Landscape Technician (Part-Time)

Duties: Under the supervision of the Landscape Development Foreman, the Landscape Technician is responsible for:

• Performing horticultural work in the Park District including pruning, trimming, spraying, watering, cultivating and generally caring for trees, shrubs, turfgrass, and herbaceous plants. Transplanting young trees and shrubs as required.
• Inspecting trees and shrubs for insect pests, fungus, and bacterial diseases and proper treatment for control of the same.
• Performing turfgrass maintenance including but not limited to aerating, pesticide/fertilizer applications, compost topdressing, and overseeding.
• Performing natural areas management techniques including but not limited to spot spraying, hand-wicking, cut stump treatments, basal bark applications, and boom spraying of pesticides.
• Operation of heavy equipment and implements including but not limited to tractors, compact track loaders, no-till drill seeders, over seeders, top-dressers, aerators, rough cut mowing decks, powered box rakes, disc harrows, tree spades, augers, chippers, and carbide forestry mowers.
• Operation of power tools and equipment including but not limited to brush cutters, chainsaws, pole saws, augers, pumps, and hedge trimmers.
• Following all safety procedures that pertain to the duties performed. Supporting all aspects of the Park District's safety program.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to reach, walk, pull, kneel, squat, and bend at the waist and knees.
• Ability to operate machinery relative to job duties.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid operator's pesticide spray license.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Education: Junior college certificate with a major in horticulture or related field required. Additional training in horticulture, landscaping, plant identification, and invasive species control is desirable.

Experience: Minimum of three years of experience in the care and cultivation of trees and shrubs, turfgrass, or native plant communities. An equivalent amount of advanced accredited training in horticulture will be accepted in lieu of each year of experience.

Knowledge and Ability:

• Thorough knowledge of trimming, transplanting and cultivating trees and shrubs.
• Knowledge of turfgrass maintenance, natural areas management and heavy equipment operation desired.
• Knowledge of plant identification of common invasive plant species.
• Must maintain a valid Illinois State Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with airbrakes endorsement.
• Personal Work record that shows reliability, strength and agility, mechanical aptitude, willingness and ability to work with other employees.
• Ability to be professional, respectful, accountable, innovative, to follow safety procedures, and be equitable to both internal and external customers.
• This position is represented by the Teamsters Local Union 627.

Perks:

• Part-time employees enjoy discounted recreation classes and free admission to select Park District facilities.

The Peoria Park District hires without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, pregnancy, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service, protected veteran status, or on the basis of any characteristic protected by law.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.