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Job Description

HORTICULTURIST

JOB CODE 40350

Effective Date:	07/02A

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to perform professional horticultural duties in the management of horticulture and silviculture. In the Parks and Recreation Department, the Horticulturist oversees the operations of a holding nursery and several sports complexes. In the Street Transportation Department, this position is responsible for landscape maintenance along the Squaw Peak and Papago Freeways. Duties of this classification include ordering plant material and horticultural supplies, supervising the maintenance of park flood irrigation systems, reviewing pesticide recommendations for City parks and supervising the pre-emergent herbicide application and year round insect control crews. This class works closely with Materials Management in monitoring landscape plant material contracts and supervises the landscape maintenance and installation crews. The Horticulturist works with considerable professional discretion in accomplishing assigned duties and works under the administrative direction of either the Parks Special Operations Supervisor or a Civil Engineer II. Performance is evaluated on the basis of results achieved.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises landscape, flood irrigation, pre-emergent herbicide, insect and sports complex maintenance crews;
• Prescribes methods of transplanting, protecting and developing plants, trees and shrubs;
• Accounts for all back charges for horticulture supplies and labor for plant material and herbicides;
• Estimates requirements to meet anticipated seasonal needs for plant material and herbicides;
• Prescribes fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other inorganic or organic compounds required for plant development and care;
• Performs physical inventories;
• Uses graphic instructions, such as blueprints, schematic drawings, layouts or other visual aids;
• Estimates labor or material costs from blueprints or work plans;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Greenhouse and nursery management.
• Modern biological and chemical plant and pest control methods.
• Plant taxonomy nutrition, pathology, histology and anatomy.
• The classification of and the peculiar requirements of desert and sub-tropical plants.
• Ballfield and turf maintenance.
• Flood irrigation system maintenance and operation.
• Pesticide management and application procedures.
• Landscape and irrigation system installation.

Ability to:

• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.
• Express ideas clearly, orally and in writing.
• Communicate orally with customers, clients or the public using a telephone or in a face to face, one to one or group setting.
• Observe or monitor data, objects or people's behavior to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards.
• Comprehend or make inferences from written material.
• Walk over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces.
• Work in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the elements.
• Learn job-related material primarily through oral instruction and observation. This learning takes place mainly in an on the job setting.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Work cooperatively with others.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess and valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Additionally, some positions will require individuals to pass an Arizona Department of Transportation physical exam and possess the appropriate commercial driver's license. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• Some positions will require the performance of other essential or marginal functions depending upon work assignment, shift, or location.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Three years of supervisory experience in greenhouse and nursery management, horticulture, silviculture, or floriculture, and a bachelor's degree in agriculture, botany, horticulture, forestry or a related field. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.