All current City of Sarasota employees must apply to job postings on the internal career site.

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NOTE: The City of Sarasota is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Veteran, E-Verify and Drug Free Workplace employer. Click to view the City's Veterans Recruitment Plan. Click to view a the City's Educational Equivalency Statement.

Department:

Employee Type:

Time Type:

Salary Range:

Job Posting Period:

Job Description:

Overview

To maintain assigned landscaped areas throughout the City by using sound horticultural practices and varied equipment and resources of the Parks & Recreation Department.

Essential Functions

• Maintains shrubs, flowers, and landscaped areas with the use of mowers, cutters, edgers and other necessary hand and mechanical equipment.

• Maintains tools and equipment in good working condition.

• Utilizes proper techniques when pruning ornamentals and trees.

• Guards against possible grass and shrub diseases and pest infestation, and eradicates them as soon as possible.

• Mows, weeds, collects and picks up litter and irrigates landscaping.

• Works in various locations such as parks, cemeteries, vacant lots, medians, and roads.

• Plants, cultivates, trims, sprays herbicide/fertilizer and waters plants and shrubs.

• Maintains and makes minor repairs to irrigation systems.

• Performs manual labor and other semi-skilled maintenance and construction duties.

• Performs strenuous work in a variety of weather conditions including high heat conditions.

• Performs work in hazardous conditions such as medians and roads

• The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school Diploma or GED,

• Three (3) years of landscape experience or similar horticultural responsibilities,

• Or the equivalent in education, training, and experience, which would provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities,

• Possess and maintain Florida Department of Agriculture Limited Lawn and Ornamental Holder License,

• Possess and maintain a valid State of Florida Driver's License,

• The ability to possess and maintain a valid Class "B" or higher State of Florida Commercial Driver's License (CDL) within six (6) months of employment,

• Obtain Intermediate Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) certification within six months of employment,

• Obtain GI-BMP certification with fertilizer application certification,

• Complete FEMA 100 and 700 courses,

• Complete FNGLA-Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician certification within one (1) year.

Job Based Competencies

• Knowledge of sound horticultural principles and techniques.

• Knowledge of tools, equipment and the materials used in the care of lawns, shrubs, flowers, and similar landscaped areas characteristic of Florida.

• Knowledge of Southwest Florida irrigation practices and maintenance.

• Ability to recognize and treat grass and shrub diseases and common pest infestation.

• Ability to work overtime and/or be on call.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.

Responsibility

Under the direction of and responsible to the Department Head or designated representative. None routinely. May be assigned to supervise work details of employees while working on special projects or during periods of peak activity.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally and up to 50 pounds of force frequently. Work requires considerable physical activity including walking, lifting, reaching, stooping, pulling, grasping, balancing, climbing, kneeling, standing, and crouching. Incumbent is subject to inside and outside activities with a variety of weather changes or atmospheric conditions. Incumbent may be exposed to activities such as noise and jobs with potential hazards that may require special protection and/or special safety precautions. Visual acuity is required to inspect work completed by crews for accuracy and quality. Incumbent is required to hear sufficiently to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Manual dexterity is required to operate equipment in performance of duties.

Public Contact

Incumbent has limited contact with the public while working in various landscaped areas throughout the City.

Retirement Benefit

The City of Sarasota made the transition to become a Florida Retirement System (FRS) employer effective December 1, 2021. To learn more about what this benefit may mean for you, please visit MyFrs.com. Please note that if you are hired to work for the City of Sarasota as an FRS employer, you will be asked to complete a form to certify your FRS status, as there may be an impact to any FRS benefit you are already receiving.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Jake Brown our ADA Coordinator. Jake can be reached via email at [email protected] or via phone at 941-263-6299.

For questions pertaining to general employment or job application status, please call 941-263-6476, or email [email protected]