Grounds & Horticulture Supervisor

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the Direction of the Facilities Director, this position supervises full time and seasonal crews that perform grounds maintenance, sanitation and horticultural requirements at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. This includes maintenance of pathways, planting areas, tree/shrubs, grounds, irrigation and associated facilities. This position also provides needed event logistics. This is a working supervisory position, requiring skills and knowledge in employee motivation, and in the areas of responsibility.

TYPICAL DUTIES:

1. Organizes and schedules work tasks and assigns duties to unskilled, skil­led or semi‑skilled work crews. Inspects work in progress and the final work quality, which may include several different work areas and projects covering multiple locations in the Zoo.
2. Hires qualified seasonal employees at the appropriate times of the year to work during high work load seasons.
3. Recommends changes in resource allocations, priorities or new ideas to improve appearance and efficiencies. Ensures work meets performance quality standards. Trains and evaluates subordinates of all aspects of work responsibility.
4. Creates and biannual landscape and planting plans (spring and fall) to address landscape needs, and tree/shrub replacements.
5. Keeps track of supplies, materials, and equipment, recommends purchases as necessary. Ensures all equipment is properly maintained and safely operated.
6. Performs Supervises property sanitation and maintenance procedures. Uses and tools, and operates equipment such as backhoe, vehicles, carts, large trucks, loader, sweeper, aeration and mower, as needed.
7. Prepares and submit payroll and daily time and reviews attendance, issues and schedules work orders in a Maintenance Management system, Completes safety and vandalism reports, material requisitions, maintenance on equipment logs, inspection lists, and USDA fence line inspection log. Establishes Preventive maintenance work orders schedules to ensure all assets are well maintained.
8. Solves worker performance problems in accordance with established guidelines.
9. Ability to read and interpret blue prints, landscape plans and inspect construction projects to assure Hogle Zoo landscape specifications are being followed.
10. Must be a team player and successfully work with all Zoo employees and department heads, including outside entities such as, surrounding property owners, City’s Public Services, Public Utilities and State of Utah.
11. Responsible for safe operations and training of personnel, will assess grounds to remove hazards or safety issue and take the needed precaution and barricading to protect visitors and employees.
12. Works closely with those organizing special events to ensure grounds and event space are ready to accommodate different type of events and perform the needed clean up after.
13. May be required to take after-hours calls and perform needed call-outs.
14. Performs asset monitoring and tracking to ensure all assets are accounted for and tracked and maintain per industry standards, including tables, benches, and fences. Ensures USDA fence line meets the required standards and resolve deficiencies.
15. Develops with the Maintenance Supervisor annual snow removal plans, trains personnel and supervise the execution of work efforts to ensure Hogle Zoo’s pathways, sidewalks, building entries, and parking lots are free of snow and ice.
16. Ensure assigned shop area is clean and organized to enhance efficiencies and safety.
17. Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Two (2) years post high school training in Agriculture, Horticulture, Turf Management, Agronomy, Botany or related field, with four (4) years of job related experience. Must have leading or supervisory experience that is part of current job or in past experience area.
2. Knowledge of accepted floriculture, horticulture and landscape designs procedures and operations.
3. Working knowledge of grounds maintenance and sanitation including fertilizers, irrigation/watering systems, tree and shrub maintenance, herbicides, hard surface cleaning techniques, equipment used in these processes, and standard mowing and planting practices.
4. Experience in snow and ice removal techniques, procedures, and equipment to ensure pathways, sidewalks, building entry and parking lots and parking stalls are cleared for public access and safety.
5. State of Utah, Department of Agriculture Non‑Commercial Pesticide Applicators License. Or be able to obtain one with a few months.
6. Possession of valid Utah’s Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain within 6 months.
7. Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to train and work effectively with assigned crews.
8. Strong computer skills with ability to use a Maintenance Management system in performing asset tracking, work creation and tracking, scheduling and reporting responsibilities.
9. Possession of arborist, turf, and landscape certifications will be a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Moderately heavy physical activity required pushing, pulling or lifting medium heavy weights. Exposure to spraying of insecticides and herbicides, spreading of fertilizers, cleaning and sanitation chemicals heat, cold, noise, dust and fumes.
2. Intermittent exposure to stress as a result of human behavior.

If you are interested in this opportunity please refer to the Utah’s Hogle Zoo website at https://www.hoglezoo.org/jobs_volunteers/job_openings to apply. Utah’s Hogle Zoo is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a drug free work environment.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a Utah treasure. Located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon since 1931, the Zoo is spread out over 42 acres. Its natural hillside terrain and meandering tree-covered pathways enhance your visit as you discover the wonders of the natural world.