Horticulture Supervisor

Horticulturist Supervisor

Department: Parks & Recreation Reports to: Parks Superintendent

Summary: Under basic supervision, schedules, coordinates, and supervises the daily activities of Parks and Recreation Department; manages the greenhouse, tree farms and all seasonal color beds throughout the City. Supervises parks maintenance work crews; engaged in propagating, cultivating, and harvesting horticultural specialties such as trees, shrubs, flowering plants, flowers, and native plants; sets priorities and allocates labor, materials, and equipment for daily work; assures quality of work performed, and verifies that vehicles, equipment, and tools are used in compliance with all safety regulations and standard procedures.

Essential Functions: Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepares and assigns work schedules for subordinates.
• Evaluates landscape needs and instructs grounds maintenance personnel on fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide application techniques and formulas.
• Develops procedures for new species in product line and new cultivation techniques and maintains an inventory of all plant materials.
• Prepares landscape plans and identifies types and quantities of plantings for existing and new landscaped areas; schedules growing and planting activities; and maintains inventory of propagation and growing equipment, supplies, and orders additional materials as needed.
• Oversees greenhouse operations.
• Develops and implements treatment plans and seasonal planting plans.
• Trains new and current employees in landscape maintenance and gardening techniques such as transplanting, trimming, weeding, feeding, watering, spacing, grading.
• Supervises work crews performing parks horticulturing activities; plans and schedules staff, equipment, and materials required to complete work projects; monitors work sites to assure that safety rules and regulations are followed, and that the work zones and all equipment are in safe operating condition.
• Performs a variety of administrative activities including employee scheduling, payroll reporting, and work activity reports; maintains inventories and assures that adequate materials, supplies, and tools are available.
• Utilizes proper safety precautions in all work performed; reports problems and emergency situations; recognizes, avoids, and reports unsafe acts, conditions, accidents, and injuries.
• Must have and maintain a cell phone for City use to hold this position.
• Supports the departmental operations with regular and timely attendance.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Odessa and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines: High School Diploma or GED required. Two (2) years of practical horticulture experience in arboriculture, greenhouse operations, tree farm operations, Herbicide and Pesticide applications is required OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in maintenance of parks, grounds, facilities, playgrounds, and infrastructure.
• Landscape and irrigation system maintenance practices and standards.
• Federal, state, and City safety rules and regulations.
• Operation, maintenance, and repair standards for heavy equipment and specialized vehicles.
• Traffic laws and rules for vehicle and equipment operation in public parks.
• Principles and practices of grounds maintenance including pesticide/herbicide application.
• Proper use and storage of chemicals, including OSHA Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.
• Methods and practices of Horticulture pertinent to Greenhouse Operations, Tree Farm operations, Turf Management, Arboriculture and Budgeting.

Skill in:

• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines
• Planning and prioritizing repair and maintenance projects.
• Identifying parks maintenance needs and recommending priorities.
• Supervising staff, delegating tasks and authority, and evaluating staff performance.
• Identifying and resolving parks maintenance, safety, and mechanical problems.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
• Promoting and enforcing safe work practices.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Using specialized tools and heavy motorized equipment to perform maintenance and repair work.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers and the public.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

License and certification requirements: A Texas Driver's License. Pesticide Applicator license is required within one (1) year of employment.

Physical demands and working environment: Work is performed indoors, outdoors, and at City facilities; requires moderate physical efforts, and the ability to bend, reach, stoop, and lift objects; may be exposed to safety hazards and dangerous tools and equipment; safety precautions must be followed, including use of safety equipment. City approved safety shoes must be worn. Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds.