POSITION GOAL:  To provide a clean, safe, and natural park experience for visitors by performing a variety of basic garden maintenance/plant care tasks in assigned areas.

CLASSIFICATION: Hourly, Seasonal

COMPENSATION:  $13.00/hr.  Employer and employee contribute to Public Employee Retirement System.

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Alternates to the following position requirements may be made as Metroparks finds appropriate and acceptable.  

Education:  High School diploma or equivalent. Some training or coursework in horticulture, botany or other related field. 

Experience:  Some work experience with hands on landscaping or horticulture.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record. 

•General knowledge of plant identification and garden maintenance.

•Willingness to operate basic landscape tools and equipment once given proper training. 

•Willingness to learn proper plant cultural practices (watering, planting, and similar)

•Ability to communicate well with others.

•Able to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions.

•Willingness to support Metroparks mission, operating principles, goals and objectives. 

•Ability to get along well with others and work as a part of a team.

•Basic knowledge of operating computer equipment and utilizing e-mail communication preferred.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

•Work location: May be assigned to any Metropark; may travel to any Metropark.

•Will work on a variable schedule to meet project needs; schedule may include weekends, holidays and evenings.  

•May include business use of personal vehicle; mileage reimbursement provided.

•Job requires working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions including heat and cold.

•Requires frequent bending and stooping occasional moderate lifting up to 35lb.

•Must be able to move about over uneven ground; use hands for holding and grasping objects.

REPORTS TO:   Park Services Supervisor or Park Services Crew Lead

DIRECT REPORTS:   None

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Perform basic garden maintenance/plant care including planting, pruning, weeding, watering, deadheading, applying mulch, amending soil, chemical applications, eradicating invasive species. 

•Assist the horticulture staff with plant record keeping, plant labeling and greenhouse production.

•Assist with general horticulture maintenance, floriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and similar disciplines. 

•Properly use and care for tools and equipment. 

•Perform various cleaning and maintenance duties including cleaning restrooms, picking up litter and trash removal.

•Safely drive park vehicles between work assignments on park trails and roadways; exhibit proper regard for avoiding damage to vehicles and resources.

•Comply with all safety rules and regulations.

•Set up and clean up for special events.

•Suggest improvements for work processes and procedures.

•Attend trainings, meetings, and workshops to learn new skills and keep up to date on Metropark communication.

•Help horticulture staff coordinate work activities for volunteers and other groups.

•Interact with visitors and answer basic questions in a helpful and courteous manner.

•Maintain proper work appearance. 

•Use MS Outlook to send and receive email communication

•Other Park District duties as assigned.

EQUIPMENT USED:  Irrigation equipment, greenhouse equipment, high and low volume chemical dispensing systems, park vehicles, power tools, all-terrain vehicles, and other outdoor equipment.  Computers, audio-visual equipment, and cameras.