Horticultural Technician 1

Duties Description Under the supervision of the Park Manager and / or higher-level personnel, the Horticultural Technician 1 performs a variety of duties relating to the care and maintenance of plantings and vegetation at Roberto Clemente State Park and other state parks in the New York City region. Duties include, but are not limited to :

• While operating in an independent manner, performs planting, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, spraying, pruning, and trimming of valuable, rare, or specialized trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers.
• Identifying, supervising, or otherwise handling the removal of invasive species.
• Inspecting the operating area to identify potential safety hazards, needs for skilled maintenance, landscaping requirements, litter control, refuse removal, etc.; reporting findings to supervisor(s) and / or taking corrective actions independently, as appropriate.
• Curating outdoor herbaceous and woody plant collections; identifying plant growth, nutritional, insect and disease problems; taking appropriate corrective and remedial action; consulting as needed with supervisor(s); researching and assessing the best horticultural practices for managing the living collections; documenting, reporting, and cataloging plant-related information.
• Selectively pruning plants to correct structural defects, thinning excessive growth within the plant's framework, and removing portions of the plant damaged by disease, storm, or insects to retain or restore the natural form of the plant.
• Selectively formulating and applying herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers to plant material to counteract plant nutritional, growth, insect and / or disease problems.
• Developing management plans for outdoor gardens and living collections; maintaining display beds through weeding, watering, pruning, deadheading, mulching, edging, raking, and fertilization.
• Performing the appropriate soil preparation and planting of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees; performing seasonal landscaping work including planting, pruning, clean-up, bulb planting, dividing, transplanting, and leaf removal.
• Operating and maintaining hand and portable power tools and motorized equipment such as mowers, tractors, sprayers, saws, tillers, etc.
• Supervising lower level and seasonal staff and volunteers in the care of plant materials; providing for materials and supplies in support of this work; and assisting with training and support of seasonal gardeners and interns.
• Answering questions for park visitors about horticulture, history, design, and general park information; leading horticultural tours and assisting with special programs, as needed.
• Operating light trucks and other motor vehicles as required in the performance of duties.
• Loading and unloading materials, tools and equipment of varying weights and sizes, as needed, in the performance of duties assigned.
• Performing routine manual maintenance tasks required to develop, maintain, and repair associated plantings, buildings, roads, and equipment.
• Maintaining equipment and supplies properly and ensuring they are stored safely.
• Performing snow removal and maintaining grounds and structures as needed.
• Performing other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Associate's degree in horticulture, agronomy, forestry, or a closely related field; OR

Two years of technical experience in horticulture, plant propagation, nursery, or greenhouse work, which includes plant pest and disease detection and control; OR

Two years of college study in one of the above specialties and one year of experience as described.

Additional Comments OPERATING NEEDS :

DOWNSTATE ADJUSTMENT : $3,400

BENEFITS :

Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including :

Paid Time Off

Health Care Benefits :

Additional Benefits :

To learn more about our benefits, visit : https : / / parks.ny.gov / employment / benefits.aspx

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - NYC Regional Office

Telephone

Email Address nycvacancies@parks.ny.gov

Address

Street Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - NYC Regional Office

163 West 125th Street, 17th floor

City New York

State NY

Zip Code 10027

Notes on Applying APPLICATION PROCEDURE :

If you feel you meet the minimum qualifications and agency operating needs and are interested in being considered for this vacancy, please submit a resume, an employment application and a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the stated minimum qualifications. The employment application (Part 1 - Pre-Interview Form S1000) can be downloaded from the website of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at www.parks.ny.gov / employment. Please forward these three required items by email to nycvacancies@parks.ny.gov.

Application information should be emailed to NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - NYC Regional Office. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. You must include "Horticultural Technician 1 - RCSP" in the title of your e-mail for consideration. Electronic submissions are encouraged.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications and agency operating needs.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Agency