What are the responsibilities and job description for the Gardener II - Botanica position at City of Wichita?
As a Gardener 2 at Botanica, City of Wichita, you’ll contribute to maintaining and enhancing the beauty of one of the region’s premier horticultural destinations. This role combines independent gardening and grounds maintenance with supervisory duties, allowing you to care for vibrant flowerbeds, healthy tree stock, and well-managed turfgrass areas. Your work will ensure the grounds remain clean and inviting, directly impacting the visitor experience and helping create a welcoming environment.
With your expertise in horticulture and grounds maintenance, you will play a vital part in preserving the botanical displays and landscapes, ensuring they thrive year-round and continue to be a top destination for both visitors and the community.
Bargaining Unit: Service Employee's International (SEIU)
**Employees within the department or division shall be given first consideration**
**Posting may close at any time **
- 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.
- Maintains the cleanliness and general maintenance of work-related equipment, vehicles, and trailers.
- Removes snow from walks and other areas.
- Maintains litter-free areas, as assigned.
- Balls and burlaps trees, as assigned.
- Maintains tree stock prior to planting season, as assigned.
- Operates power mowers.
- Operates forestry related small engine equipment, as needed.
- These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive.
- Other related duties may be assigned as needed.
- Knowledge of the standard tools, equipment, materials, methods, and practices used in gardening and grounds maintenance work.
- 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, and pesticide and herbicide handling.
- 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 effectively plan, organize, and supervise the work of others.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to acquire and maintain a State of Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in General Knowledge Category 9A--Noxious Weeds or a General Knowledge 3-A, 3-B ornamental and turf pest control at the department's discretion.
- Ability to maintain a valid Kansas driver's license.
- An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Required Experience and Training
- One year of experience in horticultural maintenance or greenhouse/nursery work, including tasks such as planting, pruning, irrigating, and pest control.
- Ability to obtain Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification (General Knowledge Category 9A—Noxious Weeds or General Knowledge 3-A, 3-B—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control) within six months of employment.
- A valid Kansas Driver’s license.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship.
Preferred Experience and Training
- Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification (General Knowledge Category 9A—Noxious Weeds or General Knowledge 3-A, 3-B—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control).
- One year of supervisory experience within a horticultural or grounds maintenance setting.
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. Job posting may close at any time without prior notification. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of a sponsorship.
Salary : $18 - $25
