Landscaping Supervisor

Job Description

This position is responsible for the supervision and operations of the assigned division, providing highly skilled maintenance for the entire acreage operated by the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department excluding the athletic turf. Incumbent is responsible for all tree, shrub, ornamentals, flower beds and hardscape maintenance.

Minimum Experience: Four (4) years of related landscaping management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior experience managing both warm and cool season turf in the transition zone with an emphasis on ornamental horticulture preferred.

Minimum Education: High School diploma or equivalent. Two years of coursework or associate's degree from an accredited college in horticulture, agriculture, landscaping or related field preferred.

Certifications, Licenses:

• Must hold a valid driver’s license.
• A pre-employment criminal background check is required.
• Must become a Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) through the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) within thirty-six (36) months after hire date.

GENERAL POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are normal for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Directs the work of and manages assigned crews.
• Provides ongoing training and instruction
• Assigns tasks, reviews work and provides performance evaluation feedback.
• Assigns work schedules to the landscaping division regarding weekend and after business hours events and tournaments.
• Ensures appropriate training for staff on all assigned equipment and areas of work and maintains required documentation.
• Performs a variety of highly skilled work in the maintenance of the acreage operated by the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Functions as a team leader, providing guidance to the landscape division workers, trades workers, and other support staff.
• Inspects completed assignments of all landscape crewmembers and helpers to ensure quality control, ensuring proper safety procedures are being used while performing job duties.
• Determines and initiates work orders for division needs and projects. Interfaces with Parks Management to finalize project needs and scope of work.
• Assesses Park properties throughout the year to prepare a list of winter projects and priorities.
• Follows department purchasing procedures for division needs.
• Prepares and presents yearly budget requests for division.
• Conducts monthly vehicle maintenance inspections on the division's fleet and reports any issues accordingly.
• Performs skilled turf landscape maintenance duties with sit-down and stand-up zero-turn mowers, string-trimming, edging, overseeding, operating spray boom, calibrating spray tarots, operating aerator, operating both small and medium size tractors, etc.
• Operates all equipment owned or rented by the Parks and Recreation Department including skid steer, backhoe, mini-ex, trencher, etc.
• Responsible for the maintenance of the trails system of the Parks and Recreation Department in its entirety including all preventive maintenance on trail bridges and switchbacks, and all erosion control of native soil trailways.
• Responsible for carrying out the 12-month agronomy plan in its entirety for all County Parks.
• Keep an up-to-date inventory of all landscaping division tools and supplies, as well as raw materials such as fertilizers, grass seed, pre-emergent and post-emergent.
• Diagnoses turf stress and provides solutions that enable a quality common ground turf stand that is both weed and disease-free as possible and aesthetically pleasing in a manner representative of County Park’s high standard.
• Coordinates landscaping and equipment maintenance schedules; assists Parks Management in developing policies and procedures.
• Be able to work various hours of the time of day or night as needed including weekends and holidays.
• Interprets data such as soil analysis report, pressure test of water lines, and PH reading.
• Ensures all activities are carried out in a safe manner; adheres to all County safety regulations; ensures all regulations pertaining to the safe use of equipment are understood and followed.
• Reports all accidents to the appropriate authority. Follows all policies for reporting.
• Able to work overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Participates in mandated drug screening clearinghouse.
• Other duties as assigned.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has limited financial responsibility.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represents the Department and County to other County staff and members of the public.
• Provides quality customer service to individuals needing directions or assistance.
• Demonstrates the organization’s Core Values and adherence to the Ethics policy.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to the Operation Manager. Works under the scope of general policies, procedures and objectives and is carried out in accordance with standard practices, instructions or previous training. This position has supervisory responsibilities for Grounds Technicians, Horticulturist, and Forestry and Trail Maintenance Specialist.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Practices and methods used in landscape maintenance and general landscaping work.
• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Safety precautions and potential hazards encountered in maintenance activities.
• Working knowledge of occupational hazards (OSHA) and safe work practices.
• Irrigation electrical systems.
• The County and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time off, and maintaining personnel records.
• Current office practices and procedures consistent for this position.
• Computer software consistent for this position.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Excellent public contact and customer service skills.
• Traffic laws and ordinances.

Skill in:

• Following procedures outlined in print and electronic technical manuals.
• Reading and interpreting policy and procedure manuals.
• Performing heavy manual labor.
• Communicating clearly and concisely primarily in verbal form.
• Organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Applying judgment and discretion in resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.

Ability to:

• Operate heavy construction equipment and grounds maintenance equipment, including ability to operate equipment over rough terrain for long periods of time.
• Operate a motor vehicle and equipment with a standard transmission.
• Read and follow technical manuals, service manuals, schematics and other instructional materials.
• Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits requiring minimal direction and supervision.
• Instruct and train in methods and procedures.
• Organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
• Delegate authority and responsibility.
• Communicate professionally with other crew members, supervisors and members of the public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
• Establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Work the allocated hours of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed indoors and outdoors, requiring mobility and physical activity. Work environment includes exposure to noise, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and subject to slip, trip and fall hazards as well as mechanical operations injury risk. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

• This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 100 pounds of lifting/moving or force and occasional lift, move or drag 75 pounds or more while performing essential functions of the job.
• Work regularly requires the ability to stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and speak and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.
• Acceptable verbal and conversation skills to effectively communicate with others in English.
• Ability to read and write English and interpret documents such as safety rules, material safety data sheets, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and so forth.
• Ability to recognize occupational hazards in work activities and take safety precautions.
• Work is frequently performed in a noisy environment around mechanical equipment.
• Work may include outdoors in seasonal weather extremes.
• Exposures could include toxic chemicals, seasonal temperature extremes, and other possible unknown hazardous materials.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound decisions and following directions.