POSITION DESCRIPTION:

About Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to provide welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate and build community and promote responsible stewardship of the land. SPR has a customer-focused culture and hires great employees who reflect the communities we serve. We are invested in advancing the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) by working to end institutional and structural racism.

SPR manages a 6,414-acre park system of over 485 parks and extensive natural areas. SPR provides and maintains athletic fields, tennis courts, play areas, specialty gardens, and more than 25 miles of boulevards and 120 miles of trails. The system comprises about 12% of the city’s land area.

Position Description:

This process will be used to fill vacancies in multiple work groups including positions in the Park Districts and Natural Resource Unit. Persons in this position may perform tasks such as planting, transplanting, weeding, pruning and care of seasonal plants, shrubs, trees, and natural areas. Mowing, aerating, over seeding and fertilizing lawns and turf care.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform skilled gardening and landscaping work in planting, cultivation, pruning and care of flowers, shrubs, trees, lawn and landscaped areas.
• Utilize Integrated Pest Management, including pesticide applications for weed, insect and disease control and maintain records of pesticide applications.
• Understand cultural needs of specific plants and implement the appropriate landscape maintenance needed for a given site.
• Safely operate equipment such as riding mower, aerator/seeder, small tractor, backpack blower, edger, string trimmer, chainsaw for extended periods on varied terrain.
• Fertilize, mow, aerate, top dress, over seed lawn areas and maintain automated irrigation systems.
• May lead a small group of assistant gardeners, laborers, and volunteers. Provides training to assistant gardeners.
• Operates motor vehicles to, between, and from work locations.
• Works on landscape construction, landscape maintenance, street tree planting, or maintenance crews.
• Required to stand, walk, climb ladders, bend, and lift heavy objects for extended periods.
• Ability to use orchard ladders safely, in water, on firm ground, and up to 16 feet.
• Maintain plant inventories, records, and prepares reports.
• Must work independently and expect to be held accountable for work performance.
• Strong customer service, communication and teamwork skills needed for success
• working with diverse workforce and a multicultural public and clientele.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years’ work experience in landscape construction or maintenance, or in the propagation and maintenance of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees at a conservatory, greenhouse, or nursery.
• Ability to lift heavy objects weighing 50 lbs. or less.
• Stand, walk or bend for extended periods of time.
• Work outdoors in adverse weather.
• Willing to work alone often and on small teams occasionally.
• Handle or work with toxic/hazardous substances.
• Familiar with hand tools and small power equipment such as lawn mower, edger, etc.

Certification/License:

• Ability to obtain Washington State Pesticide Operators License within 6 months of employment.
• Valid, current Washington State driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Best Management Practice for Urban landscapes, parks, and gardens.
• Knowledge of plant binomial nomenclature
• Understanding of IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
• Horticultural education from classes, trainings or seminars

• Experience in landscape design, renovation and construction
• Knowledge of natural area and wetland maintenance
• Understanding of irrigations systems, and ability to perform basic repairs
• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools and Outlook application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

SPR’s Core Competencies are:

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.

Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City’s commitment to workforce equity.

Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.

Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.

Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.

*People Managers: Teamwork: (replaces Employee Teamwork) Leading as an engaged member of a team to build a cohesive team and facilitate the achievement of work group goals.

*People Manager: Aligning Performance for Success:  Collaboratively guiding and engaging the team to accomplish defined work goals.

*People Managers: Direction and Delegation:  Sharing authority and responsibilities with others to distribute decision-making and accountability throughout the organization; enabling individuals to stretch their capabilities; and accomplishing the organization’s strategic priorities.