Gardener - Grounds

This position is a full-time Gardener role on the horticulture team in Parks Maintenance District 2. The ideal candidate has a passion for horticulture and understands how public parks offer exceptional experiences that enhance the lives of Raleigh residents.

We are looking for a new team member who has a positive attitude and a willingness to learn through hands‑on experience. The ideal candidate will be passionate about understanding good horticultural and maintenance practices, including weeding, watering, proper pruning, soil preparation, planting, invasive plant removal, debris and trash removal, and herbicide applications. The ideal candidate is self‑motivated and detail‑oriented. They are exceptionally independent, work diligently, and have excellent customer service skills.

The Gardener should be able to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate effectively as part of a team.

The City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department’s mission is Together we connect and enrich our community through exceptional experiences
. We play a vital role in shaping the quality of life and character of the Capital City through our extensive park system, which includes over 200 parks and more than 100 miles of greenway trails.

We are honored to support and contribute to the mental and physical well‑being of our community. Our vision is to bring people to parks and parks to people, aiming to deliver the benefits of green spaces equitably.

The department seeks a diverse workforce to fulfill its mission and vision, emphasizing candidates who are passionate about providing excellent customer service and committed to serving others.

Monday through Friday 7:00 am – 3:30 pm

Monday through Friday 6:00 am – 2:30 pm

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job‑related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Performs gardening maintenance tasks that vary by season, including hedge trimming, weeding, debris removal, trash collection, plant installation and care, watering, tree pruning, and mulching
• Operates various types of vehicles such as UTVs and dump trucks
• May advise garden clubs, civic groups, and individual citizens on gardening subjects and regularly work with volunteers to accomplish horticultural projects
• Must be able to work independently with little supervision as well as be part of a team
• This job has no supervisory responsibilities

6+ months of training beyond High School in Horticulture, Landscape Design, Grounds Maintenance, Pest Control or related field; 1 to 3 years' experience in specialized turf maintenance, landscape design/maintenance, parks maintenance, arboriculture or related work. OR Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire

• Valid NC Pesticide License required or obtained within 90 days of hire

• The ideal candidate is skilled in excellent customer service and has landscape gardening experience
• As a new team member on District 5, you will be trained in how to safely operate small equipment and required to use equipment such as trimmers, blowers, edgers, and operate commercial vehicles and trailers under 26,000 pounds (non‑CDL)
• The District Gardener is a physically demanding job. The candidate must be able to work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold, as well as rain and snow
• The employee is required to use repetitive hand motion, count, stand, walk, lift, kneel, stoop, crouch, bend, and lift. This position requires medium work, which includes exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move…