Parks​/Recreation Specialist - Horticulture​/Natural Resources

Overview

Parks seeks reliable and customer-focused individuals to join our team as part-time Parks/Recreation Specialist. This position may report to the Operations or Natural Resources Divisions to assist in maintaining Park Board-controlled properties. Duties may include general landscape/lawn care, forest restoration, and/or horticultural services. In this role, you will provide excellent customer service to park visitors, address inquiries, and ensure a positive experience for all patrons.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, a friendly demeanor, and a passion for promoting a safe and enjoyable environment within our parks.

Hours: Part-time employees work up to 30 hours per week. Some positions may work weekends, holidays, and evenings.

• Conservation and Land Management Technicians
• A Seasonal Horticulturalist (Operations and Green space)
• Designs, installs, and maintains horticultural displays
• Communicates closely with community representatives to plan displays and inform them of progress
• Maintenance and duties include driving a city pickup truck with a large water tank and operating a gas-powered pump to water
• Fertilize, prune, deadhead, weed, replace soil as needed, divide plants, remove litter, and related tasks; work with a horticultural technician to assist with maintenance requirements
• Assist with all maintenance and planting tasks, including landscape bed preparation, mulching, weeding, pruning, planting various plant materials and removal, deadheading, trash pickup in beds, raking up debris, fertilizing and other chemical applications, and watering

• Trail Management: inspection and maintenance of the trail system throughout the park system
• Invasive Plant Removal: using herbicide, a chain saw, weed whip, and/or machete to manage invasive shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plant materials
• Prairie & Meadow Management: preparing and managing fields using herbicide and/or mechanical means; collecting native seed for propagation and use in new prairie installations
• Forest Management: reforestation and landscape planting of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous understory material; monitoring for emerging invasive species and other possible management issues
• Ecological Research: creation, setup, monitoring, and reporting on research projects related to ongoing and/or future research projects, including data entry in MS Excel and ArcGIS Field Maps
• Volunteer Engagement: serving as a site-leader for volunteer workdays on various land management and conservation-based projects

• Urban Forestry Technicians
• Tree Care: brush chipping, roping down branches, bucking up ground material, young tree pruning, watering, and fertilization
• Urban Forestry Management: assist Urban Forestry Staff with tree inventories for the contracted preventive maintenance cycle; administrative tasks may include data entry in MS Excel and/or ArcGIS
• Tree inventory: work with Park’s certified arborists to collect tree data using Arc Collector
• Follow safety procedures and maintain a safe environment for staff and visitors; recognize hazards
• Provide general cleaning of park facilities and office areas
• Demonstrate organizational and administrative skills; contact staff and volunteers, prepare paperwork, and provide event statistics for monthly reports
• Secure building and event facilities at end of workday or as needed during work hours
• Assist with developing constructive relationships with community groups and partner organizations during special events
• Performs related duties as required

Must be eighteen (18) years of age, a high school graduate, and have a valid driver’s license.

• Courses in natural sciences, education or related area
• Knowledge of local ecology, local culture, and natural history
• Familiarity with software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., and social media platforms
• Knowledge of parks and outdoor activities is preferred
• Basic math skills
• Knowledge of chainsaw operation and herbicide application
• Knowledge of mapping with ArcGIS applications to collect and compile data
• Know…