Gardener/Equipment Operator

Gardener/Equipment Operator

Under the general supervision of the Horticulture Supervisor, Section 5 and within established policies, procedures and guidelines to drive trucks, provide transportation for employees, and to provide pick-up and delivery of materials. In addition, provides labour duties and operates a variety of equipment to maintain the Park. Provides general gardening services to plant and maintain flower beds, gardens and landscapes. Provides winter maintenance for Park facilities.

Niagara Parks offers a rate of $27.50 to $33.80 per hour as well as comprehensive benefits and a defined benefit pension plan.

Applications for this position will be accepted until November 23, 2025.

This position is on-site in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completion of a recognized diploma in horticulture or equivalent knowledge or experience.
• Valid "DZ" licence is required.
• Must hold valid Landscape Pesticide Exterminators License.
• Working knowledge of any applicable legislation/regulations including the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
• General working knowledge of various landscape maintenance equipment.
• One year of related experience and one year on the job.
• Ability to operate landscape maintenance equipment; Ability to perform the physical requirements of the position; communication and interpersonal skills and ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Required to work weekends, shifts, overtime and in all weather conditions.

KEY ACTIVITIES:

Gardener responsibilities

• Prepares and designs gardens for planting through rototilling, levelling, fertilizing, laying out carpet beds. Plants, weeds, waters, cultivates, pinches and edges flower beds.
• Plants bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.
• Stakes, ties-up or cuts down, labels, divides, moves, removes, and prunes plants. Rakes leaves.
• Follows an Integrated Pest Management approach when applying pesticides to control pests and diseases. Keeps accurate records.
• Performs greenhouse duties when required, which involves working the weekend shift.
• Provides periodic group leadership to staff performing basic tasks.

Truck Driver responsibilities

• Drives and operates a variety of equipment and machinery; loads and unloads trucks with plants, sod, soil, materials and equipment. Operates periodically a dump truck hauling soil, salt, ice or snow. Cleans, washes and maintains trucks and equipment.
• Waters a variety of plants, sod, young trees and annuals with water truck. Pulls, loads, and transports plant material to compost, picks up. Grades areas, moves and lays sod.
• Salts, sands and removes ice and snow from pathways, sidewalks and parking lots under unusual ice conditions both mechanically and manually.
• Operates sod cutters, fertilizer spreaders, aerator, front end loaders, forklifts, snow blowers and snowplough/sander, salters, tractors, tillers and other miscellaneous equipment etc.

Performs other related work

• Provides a variety of labouring duties including picking litter. Assists with a variety of other projects.
• Complies with all applicable legislation as well as any related policies and procedures.
• Provides friendly customer service to both internal and external customers.
• As assigned.

The personal information in your candidate profile is collected under the authority of the Niagara Parks Act, R.S.O. 1990, C.N.3, s.4(l) and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be used to assess your qualifications for the job postings to which you apply. If successful, your information will also be used for the creation of your employee profile under the authority of the Employment Standards Act, 2000, c.41, s We are an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), Niagara Parks will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If you require disability – related accommodations, please inform the Human Resources (HR) staff. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If you require additional information regarding the collection and use of the personal information in your candidate profile, or would like to request an alternate format, please contact Niagara Parks at ext. 0 or by e-mail