Los Angeles Community College District

Plans, schedules, and supervises a gardening crew and participates in the gardening care and grounds maintenance of a college site, including the care and upkeep of a variety of athletic facilities.

Plans, schedules, assigns, supervises, and participates in the work of a gardening crew engaged in:

Mowing, edging, watering, raking, reseeding, fertilizing, spraying and weeding lawns and turf;

Planting, pruning and shaping, trimming, staking, cultivating, fertilizing, spraying, weeding, transplanting, and watering trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, and hedges;

Caring for athletic fields, running tracks, jumping pits and runways.

Reviews assigned staff's work in progress for adherence to job specifications, safety regulations and project time lines.

Confers with college personnel and organizations in coordinating and scheduling gardening work in connection with various college activities which are held on lawns and athletic fields during the week, at night, or on weekends.

Trains employees on job duties and safety regulations, protection and safety procedures for handling toxic or hazardous materials used on the job.

Supervises the care and propagation of nursery stock.

Inspects for and eliminates hazards in gardening areas.

Estimates costs, manpower needed, and time necessary for completion of gardening work projects.

Prepares job specifications and progress reports on gardening work projects.

Requisitions and controls supplies and equipment for a gardening crew.

Supervises and may participate in the operation of power equipment commonly used in gardening and grounds maintenance such as tractors and tractor attachments, back hoes, dump trucks, aerial man lifts, fork lifts, cultivators, mowers, edgers, trimmers, blowers, chain saws, wood chippers, roto tillers, power brooms, pressure washers, and sprayers.

Supervises the recycling of leaves, grass, mulch, and other organic waste.

Supervises and participates in pest and vermin control on campus.

Mixes and applies insecticides and herbicides.

May adjust and perform minor maintenance on power equipment used in gardening, gardening tools, and all types of sprinkler systems.

May gather, grow, and maintain special plant materials.

May control weeds by sprays or mechanical means.

Performs related duties as assigned.

A Gardening Supervisor supervises and participates in the gardening care and the grounds maintenance of a college site, including the care and upkeep of a variety of athletic facilities.

A Lead Gardener acts as a lead and participates in the work of a gardening crew engaged in providing general gardening care and grounds maintenance at a college site, including the care and upkeep of a variety of athletic facilities. Lead responsibilities include guidance and instruction on techniques, methods, and procedures for accomplishing assigned tasks and solving problems.

A Gardener provides general gardening care and grounds maintenance involving trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, flowers, and athletic fields.

General supervision is received from facilities management staff. Immediate supervision is exercised over assigned gardening staff, student employees, and persons performing community service work.

Knowledge of:

Landscaping for large and small land tracts

Plants adapted to the Southern California climate

Seasonal requirements of gardening operations

Characteristics of and methods, materials, equipment and tools used in the care of trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, and other plants

Methods and techniques of plant propagation

Soil, fertilizer, and moisture requirements of Southern California plant life

Appropriate uses of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides

Protection and safety requirements needed when working with power equipment and/or handling hazardous or toxic materials

Methods and procedures used in planning and estimating job projects

Principles of supply inventory and control

Principles of supervision and training

Methods and techniques of pest and vermin control

Principles of recordkeeping

Capabilities of computer applications, systems, and hardware used in gardening care and ground maintenance

Skill in:

Pruning and shaping trees, shrubs, and other plants

Proper use of gardening hand tools

Safe operation and use of power equipment and other tools commonly used in gardening and grounds maintenance

Ability to:

Plan, schedule, and supervise the work of assigned staff

Plant and maintain healthy growth of trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover and other plants

Coordinate gardening assignments with college activities

Make minor repairs and adjustments to power equipment and tools commonly used in gardening and grounds maintenance

Make minor repairs and adjustments to sprinkler systems

Identify diseased plants and pest infestation and take proper corrective measures

Observe and determine the need for fertilizers, soil amendments, and mineral additives

Keep accurate records

Write clear and concise instructions and reports

Work effectively and cooperatively with a diverse pool of college staff and students

Learn the characteristics of new equipment in the field of gardening and grounds maintenance and update skills to adapt to changing technology

Learn specialized software applications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from high school or its equivalent.

AND

Three years of full-time, paid experience in a variety of general gardening and landscaping work. One year of the required experience must have been in a lead or supervisory capacity. Completion of courses in horticulture, botany, plant propagation, plant identification, landscaping, or related subjects and experience in weed, pest, and vermin control are desirable.

OR

Successful completion of a two-year program in horticulture, or related subjects, from a community college, adult, vocational, or high school AND two years of full-time, paid experience in a variety of general gardening and landscaping work. One year of the required experience must have been in a lead or supervisory capacity. Experience in weed, pest, and vermin control is desirable.

Special:

A current and valid California Qualified Applicator Certificate for the use of restricted pesticides may be required for some positions.

A valid Class "C" California driver's license may be required for some positions.

Travel to locations throughout the District may be required for some positions.

Physical Requirement:

Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, they should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.