LEAD LANDSCAPE WORKER

Description

Cary is a dynamic organization striving to create the Local Government That Does Not Exist through our best resource – our employees! We are seeking a Lead Landscape Worker to help guide our work creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes. Do you seek fulfillment through directly impacting the experience of our citizens, visitors, and employees by providing exceptional service? Are you uniquely skilled at empowering individuals through shared knowledge and inspired excellence? If so, this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

The Lead Landscape Worker provides direction while working alongside a small team of landscape maintenance professionals. This individual will be responsible for skilled work mowing, edging, pruning, planting, and other maintenance tasks at Cary facilities. Our ideal candidate is detail-oriented, skilled in landscaping methods, and an excellent communicator able to effectively lead, plan and review the work of staff.

The work of the Lead Landscape Worker is performed independently with general supervision from a Facilities Work Expeditor or Facilities Maintenance Team Leader. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday (7:30 am - 4:00 pm), but flexibility will be required to support Cary events; including evening or weekend work.

Facilities Maintenance positions are "critical positions", meaning you are required to report to work during adverse weather or other emergency situations, to maintain equipment and/or assist the Facilities Maintenance Division in any capacity necessary to continue Cary operations.

Typical Tasks

Participates in employee interviews;

Leads the work of assigned teams; plans and assesses work zone safety issues;

Provides input on employee performance evaluations for assigned team members;

Responsible for collection and accuracy of work order data;

Inspects and performs minor repairs to irrigation systems;

Installs and maintains temporary fencing;

Works with and leads the work of community volunteers;

Installs and maintains planting beds;

Works on storm response team for snow, ice, debris removal, emergencies;

Operates landscape equipment including tractors and backhoes for loading and minor grading;

Leads team to maintain or construct hard structures and/or landscape features;

Assists with special events setup, takedown, and post event cleanup;

Applies herbicides and fertilizers;

Assesses flower beds, naturalized areas, or related landscapes to determine condition of plants or needs for care and maintenance;

Monitors plants during extreme temperatures for signs of stress or damage; waters plants according to specific needs of plant species;

Leads team in the pruning of ornamental trees and shrubbery to maintain proper shape and design and to ensure adequate ventilation and light to the plants interior;

Uses loppers, shears, bow saws, and hand pruners;

Leads in the preparation of planting beds to ensure soil mixture is of correct texture and density and contains appropriate amounts of soil nutrients;

Assists with preparing landscaped areas, flower beds, and specialized planting areas;

Assists other divisions as needed;

Performs other job-related tasks as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Considerable knowledge and ability to plan the work of and lead a team in turf management, landscaping and horticulture; Considerable knowledge of plant growth characteristics and proper techniques for pruning and shaping; Considerable knowledge of the species of flowers, trees, and shrubs indigenous to central North Carolina; Considerable knowledge of the appropriate safety precautions of the work; Ability to work effectively in a team environment; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with staff and the general public; Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions. Considerable knowledge of technology to accurately document work and communicate via a mobile device and applications.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

High School diploma or G.E.D. An associate's degree in turf management/horticulture (or related field) is preferred.

Minimum of two years experience in the leadership of a maintenance team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work in this class is medium to heavy work and may require exposure to various environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and rain.

An employee must have the physical agility to move about freely including climbing stairs and ladders, walking for long periods and the endurance necessary to operate equipment. Moderate to heavy lifting is required in performing the work.

Visual acuity is necessary to perform paperwork, read gauges, and make repairs.

An employee must also be able to hear, talk, and smell.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
National Incident Management System (NIMS) ICS 100 and ICS 700 training/certification required (provided) or the ability to obtain within 6 months.

Possession of a valid Class "B" Commercial Driver's License (CDL), with an acceptable driving record, or the ability to obtain one within 6 months.

Possession of a valid drivers license with an acceptable driving record.

Possession of a current Pesticide License, or the ability to obtain within 6 months.

Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal check, education verification and credit history review) prior to employment

Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Regular Full-Time Employees

Cary is pleased to provide excellent, competitive, and comprehensive benefits to serve the needs of our employees and their families.