City of Portland - Horticulturist

Start Date: May 06, 2024 | End Date: August 30, 2024
County: Cumberland County
Job Type: Parks & Recreation

HORTICULTURIST - Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department

Join our dedicated Parks, Recreation, and Facilities team as a Horticulturist and play a vital role in nurturing and enhancing our city's green spaces. Bring your passion for horticulture to life as you contribute to the vibrant landscapes that enrich our community! This role will perform skilled, technical and operational work in the planting, care and maintenance of ornamental display gardens, parks and public landscapes, including: annual, perennial and spring bulb display gardens, rose gardens, green infrastructure, rain gardens, green roofs, and raised planters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operation of landscape tools including: hedge trimmers, tillers, pruners, chain saws, hand saws, mowers, chippers, landscape tractors, and irrigation systems.
• Complete brush clearing, lawn care, and pruning of trees, shrubs and hedges.
• Execute weeding, transplanting, mulching, watering and fertilizing of display gardens, green infrastructures, rain gardens, green roofs and raised planters.
• Monitor and diagnose plant conditions.
• Adheres to established workplace safety practices, compliance directives and PPE requirements.
• Participation in emergency work including winter operations and weather events as required.
• Operation of Sidewalk Plows and other Winter Operations equipment.
• May work with garden volunteers and responds professionally and courteously to the public.
• Performs related tasks as assigned.

Requirements of Work:

• Performance of strenuous manual labor, including frequent lifting and carrying of heavy loads up to 50 lbs.
• Required to work in all seasons and weather conditions.
• Operation of power equipment related to landscape work.
• Possess strength and dexterity to kneel, crouch, stand, and climb to conduct landscape/garden tasks for extended periods.
• Ability to follow instructions and work with others as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships and communications with co-workers, supervisors, contractors and the general public.
• Ability to read and understand landscape and garden design plans.
• Basic computer proficiency to record information and basic landscape design.

Training and Experience Required:

• Experience with various landscape maintenance equipment, tasks, planting and care of woody plants.
• Knowledge/experience with planting and maintenance of annual, herbaceous and woody plants.
• Knowledge of IPM and Plant Health Care activities.
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED, two years of post-secondary education in a job-related field with two years of progressive work experience.

Necessary requirements

• A Maine Certified Landscape Professional and a State of Maine Commercial Pesticide Applicators License with category 3A and 6B (or the ability to obtain within 6 months of appointment date).
• Must have and maintain a good driving record.
• Maine Certified Landscape Professional (desired).
• Must undergo a pre-employment medical exam and fitness assessment and pass a federally mandated drug test.

Applications accepted until filled

Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.

TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Salary & Benefits:

Labor & Trades – Grade 18 - weekly pay range starting at $884.80 ($22.12/hour), plus $1.00/hour stipend for all hours worked.

The City of Portland prides itself on its outstanding benefits and collegial and mission-driven work environment.

City benefits include:

• Thirteen paid holidays
• Free employee health insurance with the completion of wellness incentives
• Sick, vacation, and personal leave
• Life, dental, vision and income protection insurances
• Choice of retirement plans, including a pension plan
• Use of City recreation facilities
• Discount on professional development programs through USM and Thomas College

If you have questions or need assistance with the application, please contact Shae Gonzalez (City of Portland Recruiter) at sgonzalez@portlandmaine.gov or 207-874-8649

The City of Portland believes that to do our best work, our employees need to reflect the diverse, vibrant community we serve. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and are committed to celebrating all dimensions of diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 207-874-8624 or email hrinfo@portlandmaine.gov