State of Maryland

A Horticulturist Supervisor is the supervisory level of work in the field of applied horticulture.  Employees in this classification are responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of a major greenhouse facility, including maintaining a virus-free environment within the greenhouse to assure strain purity and freedom from certain viruses.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level professional and technical employees.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Plant Disease Specialist, Plant Disease Specialist, Senior, Entomologist, Program Manager or higher-level administrator.  Work is performed in a greenhouse facility.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Supervises the day-to-day operations of the greenhouse facility;

Conducts various aspects of plant certification programs;

Propagates plants by grafting, cuttings or seed;

Develops planting schedules; Indexes plants for plant viruses;

Inspects facility for signs of disrepair and delegates repair duties to maintain environmental control within the facility;

Maintains landscape plantings and performs other plant care functions;

Records data regarding virus indexing programs;

Determines appropriate formulas for the preparation of soil and growth media used in the greenhouse;

Determines best method of planting, spraying, and cultivating various plants, bushes, and trees;

Observes plants in greenhouse to ascertain growth and/or pest condition;

Prepares narrative and statistical reports;

Trains employees in gardening techniques such as watering, transplanting and weeding;

Supervises the activities of lower-level professional and technical workers;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of horticultural principles and practices;

Knowledge of plant viruses and virus indexing procedures;

Knowledge of plant propagation techniques;

Knowledge of plant grafting;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to apply horticultural principles and practices to resolve practical problems;

Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate assigned projects;

Ability to supervise, coordinate, and train lower-level employees.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree in a biological science from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 21 credit hours in the field of horticulture (six credit hours in plant pathology, botany, agronomy, or other plant sciences may be included in the 21 credit hours in horticulture).

Experience: Two years of experience in applied horticulture.

Note: Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in the biological sciences for one year of the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (excluded by agency),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded form collective bargaining.