Job Summary

The Landscape Specialist is responsible for landscape management practices for all landscape plant material located on park district managed properties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily and demonstrate the District’s core competencies consisting of financial accountability, integrity/ethics, interpersonal skills, job knowledge, policies & procedures compliance, work quality, risk management/safety, District/Department vision and values, teamwork, adaptability/flexibility, dependability, and productivity.

Essential Duties

• Care, maintain, and culture all plant material (annual & perennial plants, ground covers, ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, lawns/turf) to include but not limited to: plant removal, plant installation, transplanting, pruning, cutting, mulching, aerating, weeding, seeding, sodding, edging, trimming, watering, mowing, application of fertilizers, pesticides, & herbicides as needed, and turf & prairie/native seeding.
• Identify problems or failures of existing landscape installations. Propose and implement solutions for issues identified.
• Create planting schedules/plans with cost estimates.
• Obtain proposals and seek availability for plant material & landscape equipment purchases and complete purchasing process when approved. o Accept delivery of plant orders to include counting quantities and determining acceptable quality of material upon delivery, rejecting material not meeting quality standards for installation.
• Coordinate delivery, installation and maintenance to ensure viability of landscape plantings.
• Assist with supervising contracted plant material/landscape installation projects and administer plant/weed maintenance 3rd party contracts.
• Follow and maintain planned landscape designs and report back to Superintendent of Planning & Development any problem areas.
• Assist Superintendent of Planning & Development with bed/landscape design and assist in creating landscape management plans
• Gather & remove litter, debris, leaves, branches, dead plant material, etc. as assigned.
• Report any hazards observed to manager to comply with district-wide safety initiatives.
• Inspect and clean debris from storm water management structures (e.g. grates, catch basins, etc.)
• Assist Natural Resource Manager with management of natural area vegetation, (wetlands, prairie, woodland understory) and assist with prescribed burns of natural vegetation.
• Participate in assigned department wide responsibilities including:
• Rotational weekday and weekend snow team clearing activities
• Rotational on-call weekend responsibilities.
• Special event support
• Other duties as assigned when needs arise, sometimes shifting to the parks division of Parks, Planning & Development Department.

Initiative

• Prepare estimates for annual budget considerations.
• Hire, train, supervise, complete performance reviews, and ensure resignation/termination forms are completed at the end of the season for all assigned seasonal staff.
• Perform general maintenance duties as assigned.
• Coordinate and assign scheduled watering of landscape plantings, annual plantings and garden plot water tank.
• Be prepared to deal with emergency health issues in accordance with Park District policies. Special sanitation procedures are to be taken in the event of some illnesses, see policy 3.4 in the Comprehensive Policy & Procedures Manual for details.

Personal Organization

• Use time management techniques to develop work schedules and adhere to time lines.
• Utilize District’s Computer Maintenance Management System to receive and complete assigned tasks including regular and preventative maintenance.
• Maintain a clear and functional workspace.
• Keep physical and digital information organized and accessible.
• Use appropriate time keeping method/system to accurately record time worked in accordance with policy/procedure.

Teamwork

• Work as a team player with co-workers and in conjunction with other departments.
• Attend staff meetings and in-service training sessions as required.
• Promote a team atmosphere and work with co-workers to meet all team deadlines and responsibilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and demonstrate the competencies listed above in addition to the following:

• Advanced knowledge of landscape management practices and plant material.
• Advanced understanding of turf, plant materials, plant care and culture practices, pruning techniques, horticultural equipment, pest identification, and general maintenance practices.
• Ability to plant, maintain, and care for turf, perennials, annuals, ground covers, shrubs, and trees.
• Ability to administer all functions of the best landscape management practices.
• Ability to operate vehicles and heavy equipment including, but not limited to: tractors, end loaders, skid steers, backhoe, and large mowers.
• Ability to operate power equipment, such as hedge trimmers, string trimmers, lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, pruning saws, power edgers, etc.
• Ability to use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge/brush trimmers, axes, etc.
• Ability to calculate, prepare, mix, spray/spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
• Ability to follow directions and once a job is assigned and the ability to work with limited daily supervision.
• Ability and willingness to safely and efficiently pivot to another task should manager determine priority over previous assignment.
• Knowledge of personnel management and the ability to supervise part time and seasonal department employees.
• Knowledge of computer software programs including Microsoft Office and the Internet.
• Ability to work professionally and effectively with the general public, cooperating agencies, businesses, organizations, civic groups, and park district employees.
• Ability to resolve differences and problems that arise with contractors, patrons, and employees in a cooperative and respectful manner.
• Ability to read, understand, remember, and interpret routine documents such as safety rules as well as communicate information therein.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondences and to speak effectively before groups of participants or employees of the organization.
• Ability to understand, remember, and apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
• Ability to identify and respond quickly to emergency situations.
• Ability to effectively problem solve and adapt to change.

Education & Training
Minimum education/training required:

• Certificate of completion in landscape management, horticultural science or related field from an accredited college or university or Associate’s Degree in landscape management, environmental/horticultural science or related field from an accredited college or university or 2 years of equivalent professional work experience.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid Illinois State driver’s license.
• Obtain and maintain a combination State of Illinois Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A License within 6 months of hire.
• Obtain and maintain a State of Illinois Commercial Pesticide Operators/Applicator’s license.
• Obtain and maintain first-aid certification.
• Obtain and maintain adult CPR/AED certification.