Horticulturist (Cox Arboretum) - Five Rivers Metroparks : Job Details

Position Description

Supervises the day-to-day activities of staff engaged in operating and maintaining assigned park, garden and/or arboretum facilities assuring that each facility is attractive, safe and useful to the visiting public. Responsible for the planning and design, planting, maintenance, and care of new and existing landscape gardens and collections.

Duties/Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must perform essential duties to expected performance standards. Reasonable accommodations are made as required for persons with disabilities as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

* Creates planting designs using good design principles, generally accepted horticultural practices and in compliance with Five Rivers MetroParks horticultural standards and environmentally friendly practices, while factoring in the climate, market conditions, and plant, seed, bulb, or rootstock availability.

* Oversee and supervise work crews engaged in the maintenance and repair of equipment, buildings, grounds and trails, assuring that parks are clean and safe and that the buildings and equipment are in good repair.

* Performs personnel management activities for assigned staff, including interviewing, making recommendations for hire, training, promotions, and discipline, evaluations and making recommendations for terminations.

* Participates in establishing goals and objectives for the park and department as part of the overall agency business plan.

* Participates in all phases of the assigned department operating and capital budgets, including the preparation of cost estimates, ordering and inventorying equipment and supplies, and monitoring all aspects of the operating budget in conformance with adopted Five Rivers MetroParks policies and procedures. Oversees processing and record keeping of all payments for expenditures as well as revenues and for developing cost of service documents and achieving cost recovery targets.

* Interpret company policies to workers and enforce safety regulations.

* Analyze and resolve work problems, or assist workers in solving work problems.

* Work with contractors, other MetroParks supervisors and staff to accomplish the goals of the organization.

* Plan daily assignments, prioritize jobs, and secure adequate equipment and tools to assure that assigned staff can satisfactorily complete all assignments.

* Supervise or perform routine and preventive maintenance on vehicles and equipment.

* Maintain time and work records of employees.

* Recruits, trains, assigns duties to, mentors and develops assigned staff and volunteers.

* Inspects plantings regularly to determine nutrient deficiencies, detect insect, disease, and pest infestations, and identify foreign plant growth, and selects, purchases, and schedules materials, such as fertilizers and herbicides, to ensure quality control.

* Cultivates seedlings and propagates crops in greenhouses, poly-houses and cold-frames and maintains selected plants. Purchases plant materials, supplies and equipment.

* Collects and manages data on collections.

* Produces written technical information appropriate and useful to the organization and the community.

* Assists Outdoor Connections educators with the development and presentation of scheduled garden tours, workshops and classes.

* Stays current with all horticultural techniques, practices, materials and equipment.

* Operates various types of vehicles and equipment.

* Maintains confidentiality of confidential or sensitive records and information.

* Works assigned schedules, exhibits regular and punctual attendance and works outside of normal schedules as required.

* Provides service to the public by responding to questions, offering assistance, and providing information.

* Collaborates internally, within and across departmental boundaries, to provide information and service to others in the organization to contribute to the effective operation of the agency and all staff.

* Makes presentations to the public, civic groups, and other organizations to provide information about MetroParks, its facilities and its services.

* Engages and works with volunteers, user groups and event committees on programming and horticulture activities.

* Prepares annual budgets, maintains records and prepares reports.

* Conducts public outreach programs including but not limited to preparing and presenting lectures, classes, tours, and written promotional materials.

* Investigates and promotes best land stewardship, horticultural and operations practices.

* Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. A combination of appropriate education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of an acceptable qualification is:

* Bachelor's degree in horticulture, or closely related field with five years progressive experience in a botanical garden, arboretum or other public horticulture setting.

* A working knowledge of the soils, geology and climate of the Miami Valley and how these factors affect local horticultural practices.

* Experience in the diagnoses of plant insect and disease damage and in recommended treatments. Expertise in plant record keeping systems.

* Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

* Valid Drivers' License which meets Five Rivers MetroParks' insurance carrier guidelines.

Additional Information

Candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening test prior to employment.

Five Rivers MetroParks is an EEO/AA employer that values diversity in the workplace.