Gardener

LOCATIONS: Birmingham

TARGET CLOSE DATE: 09/21/2026

PAY GRADE: Grade 15

TYPE: Full time

JOB SUMMARY: The City of Birmingham is seeking experienced Gardeners to perform manual and skilled work in the care and maintenance of flowers, plants, shrubs, and landscaped areas. Responsibilities include preparing soil and planting beds, treating plant diseases and infestations, maintaining the appearance of assigned areas, and performing related recordkeeping and inventory duties. Gardeners may serve as lead workers but do not supervise subordinate personnel.

Work is performed outdoors in parks, landscaped areas, botanical gardens, greenhouses, and other assigned locations.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: The City of Birmingham provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is listed below:
$17.00 - $26.37

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Driver’s license.

• Ability to obtain an Ornamental & Turf Pest Control License (custodial or supervisory) within 90 days of being appointed to the position (if required by jurisdiction).

• Paid work experience caring for and maintaining plants and landscapes (e.g., plant identification, pruning, planting, watering) using a variety of landscape equipment (mowers, edgers, pruners, shears, saws, etc.).

• Paid work experience mixing/applying chemicals to treat plant problems (e.g., weeds, plant diseases, insect infestations).

TYPICAL

JOB DUTIES:

• Preps soil/beds for planting by removing weeds, tilling, plowing, or turning soil, installing sprinkler systems, aerating soil, conditioning soil by adding additives, and leveling beds to ensure soil/beds are ready for plants and to promote healthy plant growth.

• Installs and cares for flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants by digging holes, laying mulch/sod, watering plants, and trimming/pruning plants to ensure healthy plant growth.

• Acts as a lead worker of peer or support staff by assigning and reviewing work tasks, facilitating training, and providing feedback using policies, procedures, tools, and directives from management in order to ensure tasks are completed in accordance with established requirements.

• Plans and prepares for work by operating service vehicles/equipment, conducting inspections, referring to schedules, making calculations, keeping records, contacting vendors, and answering questions in order to complete assigned job duties in an efficient manner.

• Diagnoses and treats plants for problems and/or diseases by performing visual assessments, referencing resources, determining appropriate treatments, mixing/applying chemicals and documenting chemical use in order to keep plants healthy.

• Performs general maintenance activities by removing debris/litter, pressure washing pavement, using landscaping/lawncare equipment, cleaning work areas and bodies of water, and making minor repairs to equipment in order to maintain the appearances and operational effectiveness of assigned areas throughout the facility.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Job involves physical exertion required for sustained periods of moderate activity such as digging holes, loading/unloading materials, or extended standing. May involve frequent lifting of items or objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed primarily in outdoor settings such as gardens and greenhouses year-round. Work involves the use of gardening/landscaping tools (e.g., pruning shears, shovels, rakes) as well as the use of various types of heavy equipment (e.g., bobcat, gator, backhoe).

EEO STATEMENT: The Person nel Board of Jefferson Countyprovides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Each Merit System member city/agency operates its own equal employment opportunity…