Horticulturist I

**General Accountability**:
**Purpose and Scope**
Reporting to the Parks Manager and taking direction from the Horticulture Coordinator, or Horticulturist II, the
Horticulturist I performs tasks assigned in the day-to-day operation, maintenance and associated record keeping of the
City’s gardens, boulevards, green spaces and trees.

**Nature and Scope of Work**:

- Performs a wide variety of skilled horticulture tasks including planting, transplanting, fertilizing, irrigating, cultivating,
- mulching, weeding and pruning trees, shrubs, plants and beds.- Monitors plants and trees for pests and diseases; controls plant pests utilizing integrated pest management
- techniques.- Participates in seasonal annual cleanup of landscaped horticulture areas.
- Ensures all equipment and tools are operated competently and safely and maintained in good operating condition.
- Performs other skilled related tasks as they pertain to construction, maintenance, and repair of park facilities.
- Performs other duties as may be assigned.

**Necessary Qualifications**
**Knowledge**:

- Knowledge of the methods, practices, materials, and equipment used in horticulture.
- Knowledge of landscape plants and planting materials.
- Basic knowledge of tree and plant diseases and of treatment methods.
- Working knowledge of WorkSafeBC regulations, City safety policies and procedures, and safe work practices
- related to the work.- Basic knowledge of industry maintenance and practices.
- Basic knowledge of all City maintenance operations and department’s role in the organization.
- Working knowledge of all relevant manuals, procedures, standards, City polices and bylaws, to be
- successfully acquired.- Knowledge of fundamentals of accident prevention.

**Skills**:

- Skill in the safe use and care of tools, equipment and materials used in horticultural work.- Safe work habits and practices.
- Basic computer skills MS Word, Excel, and departmental specific software programs.
- Effective written, verbal and electronic communication skills.

**Abilities**:

- Ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful and cooperative working relationships.

Job Description - Horticulturist I
- Ability to read and understand landscaping and infrastructure plans and drawings.
- Ability to safely operate small hand and power tools.
- Ability to multi-task, set priorities and work with mínimal supervision.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Ability to carry out safety inspections of gardens, parks, and green spaces, as required, in accordance with
- established standards and procedures.- Ability to change work priorities with little or short notice.
- Ability and willingness to contribute to maintaining a respectful, safe, and supportive work environment that
- embraces diversity, along with treating everyone with courtesy, dignity, and fairness.- Must have sufficient physical strength, stamina, and ability to perform the work.

**Education**:

- Grade 12 or equivalent.- Horticulture Technician Certificate from a recognized college or technical institution **OR **Successful

completion of the BC Industry Training Authority’s Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship Common Core
Level I and Level II exams.

**Training/Certification**:

- Current Pesticide Applicator Certificate (Landscape - Integrated Pest Management).- Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 driver’s license, and produce and maintain a clean driver’s
- abstract, as per City policy.- Occupational First Aid Level 1.

**To Be Obtained on the Job**:

- Current WHMIS Certification (within first 6 months).- Muscular-Skeletal Injury Prevention training (within first 6 months).
- Working alone or in Isolation training (within first 6 months).

**Experience**:

- Minimum three (3) months practical horticulture experience.- Minimum three (3) months in the maintenance of and ability to, plant, transplant, fertilize, irrigate,

cultivate, mulch, weed and prune trees, shrubs, and plants.

**Preferred Criteria (For External Posting)**
- Minimum one (1) year practical experience in the construction and maintenance of landscaped areas such as

parks, boulevards, walkways and sports fields.***
- Turf Maintenance training.***
- Arborist Certificate.****:

- Class 3 Driver’s License with Air Brake Endorsement.**
***Unusual Working Conditions**
- The employee will be exposed to adverse weather conditions and chemicals in the performance of essential

job functions.***
- May be required to come into contact with “live” sewage.
- Physically demanding work.