light to medium effort that involves walking or standing virtually all of the time. Work may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of medium weight (20-50 pounds). Tasks also require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.