Human Resources Department
PO Box 768
Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-8749
Position Guide For
Senior Horticulturist
“Setting the Standard for Excellence in Public Service”
Position descriptions are intended to present the general character, level of competency, and scope of responsibility of all employees in this job class.
The position description is not intended to list the essential job functions or reflect all duties performed within the job.
STATEMENT OF PRIMARY DUTIES:
Designs, develops, and manages the city’s horticulture program. Interacts with the public to include
presentations, speeches, educating citizens, and ensuring appropriate regulatory compliance.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Customer Service
Learning
Communication
Teamwork
Leadership
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
Budget/Resource Management
Adaptability/Flexibility
Coaching
Time Management
Innovation/Creativity
Technology Literacy
Problem Solving
Safety/Liability Management
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Coaches/leads, motivates, develops, and evaluates assigned personnel.
• Develops and manages the city’s horticulture program, including budget recommendations.
• Ensures regulatory compliance with OSHA regulations, other local, state and/or federal safety
regulations, training requirements for equipment and pesticide applications.
• Manages the department’s Volunteer in the Park program.
• Advises city code enforcement personnel on appropriate actions.
• Oversees purchasing of required equipment including RFP’s, contracts, landscaping installation.
• Interacts with public, including presentations, speeches, citizen education, resolving problems.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION GUIDELINES Any combination of experience and education that would likely
provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and
abilities would be:
Experience: 3-5 years of increasingly responsible experience in horticulture required; additional one year of
supervisory or lead responsibility preferred.
Education: Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course
work in horticulture, agriculture, forestry, or a related field required.
Certifications: Kansas Commercial driver’s license, Pesticide Applicator license.
SUPERVISED BY: Supervisor of Parks and Public Grounds
SUPERVISES: Five FTE’s, 3-5 seasonal employees.
Position: Senior Horticulturist
Department: Parks and Recreation
Status: Non-Exempt
Job Band: Skilled Labor
Job Code: SLMW50
Updated: 2/26/2012
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Human Resources Department
PO Box 768
Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-8749
Position Guide For
Senior Horticulturist
“Setting the Standard for Excellence in Public Service”
ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS:
Job Requirements: In an average 8 hour day, 5 day work week; ability to:
# of hours at a time
2
1
.5
.5
Sit
Stand
Walk
Drive
Movements/Lifting:
Occasionally – 1% to 33%
Frequently 34% - 66%
Bending/Stooping
Squatting
Crawling
Climbing
Walking on uneven surfaces
Reaching above shoulder
Crouching
Kneeling
Balancing
Pushing/Pulling
Twisting
Up to 10 pounds
11 to 24 pounds
25 to 34 pounds
35 to 50 pounds
51 to 74 pounds
75 to 100 pounds
Occasionally
X
X
X
X
# of hours per day
6
2
2
3
Continuously – 67% - 100%
Frequently
Continuously
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Repetitive Foot Movements Used: (foot controls for machinery or heavy mechanized equipment)
Yes
No
Hand Used for Repetitive Actions:
Simple Grasping
Fine Manipulating
Firm Grasping
Key Boarding (less than 3 hours per day)
Key Boarding (more than 3 hours per day)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Job Requires:
Working on unprotected heights
Position: Senior Horticulturist
Department: Parks and Recreation
Status: Non-Exempt
Job Band: Skilled Labor
Job Code: SLMW50
Updated: 2/26/2012
2
Human Resources Department
PO Box 768
Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-8749
Position Guide For
Senior Horticulturist
“Setting the Standard for Excellence in Public Service”
Being around moving machinery
Exposure to changes in temperature/humidity
Driving motor vehicles
Operating heavy equipment
Wearing protective equipment
Hearing:
a. Speaking voice at 10 feet
b. Vehicle back-up alarms @ 15 feet
c. Using telephones or other voice communications
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
POTENTIAL JOB HAZARDS EXPOSURES:
Physical (noise, vibrations, heat/cold, weather, radiation, etc.): Bending/stooping, crawling, and
squatting while weeding, picking up trash, trimming, and irrigating; climbing on/into truck and on ladder;
walking on pavement, uneven ground, and dirt; reaching over shoulders to put items into truck and hang
banners; crouching and kneeling while planting, weeding, irrigating, picking up trash, and trimming;
pulling hose, the mulch blower and leaf blower; carrying and lifting sprayers, mulch, snow shovels,
weeds, flowers, shrubs, hoses, fertilizer bags, weed control, tanks, leaf blower, and leaf vacuum; grasping
rakes, pruners, garden hoses, snow shovels, trowels, hand tools, and irrigation parts; operating a bobcat,
backhoe, and tractor; sun exposure; median work; dust (leaf vac); wind blown particles.
Biological: Mold in mulch; allergens; poison ivy; human waste restroom; insect bites.
Chemical: Weed control; gas; oil; pesticides; snow melt.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED (long sleeves, gloves, hard hat, respirator,
ear plugs, safety glasses, steel toed shoes, etc.):
Gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirator.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS NOT COVERED ABOVE:
Position: Senior Horticulturist
Department: Parks and Recreation
Status: Non-Exempt
Job Band: Skilled Labor
Job Code: SLMW50
Updated: 2/26/2012
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