Salary: $48,389.00 - $78,234.00 Annually
Location : Raleigh, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-00228
Department: PRCR - Parks-Engagement
Opening Date: 02/28/2025
Closing Date: 3/14/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Hiring Range: $48,389.00 - $62,122.00
Job DescriptionDestination Parks is a newly formed work group within the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department residing in the Parks Maintenance division. This dynamic new work group plays a vital role in the management and development of four of Raleigh's most visited parks; Dix Park, Pullen Park, John Chavis Park and Raleigh Rose Garden. Together this work group manages all aspects of Horticulture, Turf and Grounds Maintenance and Special Events. Our departmental goal is to enrich our community through exceptional experiences. The
Senior Gardener will be the field crew leader for all aspects of horticulture at these parks, managing day to day horticultural operations and will work collaboratively with Horticulture Crew supervisor in planning landscape design, maintenance and installation of plants throughout our parks.
About You:The ideal candidate for this position is a seasoned landscape management professional with extensive experience in the various aspects of horticultural management listed below. This candidate will have excellent planning, organizational and customer service skills and will be very comfortable interacting with our partners, park visitors and vendors daily. The ideal candidate will also have strong leadership skills, providing positive training, development, field leadership and task management for our Horticulture Crew team and volunteers.
About Us:The City of Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and remains one of the fasting growing areas in the country. Driven by a strong economy and outstanding quality of life, Raleigh is consistently ranked among the nation's best places to live and operate a business.
The City of Raleigh Department of Park, Recreation and Cultural Resources plays a vital role in maintaining and developing the quality of life and character of the "City of Oaks". Our department boasts a wide range of facilities and programs spreading throughout 220 parks and 120 miles of trails, supporting the social, cultural, mental and physical well-being of our citizens. The Parks Department is committed to building a diverse workforce and is guided by the vision of Bringing People to Parks and Parks to People.
Pullen Park is the first public park in North Carolina and one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States. Pullen Park has highly developed landscapes throughout the property. In addition to Amusements, Pullen offers seven picnic shelters, an Aquatics Center, Arts Center, Community Center, Tennis courts and baseball fields.
Dix Park is one of the newest parks in the City of Raleigh Parks system and consists of 308 acres currently in phase I of Parks Bond funded master plan. Gipson Play Plaza, an 18.5-acre interactive play space scheduled to open in the spring of 2025, as well as several large greenspaces and event areas.
The Raleigh Rose Garden boasts over 1200 roses in 60 varieties as well as several diverse perennial gardens and majestic tree species. It is a popular site for weddings and shares the property with Raleigh Little Theatre and its outdoor amphitheater.
John Chavis Memorial Park, located in the heart of downtown, consists of a recently renovated central plaza with a large splashpad, playground and Community Center as well as a large track, renovated Carousel house and ballfield.
Work Hours:This position will be required to work some weekends to facilitate and coordinate volunteer projects and occasional weekend rental prep shifts and may be required to respond after hours to inclement weather events and other unforeseen emergencies.
Duties and Responsibilities - Plans, facilitates, and leads daily field operations of the Horticulture crew, leading six full-time and two part-time employees, as well as 2-3 recurring volunteer groups for approximately 30 volunteer events annually
- Manages planning, design, installation, maintenance, and health of all plant life in Destination Parks including annuals, wildflowers, perennials, grasses, roses, shrubs, and trees. Assists with turfgrass management as needed
- Develops and maintains a yearly horticultural maintenance calendar alongside the crew supervisor, managing task planning to meet quality park standards
- Communicates with Destination Parks partners regarding customer service needs, planning, and logistics regarding tasks, and collaborates with city partners to provide resources for park development and maintenance
- Tracks crew data, work inputs, and material inventory through various software, including Cityworks, Microsoft suite of products, and Survey123
- Oversees the pesticide application schedule, selects pesticides, manages usage, tracks inventory, ensures safe storage, and provides safety and training
- Works with the Horticulture Supervisor and City Horticulturist to design, prepare, and install new landscape beds, and renovates existing beds as opportunities arise
- Acts as crew supervisor in the absence of the crew supervisor. Coordinates and collaborates with maintenance staff on shared activities such as leaf management, mulch projects, weekend rental preparation, and cleaning tasks
- Operates and maintains all types of landscape and turf equipment, and trains employees in proper equipment safety, usage, and maintenance
- Monitors plants for pests and diseases and applies appropriate treatments to protect plant health
- Participates in City emergency responses
Typical Qualifications Education and Experience:Associate Degree in horticulture, plant and soil science, natural resources, biological science or related field and three years of directly related experience
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.
Licensing and Certifications:- Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
- North Carolina Public Pesticide Applicator's License in Turf and Ornamental, or the ability to acquire within 45 days of hire
Preferred Qualifications:- Certified Plant Professional, NALP, PGMS, or other related industry professional certification
- Knowledge and experience in rose culture
Additional Information Knowledge of:- Standard practices, methods and materials of assigned work, including general uses and properties of supplies and specialized equipment
- Business math concepts, such as fertilizer, mulch and pesticide application calculations
- Filing and record-keeping principles
- Occupational hazards and applicable safety principles and practices
- Strong knowledge of human resource development, management and communication
- Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, and regulations and their implementation
- Landscape maintenance industry standards and practices, design process, plant identification and care, weed control strategies, pruning techniques for formal boxwood hedgerows and rose culture, and invasive species management
- Analyzing annual plants, perennials, shrubs, and trees for site, soil, and environmental needs, hardiness zones, water, nutrition, and maintenance
Skill In:- Proper time management, punctuality, and dependability
- Training, coaching and developing co-workers on horticultural growth and maintenance principles and total landscape management techniques to meet parks quality standards
- Strong written and verbal communication strategies, a positive attitude, customer service, and conflict resolution principles for engaging with customers, partners, employees and visitors
- Developing and evaluating schedules and timing for various planting, pruning, fertilizing and maintenance tasks
- Maintaining trees, shrubs, perennials, roses, annuals, wildflowers, turfgrass species and irrigation systems
- Managing tasks, prioritizing competing demands and project needs
- Utilizing research driven industry standards to stay current on new industry technology and make field decisions and solve problems
- Organizing and maintaining reports, data, records and files with attention to detail in assignments, utilizing computers, phones, and relevant software applications
ADA and Other Requirements:Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
Heavy Work:Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Working Conditions:Work is performed in both the field and in an indoor office environment with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions (such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, etc.); moderate exposure to environmental conditions (such as disruptive people, imminent danger, or a threatening environment); and frequent exposure to intense noise.
Note:This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) designation may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.
To find out about the City's benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page:
https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefitsThe City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are
not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01
Please select your highest level of education completed.
- Some high school
- High school diploma (or GED)
- Some college
- Associate's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- PhD or other professional degree
02
How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in this field?
- None
- Less than 1 year
- 1 to less than 2 years
- 2 to less than 3 years
- 3 to less than 4 years
- 4 to less than 5 years
- 5 to less than 6 years
- 6 to less than 7 years
- 7 to less than 8 years
- 8 to less than 9 years
- 9 to less than 10 years
- 10 years or more
03
Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?
04
If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
05
Do you have a valid North Carolina Driver's License Class C or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire?
- Yes, I currently have a valid NC Driver's License.
- I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License, but I can obtain one within 60 days of hire.
- No, I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 60 days of hire.
Required Question
