LANDSCAPING WORKER PARKS DEPARTMENT

1. Purpose of Job

Maintains all natural and ornamental landscape areas on park property. Work involves growing and maintaining lawns of parks and cemeteries, flowers, shrubs, trails, and trees as well as executing the beautification plan for the parks and city managed cemeteries. All while using good horticultural and landscaping practices.

Must be able to work holidays, nights and weekends. (i.e. meetings, special events and tournaments) 

1. Essential Job Duties 
2. Maintaining Park Landscapes

• Assists in creating bedding and landscape plans; determines planting scheme, selects and purchases plants, bulbs, purchases seeds; sows, transplants, waters, and fertilizes plants, computes, orders, and makes substitutions for all required quantities of plants, seeds, and other materials and equipment required to perform the work.
• Oversees growing and maintenance of a wide variety of plants and performs a wide range of gardening work, such as using proper pruning techniques on trees and shrubs, when needed, applying fertilizers and pesticides, installing new ornamental and seasonal color beds, correcting drainage and other erosion issues, and applying mulches as needed.
• Maintains, repairs and installs irrigation systems in all landscaping or ROW areas. Assist in controlling the entire irrigation system that includes, but is not limited to, proper water management of all landscaped areas.  Performs periodic maintenance checks, repairs leaks in lines or valves, and winterization.

1. Maintains and Transports Equipment  

• Performs general inspection of all equipment including fluids, belts, and other moving parts before using.
• Performs general maintenance of equipment including cleaning, greasing, and blade sharpening, and performing minor repairs.
• Cleans and maintains all equipment and work areas.
• Loads and unloads all equipment for transportation to worksites.

1. Urban Forestry  

• Maintains park trees; assists with the pruning and/or removal of park trees.  Uses an aerial lift  to perform necessary maintenance.  Will at times be under the supervision of the Urban Forestry Supervisor.
• May assist with routine Urban Forestry maintenance to all trails including the mountain bike trail system along with installation and/or repairs of any amenities within the parks system.
• Responsibilities include blowing surfaces, edging and string trimming within easements of all trails.

1. D.  Training  

• Internal - Forklift, Skid Steer, Chainsaw, Chipper, Stump Grinder
• Professional training as it relates to the position. 

III. Other Job Duties

Performs other job duties as assigned, including:

• Performs minor repairs to cemetery walls, fences, and markers.
• Assists with preparing parks for special events.
• Maintains Park Water features such as ponds and ornamental fountains.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities to assist other employees in the department as required. 

1. Primary Job Challenges

Primary challenges of this position include understanding horticultural practices and being able to work with and maintain a wide variety of plants and landscapes. 

1. Equipment Operated

• Operates and maintains backpack blowers, chainsaws, bed edger’s, string trimmers, skid steers, mini-excavator, aerators, tractors, tree chippers, tillers, ATVs and augers.
• Computer and computer software including virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams and other office equipment. 

1. Key Competencies Required

• Job Content Knowledge: Has general knowledge of policies, procedures, and activities of the City, and grounds keeping and construction practices as they pertain to the performance of duties related to this position.  Is able to determine and decide upon procedures to be implemented in maintaining safety codes and standards. Knows how to determine and ensure the safety of work sites. Is skilled in the operation of a variety of equipment utilized in the performance of assigned duties. Is knowledgeable of the language and terminology used within the department.
• Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills:  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to define complex problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Teamwork:  Develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.  Encourages others to express their ideas and opinions.  Provides input into identifying and solving problems.  Anticipates need of others for information about job tasks and work environment and provides it to them in a timely manner.  Willingly assists others with job tasks when appropriate. 

VII. Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands: Performance of the essential duties of this job requires the incumbent to:                                          

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Regularly move about around different worksites.
• Constantly operates equipment or machinery such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, blowers, tractors, bush hogs, bobcats and chainsaws.
• Frequently positions self to maintain work area and items needed to complete daily tasks.
• Regularly communicates information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Occasionally ascends/descends equipment.       
• Regularly moves/transports up to 10 pounds.
• Frequently moves/transports up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally moves/transports up to 100 pounds. 

Work Environment:  Performance of the essential duties of this job requires:                                                         

• Frequent Work near moving mechanical parts
• Occasionally work in high, precarious places
• Occasional exposure to fumes or airborne particles
• Occasional exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals
• Regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Occasional exposure to vibration.

The work environment is loud (examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment).  

VIII. Qualifications

Education and Experience: The required knowledge, skill, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties are normally acquired through obtaining a one-year certificate from college or technical school or six months to one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Required Certifications/Licenses:    

TN Driver’s license

CPR/First Aid

EEO/Drug-Free Workplace