Grounds and Horticulture Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the Direction of the Facilities Director, this position supervises full time and seasonal crews that perform grounds maintenance, sanitation and horticultural requirements at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. This includes maintenance of pathways, planting areas, tree/shrubs, grounds, irrigation and associated facilities. This position also provides needed event logistics. This is a working supervisory position, requiring skills and knowledge in employee motivation, and in the areas of responsibility.

At the zoo we look for employees who are passionate about conservation, who approach their daily work with a can do attitude, who are resourceful, who communicate respectfully with everyone, and are ready to work hard to support the zoo towards its mission.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Reports directly to the Director of Facilities. Directly supervises the Grounds staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Organizes and schedules work tasks and assigns duties to unskilled, skilled or semiskilled work crews. Inspects work in progress and the final work quality, which may include several different work areas and projects covering multiple locations in the Zoo.
2. Hires qualified seasonal employees at the appropriate times of the year to work during high work load seasons.
3. Recommends changes in resource allocations, priorities or new ideas to improve appearance and efficiencies. Ensures work meets performance quality standards. Trains and evaluates subordinates of all aspects of work responsibility.
4. Creates and biannual landscape and planting plans (spring and fall) to address landscape needs, and tree/shrub replacements.
5. Keeps track of supplies, materials, and equipment, recommends purchases as necessary. Ensures all equipment is properly maintained and safely operated.
6. Performs Supervises property sanitation and maintenance procedures. Uses and tools, and operates equipment such as backhoe, vehicles, carts, large trucks, loader, sweeper, aeration and mower, as needed.
7. Prepares and submit payroll and daily time and reviews attendance, issues and schedules work orders in a Maintenance Management system, Completes safety and vandalism reports, material requisitions, maintenance on equipment logs, inspection lists, and USDA fence line inspection log. Establishes Preventive maintenance work orders schedules to ensure all assets are well maintained.
8. S olves worker performance problems in accordance with established guidelines.
9. Ability to read and interpret blue prints, landscape plans and inspect construction projects to assure Hogle Zoo landscape specifications are being followed.
10. Must be a team player and successfully work with all Zoo employees and department heads, including outside entities such as, surrounding property owners, City’s Public Services, Public Utilities and State of Utah.
11. Responsible for safe operations and training of personnel, will assess grounds to remove hazards or safety issue and take the needed precaution and barricading to protect visitors and employees.
12. Works closely with those organizing special events to ensure grounds and event space are ready to accommodate different type of events and perform the needed clean up after.
13. May be required to take after-hours calls and perform needed call-outs.
14. Conduct regular informational and motivational meetings with staff.
15. Performs asset monitoring and tracking to ensure all assets are accounted for and tracked and maintain per industry standards, including tables, benches, and fences. Ensures USDA fence line meets the required standards and resolve deficiencies.
16. Develops with the Maintenance Supervisor annual snow removal plans, trains personnel and supervise the execution of work efforts to ensure Hogle Zoo’s pathways, sidewalks, building entries, and parking lots are free of snow and ice.
17. Ensure assigned shop area is clean and organized to enhance efficiencies and safety.
18. Commitment to the zoo’s mission.
19. Ability to work over-time as needed.
20. Performs other duties as assigned.
21. Maintains strict confidentiality.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience

Two (2) years post high school training in Agriculture, Horticulture, Turf Management, Agronomy, Botany or related field, with four (4) years of job-related experience. Must have leading or supervisory experience that is part of current job or in past experience area.

State of Utah, Department of Agriculture Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicators License is required able to obtain one with a few months.

Possession of arborist, turf, and landscape certifications will be a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

This list contains knowledge, skills, and abilities that are typically associated with the job. It is not all-inclusive and may vary from position to position:

Required technical skills include the knowledge and ability of:

• Computer operations and technical software applications.
• Microsoft Office Suite.
• Maintenance management software.

Required mathematical skills include working knowledge of:

• Accounting, budgeting, and bookkeeping.
• Mathematical concepts and logic.
• Performs basic mathematical formulas and calculations.

Required grounds skills include working knowledge of:

• Accepted floriculture, horticulture and landscape designs procedures and operations.
• Grounds maintenance and sanitation including fertilizers, irrigation/watering systems, tree and shrub maintenance, herbicides, hard surface cleaning techniques, equipment used in these processes, and standard mowing and planting practices.
• Snow and ice removal techniques, procedures, and equipment to ensure pathways, sidewalks, building entry and parking lots and parking stalls are cleared for public access and safety.

Must possess excellent communications skills:

• Interpersonal conflict resolution method.
• Effectively promote organization and services offered.
• Interpersonal communication.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Must have the ability to:

• Supervise, train, and motivate a team.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Apply critical thinking techniques.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Prioritize work.
• Perform within deadlines.
• Ability to stay focused despite interruptions.
• Deal with stress caused by deadlines.
• Work well in a team environment as well as independently.
• Memory for details.

The incumbent must always demonstrate judgment, high integrity, and personal values consistent with the values of the Hogle Zoo.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a drug free workplace. All employees are subject random drug testing.

Work Environment

Tasks require a variety of moderately heavy physical activities which generally involve muscular strain. Requires activities related to walking, standing, bending, stooping, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing and seeing. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity required to perform essential functions.Exposure to spraying of insecticides and herbicides, spreading of fertilizers, cleaning and sanitation chemicals heat, cold, noise, dust and fumes. Requires lifting of up to 50 lbs.

Requires a valid driver’s license.