Horticulturist/Arborist Specialist at Parks Tacoma – Tacoma, Washington

Work where you play!
Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.

Who We Are
Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here
Come work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. You’ll receive a competitive wage, along with an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, vacation, holidays, and much more. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information
Perform a variety of specialized duties related to the operations, production, selection, propagation, growth, care and maintenance and other horticulture/arboriculture needs. Review work that directly affects the parks flora, as needed. Provide work direction, prioritize tasks, provide training and review the work of assigned volunteers, interns, contractors, and staff as needed. Organize and participate in the development and implementation of all operations relating to horticulture and arboricultural. Operate a variety of equipment necessary to conduct work plans, including heavy machinery. Conduct self-initiated tasks and projects designed to meet park-wide goals and improve the overall ecological health of park land holdings.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, always implement appropriate safety practices and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

Perform a variety of routine and specialized technical duties related to the horticulture and arboriculture fields; including but not limited to propagation, care and maintenance of plants, shrubs tress and other horticulture materials.

Provide hiring assistance, training, work direction, prioritization of tasks, review of work and performance evaluation assistance as needed for full-time and seasonal staff, volunteers and interns.

Maintain records and provide reports and other administrative support for the assigned areas of the facility.

Attend staff meetings and professional development opportunities, as needed.

Be actively involved in assigned committees.

Help develop community relationships and partners to ensure continued positive volunteer investment in horticulture and conservation activities.

Help develop and achieve Conservation department goals. Monitor and ensure that a designated forest management plan is followed. Oversee implementation of restoration sites and promote the general enhancement of native plant biodiversity.

Working with the Lead or Manager, assist in prioritizing and reviewing horticulture work requests.

Provide direction, monitor work, provide proper documentation and conduct floristic surveys, as needed in the mitigation wetland restoration site and all associated buffer zones and restoration projects throughout the complex.

Participate in and oversee all aspects of horticulturist and arborist related activities; including but not limited to plant selection and installation, invasive species removal, lawn and garden maintenance, mulching, gravel pathway and seasonal plant maintenance.

Consult with other departments on all projects that impact on grounds flora; complete plant selection/installation, landscape design and exhibit construction; determine and implement production schedules to assure quality and appropriate quantity of planted materials; conduct research in trade journals, specialty books, and other resources to identify seasonal planting activities.

Operate a variety of specialized tools and equipment, including rototillers, front-end loader, pesticide sprayers, soil mixers, chainsaw, bobcat, backhoe, excavator, forklift, crane, dump truck and hi-lift and other hand and power tools.

Ensure safe/timely completion of work directly related to these areas.

Requisition and purchase supplies and materials according to established procedures; obtain competitive prices; assist in the development and management of annual horticulture budget and tracking of expenditures.

Monitor and control plant pests, insects and diseases; inspect plants for infestation; apply pesticides and remove plants as required; prepare and maintain related records.

Utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to manage the horticultural collection. Assist all departments with horticultural questions; review and assist with flora in animal exhibit areas, as needed.

Supervise volunteers and contractors on horticultural and arborist related projects. Provide direction as crew leader on specialized projects, as assigned.

Evaluate and diagnose condition of trees and shrubs to ensure public safety throughout the complex: conduct hazard tree evaluations, documentation and participate in the removal of unhealthy/unsafe trees and shrubs.

Perform other duties as assigned.
Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related field and 5 years of experience in the field of horticulture and/ or arboriculture; An additional 4 years of experience can substitute for the degree requirement.
Experience using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), zoological horticulture applications and landscape design required.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicable pesticide applicators license/ certification for ornamental plants, weed control, insects and disease.
• Certified Arborist status with the International Society of Arboriculture is required by the end of the probationary period and maintenance thereafter.
• Valid CPR and First Aid card.
• Valid Washington driver's license with acceptable driving record

This position is a represented position with the International Union of Operating Engineers.

ENVIRONMENT:
Indoor and outdoor work environment.
Driving a vehicle to conduct work.
Exposure to pollen, dirt, dust, and odors.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:
Climbing ladders.
Bending at the waist.
Stooping.
Kneeling.
Heavy lifting of objects up to 50 pounds.
Pushing and pulling wheelbarrows.
Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of specialized equipment and tools.
Reaching overhead and horizontally. Standing and walking for extended periods of time.

HAZARDS:
Working around and with machinery with moving parts.
Exposure to pesticides and fertilizer chemicals and fumes associated with work duties.
Hazard tree removal.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Theory, terminology, principles and practices of botany and horticulture, cultivation, plant pathology, physiology, entomology and arboriculture.
• Principles and practice of arboriculture, including hazard tree management. O Current land management techniques for invasive and exotic plant species.
• Ability to prepare and conduct field studies.
• Overall knowledge of Horticultural and Arboricultural fields.
• Proper methods and procedures utilized in the care, maintenance and propagation of ornamental plants, shrubs, and crops.
• Proper scheduling of planting/ propagation activities according to seasonal change.
• Pesticide and growth regulator principles, practices and procedures.
• Water, fertilization and soil requirements for plants.
• Identification and characteristics of plant pests, insects and disease.
• Safe operation and use of specialized equipment hand and power tools, including pesticide applicator.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Basic CPR and first aid procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable safety precautions.

ABILITY TO:

• Work around the general public and preserve patrons in public areas.
• Utilize effective time management skills to complete assigned work.
• Work in a team atmosphere, promoting positive work relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Take initiative and ability to follow through on projects from beginning to end with minimal supervision.
• Lead crews, solve problems and make project-related decisions.
• Train personnel in safety and tree care techniques, as needed.
• Perform physical labor, work independently and adapt to changes.
• Properly use and apply pesticides.
• Operate a variety of specialized tools and equipment, including but not limited to rototillers, front-end loaders, excavators, pesticide sprayers, soil mixers, hand and power tools, and computers.
• Observe, monitor and control factors influencing the growth of plants.
• Interpret rules and regulations.
• Perform emergency first aid and CPR as needed and according to established guidelines.
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Assess and evaluate situations effectively.
• Exert optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.
• Manage time efficiently and effectively through scheduling and prioritizing.
• Work within and contribute to the effectiveness of a team, respecting differences.
• Report for work regularly and on time.

PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

Parks Tacoma employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Parks Tacoma is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at hr@parkstacoma.gov

Employment is subject to a national background check.