Landscaper

Landscaper

Under supervision, the Landscaper will work with the Director of Horticulture & Grounds along with Zoo staff to accomplish the care, maintenance and enhancement of the landscapes and gardens. The position also includes some refuse management and participation in volunteer workdays, events, and programs within the Horticulture and Grounds Department. The person in this position has the task of maintaining and improving the daily appearance of Knoxville Zoo grounds and gardens.

Responsibilities include:

• Exemplifying Zoo Knoxville core values through interactions with guests, volunteers, and fellow team members.
• Following and performing the assigned routinely scheduled operations and activities of the Horticulture and Grounds Department.
• Maintaining the quality, appearance, cleanliness, safety, functionality and usability of the grounds within the park.
• Completing daily reports of activities, material/equipment use, and time management.
• Demonstrating continued interest in and knowledge of advancements in the horticultural/botanical/landscaping field.
• Adhering to all governmental or other regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to national, state, and local codes, as well as ADA standards, AZA standards, USDA (Animal and Plant Regulations), TWRA, OSHA, MOSH, EPA, DOT, etc.

Qualifications include:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must possess a valid state issued driver license.
• Experience in the field of horticulture, grounds maintenance, landscape installation and maintenance, interior plant maintenance, and/or greenhouse operations is preferred.
• Must be able to safely operate several types of maintenance related hand tools, power tools, and light equipment.
• Must be able to interact with employees/volunteers in a positive, constructive, and professional manner.
• Must be organized, efficient, accurate, self-motivated, and neat.
• Must have legible handwriting, good communication skills in English (both oral and written), including, but not limited to, having good listening skills, good oral and written comprehension, and having good speech clarity and recognition when dealing with others and while communicating on phone, two-way radio, or other forms of communication devices.
• Must have the ability to react quickly, effectively, and logically in high stress and/or emergency situations and to follow instructions as given.
• The individual in this position should have a minimum of one years' experience in a grounds maintenance field and a high school diploma, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Working conditions include:

• Ability to communicate using a 2-way radio, email, and telephone.
• Possibility of weekend and some holiday shifts.
• Ability to work within close proximity of exotic and domestic animals.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen.
• Physically capable of safely operating the variety of tools and equipment listed above and accomplishing the duties and responsibilities as outlined above.
• Ability to tolerate extremes in outdoor temperatures and weather conditions.
• Ability to work while bending, crouching, kneeling, or balancing for extended periods of time, and should be able to crawl, push, pull, climb, while maneuvering tools and supplies, and be able to remain on feet for extensive periods.
• Must have the ability to provide flexible working hours when necessary and may have to work early morning, late evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays.