Seeking Landscape Gardener for Parks

Do you love to be outdoors?  If your green thumb is looking to make a difference in our community, Freeport Park District has a perfect spot for you.  We’re looking for a Landscape Gardener to help install and maintain landscape plantings in green spaces within the parks.

Gardener responsibilities include monitoring the health of plants and greenscapes; maintaining plants; watering and feeding flowers; trimming perennials, shrubs, and trees; weeding landscape beds; and keeping green spaces and walkways clear of debris and litter. You should know how to use and maintain small equipment like trimmers, tillers, and blowers.

JOB TITLE: LANDSCAPE GARDENER
Department: Maintenance
Reports To: Supervisor of Maintenance
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Part Time

This position is part time—20 to 30 hours per week, and seasonal—mid April through October

Starting Pay: $12-$15 per hour

Interested? Go to www.freeportparkdistrict.org for a job application
Questions? Contact Bruce Cubberley, Superintendent of Parks and Natural Resources at bcubberley@freeportparkdistrict.org or 815-235-6114

SUMMARY
Assists in the regular maintenance of the park district landscapes and green spaces. Installs landscape plantings and seasonal flower displays. Monitors and ensures plant health through proper horticultural practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Includes the following. (Other duties may be assigned).
• Operate a standard size pickup truck
• Install and maintain seasonal plants
• Mulch, edge and weed gardens
• Prune and trim ornamental trees and bushes
• Hand water and operate irrigation systems
• Maintain all gardening equipment and machinery, like tillers, trimmers and leaf blowers
• Monitor and maintain the health of plants
• Deal with pest problems that could damage plants
• Keep gardens and green spaces clear of debris and litter

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Experience as a Gardener
• Familiarity with reading landscaping designs
• Knowledge of regionally hardy landscape plants
• Knowledge of local pests and how to eliminate them
• Knowledge of synthetic and natural fertilizers
• Knowledge of safe operations in the landscaping field
• The ability to remain on your feet for long periods of time
• A love of the outdoors and gardens
• A high school degree or GED

LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability understand written and oral instructions. Ability to speak effectively before groups of park visitors or employees of organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s. Ability to perform these operations using English units of measure, weight and volume.
REASONING ABILITY Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Valid Illinois Drivers License.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to: stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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