Salary: $17.07 - $24.12 Hourly
Location : Kansas, KS
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: Gardener 1 - Forestry
Department: Parks and Recreation
Division: PARK Forestry and Maintenance
Opening Date: 03/28/2025
Closing Date: 4/13/2025 11:59 PM Central
Bargaining Unit: 2000
The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer. Distinguishing Features of WorkThis is non-technical gardening and grounds maintenance work. Assignments are performed with minimum supervision and work is subject to regular, frequent inspection with advice being given relative to difficult or unusual problems.
The day and hours for this position: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pmBargaining Unit: Service Employee's International (SEIU)**Employees within the department or division shall be given first consideration****Posting may close at any time ** Examples of Work Performed - Maintains flowers, shrubs, and trees, including cultivating, transplanting, irrigating, pruning, spraying, and fertilizing.
- Maintains turf grass areas, including irrigating, planting, mowing, edging and trimming, controlling diseases and pests, and fertilizing.
- Maintains the cleanliness of walks and other hard surfaced areas by sweeping and hosing with water.
- Removes snow from walks and other areas; maintains litter-free grounds.
- Balls and burlaps trees.
- May be assigned as a park caretaker during the summer.
- Assists with prescribed burns.
- These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive.
- Other related duties may be assigned as needed.
Requirements of Work - Some knowledge of the standard tools, equipment, materials, methods, and practices used in gardening and grounds maintenance work.
- Some knowledge of hazards and safety precautions of the work.
- Working knowledge of horticulture, floriculture, symptoms of plant disease, parasites, and insect pests, and of the means and methods used for their control.
- Skill in the use of standard hand and power equipment employed in the propagation and cultivation of garden and grass areas.
- Ability to push and/or pull and operate a standard lawn mower over rough terrain.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 150 pounds with the assistance of another.
- Ability to tolerate outdoors, open grounds, windy conditions, pesticide and herbicide handling.
- Ability to empty trash bags/containers weighing up to 40 pounds and lift them up to 48 inches.
- Ability to shovel snow using a three-pound shovel and lifting up to a ten-pound load 36 inches high and moving it up to six feet.
- Ability to read and interpret instructions and labels, such as on equipment and pesticides
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
- Ability to maintain a valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL). If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to have or obtain a CDL from your home country.
- An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Required Experience and TrainingRequired Experience and Training- Ability to obtain Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL) within first Six months of employment. If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to have or obtain a CDL from your home country.
- A valid drivers' license.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of a sponsorship.
Preferred Experience and Training- Six months of experience cultivating and caring for lawns, shrubs and trees.
- One year experience in operating gardening equipment such as mowers, trimmers and leaf blowers.
- A valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL).
Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.
Starting pay for current City employees will be determined by City of Wichita policy or applicable bargaining unit agreement. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:
CITY OF WICHITA
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
1. VACATION - Most employees with less than five years employment earn 10 days of vacation per year. After five years, accrual rates increase at varying rates to varying maximums, depending on work schedule and/or union representation. Employees can accumulate and carry forward up to 240 hours each year.
2. HOLIDAYS - There are eleven paid holidays. Employees also receive one Personal Holiday that is granted after the first six months of employment.
3. SICK LEAVE - Sick leave accrual begins at one-half day per month. After five years, sick leave accruals are one work day per month. Employees can accumulate and carry forward all unused sick leave each year. Employees who use 24 hours (3 days) or less of sick leave in a calendar year earn a "Well Day." An additional "Well Day" can be earned following a year of perfect attendance.
4. HEALTH INSURANCE - UMR / United Healthcare provides two levels of medical and prescription drug plans. Both medical plan are PPOs and do not require selecting a physician or referrals for specialty care. Both medical plans include Teladoc virtual care (primary care/mental health benefits at no charge), Dario healthy living programs, and VSP Vision benefits. Pre-tax premium deductions are offered. The City contributes 80% of the premium cost towards medical, prescription drug and vision insurance.
5. DENTAL INSURANCE - Two Delta Dental plans are offered - Preferred and Traditional. The Delta Preferred plan requires using a dentist from a smaller network for a lower premium. The Delta Traditional plan allows use of any dentist, although benefits are higher using a dentist from the large Delta network. Benefits under both plans are the same (with the exception of some Orthodontic benefits) Pre-tax premium deductions are offered.
6.LIFE INSURANCE - Low-cost voluntary term life insurance is available. Employees pay one-third of the cost. The amount of Basic Life coverage is two times annual pay up to a determined maximum amount. Dependent coverage is available at $20,000 spouse / $10,000 child(ren) for an additional $0.14 per pay period. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The plan is through MetLife.
7.SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE - Additional voluntary employee-paid term life insurance is available from MetLife at low group rates. Participation in Basic Life is required. The Life Insurance plans are portable.
8. LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE- The voluntary employee-paid group disability plan from MetLife provides 60% of pre-disability income for injury or health related disabilities. Premiums are determined by income and age.
9.VOLUNTARY ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT - Voluntary employee-paid AD&D from MetLife offers coverage for accidental death and dismemberment.
10.RETIREMENT - The City offers two retirement plans - Wichita Employees (WER) Plan 3, and Commissioned Police & Fire Plan C-79. The WER plan is a defined contribution plan; Police & Fire is a defined benefit plan. Both are contributory - employees and the City share the cost.
11.FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Employees may elect to make FSA pre-tax deductions for dependent care and/or unreimbursed medical expenses, reducing the cost of these expenses by eliminating taxes on the amount deducted.
12. LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE - This plan from UNUM offers facility and home care benefits for employees, spouses, and some other family members. Several options for benefit amount and duration, and specific plan features, are available.
13.MORE BENEFITS & SERVICES
Deferred Compensation Investment Program
Employee Discounts and Wichita Employee Association (WEA)
Bereavement Pay
Employee Emergency Assistance Fund
Voluntary Shared Leave Program
Training Programs
Longevity Pay
Credit Union
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Injury Leave (on-job injury)
Community Volunteer Events
01
I have the following experience cultivating and caring for lawns, shrubs and trees
- 0-6 months
- 7-12 months
- 1-3 years
- I have no required experience
02
I have the following years of direct experience with operating mowers, trimmers and leaf blowers.
- 1-2 years' experience
- 3-4 years' experience
- I do not have any experience with operating mowers, trimmers and leaf blowers.
03
Do you have a valid driver's license.
04
This position requires a Class A CDL license. Please identify your current status with a Class A CDL license.
- I currently have an active Class A CDL license.
- I do not have a current Class A CDL license, but am willing and able to obtain this license within 6 months of employment.
- I am not willing or able to obtain a Class A CDL license.
05
This position requires a CDL. If you are Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to obtain a CDL from your home country to meet this requirement in addition to having valid employment authorization.
- I am a Canadian or Mexican citizen I have or can obtain a CDL from my home country to meet this requirement.
- I am a Canadian or Mexican citizen I do not or cannot obtain a CDL from my home country to meet this requirement.
- I am not a Canadian or Mexican citizen.
06
I am legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Required Question
