Gardener Job Listing at City of Edmonton in Edmonton, AB (Job ID 52550)

Description

Are you a passionate and experienced horticulturist looking to make a significant impact on the beauty and vibrancy of Edmonton's green spaces? The City of Edmonton's Parks and Roads Services is seeking dedicated Gardeners to join our Open Space Operations, Horticulture team. This role is pivotal in maintaining and enhancing our city's diverse landscapes, from intricate flower beds to expansive shrub areas, and requires a blend of technical expertise, leadership, and a commitment to best practices in horticulture. 
As a Gardener (Horticulture), you will act as a key technical and practical trainer and advisor within our Horticulture teams, reporting to the Crew Leader and Team Leader. You will be instrumental in providing enhanced and custom horticultural services, incorporating industry best practices into our maintenance programs throughout the year. This position involves significant field work, where you will mentor seasonal laborer staff on maintenance techniques and horticultural knowledge. Your role will involve balancing direct supervision, mentorship, training, and consultative work, ensuring our landscapes are both aesthetically pleasing and operationally functional.

What will you do?

• Provide field-level instruction and training to maintenance crews, demonstrating operational best management through day-to-day involvement
• Offer backfill coverage for crew leaders during absences or vacations
• Work alongside crews, sharing expertise and teaching efficient and effective maintenance techniques
• Perform general garden and site maintenance, ensuring appropriate techniques and strategies are utilized
• Advise on and teach specialized horticultural subjects, including planting and maintaining plant materials, Integrated Pest Management, pruning, and vegetation control
• Operate and maintain specialized tools and equipment, and provide competency testing and training on small mechanical equipment
• Lead in deciding operational best management approaches for a variety of horticultural sites
• Provide direction and advice to Crew Leaders and Supervisors on labour, equipment, and material needs for horticultural tasks
• Conduct site assessments and provide recommendations for remedial action to ensure functional and aesthetically pleasing landscapes
• Recommend updates to equipment to increase the efficacy and efficiency of current procedures
• Assist with seasonal planning of shrub replacements, annual flower designs, and other horticultural processes
• Research new tools and techniques, and make recommendations for standard operating procedures and hazard assessments
• Investigate alternative maintenance strategies and industry best practices
• Provide recommendations on renovating horticultural landscapes throughout the City, including rationale and methodology
• Other duties as required