Seasonal Garden Laborer

Salary: $20.73 Hourly
Location : Soldotna Regional Sports Complex
Job Type: Seasonal
Job Number:
Department: Parks & Recreation
Opening Date: 02/23/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Summary
The City of Soldotna is recruiting for temporary full-time & part-time Garden Laborers for the summer season.

This position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed weekly, with the first review on March 9th, 2026.

The Garden Laborer position, under the general supervision of the Parks and Recreation Director, is responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of City landscaping. The gardening team works together on planting and maintaining gardens, flower planters, hanging baskets, and other beautification projects.
This is as summer seasonal position with an anticipated start date of May 1st and will last approximately 6 months from time of hire.
Detailed Work Activities

• Reviews planting schematics, plans and written instructions, plants and cares for gardens and landscape areas according to directions.
• Plants and maintains trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.
• Plant propagation and nursery management.
• Performs janitorial and custodial work as required including trash removal, cleaning the building and restrooms, opens and closes, locks and unlocks facilities as needed.
• The requirements of the gardener alternate between physically demanding tasks and detailed oriented horticultural care.
• Provides friendly customer service and works collaboratively with others to accomplish tasks.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Willingness to learn and differentiate between various plants and weeds.
• Some knowledge of equipment, materials and supplies used in garden and grounds maintenance.
• Ability to understand and follow safety procedures.
• Ability to adapt, take initiative, work independently, and complete daily activities according to work schedule.
• Ability to perform heavy manual tasks for extended periods of time;
  Ability to work safely;
  Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, volunteers, other departments and the public.
• Example of tools and equipment used:
  Includes but not limited to; hand tools, powered and non- powered lawn implements, mowers, edger's, weed trimmers, pumps, sprinklers, miscellaneous hand and power tools for gardening.

Qualifications

• Any combination of training and experience that provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the essential job functions will be considered.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Must be available to work varying schedules including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must have a valid driver's license. Must have and maintain a good driving record.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment is typically outdoors where the employee must do work that is sometimes strenuous in all kinds of weather (e.g., high or low temperatures, fog, direct sunlight, wind) and in dirt and dust.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Work is performed mostly outdoors, hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of gardening tools and landscape equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to balance, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, crawl, sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear, use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb and smell.
• The employee is frequently exposed to odors, noise, toxic agents, wetness, and humidity, and occasionally exposed to other adverse conditions including extreme heat or cold, dim lighting, dust, and heavy machinery.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Personal protective equipment is provided and must be used in accordance with best practices, federal and state laws, and City/Department policies and operating procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The City of Soldotna is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is based on qualifications free of personal and political considerations, with equal opportunity for all with no discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by law.