Green Stormwater Infrastructure Operations Horticulture Specialist

Job Summary:

The Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Operations Horticulture Specialist will be a contributing member of a team responsible for GSI maintenance and operations across the city. The City of Raleigh is expanding the role greenspaces and natural drainages play as nature-based solutions to critical infrastructure needs to improve surface water quality and protect water resources. The new GSI Maintenance Team is a cross-departmental interdisciplinary team between the Parks Maintenance and Natural Resources and Raleigh Stormwater divisions. Our goal is to deliver smart stormwater management to preserve and protect life, support healthy natural resources, enhance habitats, and complement sustainable and equitable growth for the community. We are seeking a passionate horticultural specialist to support this new and innovative team.

The ideal candidate for this position is an interdisciplinary professional who is comfortable working across agencies. They are equally comfortable talking to engineers, wetland scientists, and landscape maintenance staff. They are also comfortable working with the public – handling citizen concerns, as well as, community groups, youth groups, and volunteers. This candidate grounds their broad perspective in ecological systems with practical experience in landscape management. They will utilize their skills and knowledge in practice to successfully achieve our goals of stormwater mitigation, habitat provision, and equitable distribution of services. Finally, they are driven to become an expert in this rapidly developing field - seeking out continuing education where available and being a leader in this innovative approach to managing stormwater.

The City of Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country.  Driven by a strong economy and outstanding quality of life, Raleigh is consistently ranked among the nation’s best places to live and operate a business. The “City of Oaks” is also known for its beautiful natural resources, parks, and greenway trails, with approximately 58,000 acres of tree canopy, over 220 parks, 120 miles of greenway trail, more than 10 lakes, and 1,200 miles of streams.
  
Come be a part of the city that gets noticed! 

• Raleigh ranked as #3 best place in the US to live – US News and World Report’s Best Places to Live Rankings for 2023-2024
• Raleigh ranked #4 City in the US as “Best Places to Live” – Money Magazine 2022-2023
• Raleigh is #4 Best U.S. City for Work/Life Balance & Mental Health – Coworking Café Study, January 2023
• Raleigh is the 2nd Best State Capital for Safety & More – WalletHub, February 2023
• Raleigh is the 2nd Most Climate-Resilient City – Architectural Digest, February 2023
• Raleigh is the 8th Biggest Boomtown – LendingTree, February 2023
• Raleigh ranks 10th among 415 cities as best place for college students to live – WalletHub, December 2022
• Raleigh ranks No. 1 as best place for veterans to call home – WalletHub, November 2022

• Participate in the operations of a GSI maintenance team, including plant maintenance, identification, and care; Activities may include planting, dividing, hand-weeding, herbicide applications, cut-backs, and mulching
• Implement standard operating procedures to coordinate effective and efficient delivery of work products and GSI maintenance activities
• Participate in specialized and routine maintenance of Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) to enhance and prolong the life cycle of City assets; Maintenance may include mowing, invasive species management (including aquatics), trash or debris removal, vegetation selection and replacement, repairing erosion and sedimentation, mulching, etc
• Complete work orders in a timely and successful manner to maintain SCMs, and report issues as relevant
• Engage with the public, including youth groups and other volunteers, to assure quality product delivery and equitable engagement
• Provide programmatic and technical support to ensure the functional management of engineered stormwater solutions (e.g. - constructed wetland systems, bioretention basins, innovative rights-of-way GSI, etc.)
• Maintain accurate tracking data in asset management software

Education and Experience
High School Diploma or GED and four years of related experience.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Licensing/Certifications

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• North Carolina Pesticide Applicators License (or ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire).

• Valid North Carolina Class B Driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire
• Certified Stormwater Control Measure Inspection and Maintenance Professional by North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
• Certified Plant Professional

• Proper horticultural practices and operations
• Plant and natural plant communities' identification
• Pesticide applications
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure principles, applications, and operations
• Wetlands, wetland engineering, and/or delineation
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment)
• Occupational hazards and applicable safety principles and practices
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment)
• Customer service principles
• Assessing and evaluating schedules and timing for various planting, pruning, fertilizing and maintenance tasks
• Organizing tasks, meeting deadlines and prioritizing competing demands
• Providing and overseeing the maintenance of plants, trees, landscape, turf, vegetation and equipment
• Providing direction to others to meet standards
• Providing attention to detail in assignments
• Comprehending reference books and manuals
• Operating assigned tools and equipment
• Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications

• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

ADA and Other Requirements: 
Positions in this class typically require stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

HEAVY WORK:

Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in both the field and in an indoor office environment with frequent exposure to hazardous physical conditions (such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibration, etc.); frequent exposure to atmospheric conditions (such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, etc.); moderate exposure to hazardous materials (such as chemicals, blood and other body fluids); frequent exposure to environmental conditions (such as disruptive people, imminent danger, or a threatening environment); frequent exposure to extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting and movement restrictions; and moderate exposure intense noise or travel.
 
Note:
This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) designation may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Salary : $42,357 - $68,480