Parksworker II - Horticulture

The Parksworker II - Horticulture is a semi-skilled to skilled position involving greenhouse production and maintenance in addition to development and ongoing maintenance of City horticultural displays, both outdoors and indoors.  This position is primarily physical in nature but includes research, garden design, mapping, and record-keeping.  Other non-horticulture related duties may be required, as assigned by supervisors.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Responsibility – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, which enhances the quality of life for all Westminster citizens by providing diverse leisure, recreational and informational services and resources; and acquiring, developing and maintaining first-class parks, facilities, open space and recreational trails. This position works towards the accomplishment of the Departments mission: “Together we create exceptional opportunities for a vibrant community with a commitment to nature, wellness and literacy.”

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of production and care of ornamental plants suitable to the Front Range
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of annual, perennial, biennial, shrub, and weed identification
• Lay out, plant, and maintain gardens; weed, water, fertilize, mulch, apply pesticides
• Perform general greenhouse maintenance tasks and ongoing sanitation
• Restock greenhouse supplies
• Apply applicable safety rules and procedures
• Be flexible in all work assignments and work schedules
• Carry out work efficiently with minimal supervision
• Safely operate and train others in the safe operation of mechanical hand tools and various light equipment related to greenhouse operations and gardening
• Perform general maintenance of greenhouse systems
• Remove snow at public facilities when necessary, including outside normal work hours
• Preserve park cleanliness
• Attend meetings and trainings
• Professionally interact with seasonal employees and volunteers, helping direct work and monitoring employee safety
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and work groups
• Deal effectively and professionally with the general public, consultants, contractors and vendors

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks
1. Horticulture specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Maintaining existing City-wide horticultural displays
• Designing, constructing, planting, and maintaining new City-wide horticultural displays
• Monitoring and communicating maintenance needs of horticultural displays
• Assisting in minor irrigation maintenance and repairs
• Hand watering displays that do not have irrigation
• Assisting with poinsettia production, delivery, and care of indoor holiday displays
• Assisting with holiday light/decor installation and maintenance
• Applying pesticides as needed
• Participating in greenhouse operation maintenance activities
• Preserves cleanliness of City’s park system, including:
  • Removing trash and litter from parks and public grounds

2. Leads seasonal employees and volunteers and assists Crewleader and Specialists in assigning duties as well as in reviewing work and monitoring employee safety
3. Operates equipment safely and monitors their maintenance needs
4. Possesses a valid driver’s license; operates City vehicles in a safe and responsible manner, including driving in all weather conditions; and possesses or is able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License within six (6) months of employment
5. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretionEducation, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

• Graduation from high school or GED
• Possess previous experience in landscaping, gardening, greenhouse production
• Must obtain Colorado Department of Agriculture Certified Applicator’s license within one year of hire
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and safe driving record throughout employment, with a valid Class B Commercial Driver License obtained prior to or within six (6) months of employment

Preferred:

• Ability to direct and set example for small group of seasonal employees and volunteers in the accomplishment of specific tasks
• Capability and desire to enroll in educational classes in horticulture, irrigation, and landscaping

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements
Work is physical in nature and requires sufficient physical strength and stamina to:

• Occasionally sit while driving to work assignments and performing office tasks; frequently stand and constantly walk on uneven terrain in all weather conditions to safely complete assigned tasks
• Occasional squatting, twisting, climbing, and balancing to inspect assigned areas and perform snow removal
• Frequent bending, kneeling, and reaching below shoulder to perform irrigation repair, greenhouse functions, and park maintenance
• Frequent light/firm grasp to properly use tools and equipment; occasional fine manipulation use to perform office duties; constant handling to use safely use machinery and heavy equipment
• Occasional stepping up and/or down to enter and exit vehicles and climb ladders; constant actuate mechanism to safely operate heavy equipment and vehicles
• Standard near and/or far acuity and hearing
• Occasional lifting of up to fifty (50) pounds from ground to waist to move material and supplies; constant carrying of up to twenty-five (25) pounds at waist level to use weed clearing equipment; occasional carrying of up to fifty (50) pounds to use a backpack sprayer.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is constantly performed indoors and outdoors with constant exposure to extreme temperatures year-round. Position is responsible for the maintenance of all City parks, forestry, open space, and athletic fields throughout the year. Snow removal at City facilities, parks, and trails is done when needed.

Required Materials and Equipment
Operates light equipment such as pick-up truck, small dump truck, skid-steer and other bobcat attachments, tractors, horticultural hand tools, rototillers, sod cutters, pruners, self-propelled mowers, walk-behind mowers, stand-on riding mowers, riding mowers, utility vehicles, snowplows, snow blowers, 20-foot trailers, water equipment, equipment to maintain athletic fields, and other equipment as necessary. Depending on the project, may also utilize small tools such as hammers, saws, measuring tape, levels, drills, and power tools to complete assigned responsibilities.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States

Salary : $55,411 - $70,970