The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.
Summary
Are you a person that enjoys being outdoors? Have you ever wanted to know more about the maintenance of the plants and flowers throughout City facilities and downtown areas? Are you passionate about learning skills that will help you grow the green industry? Are you looking for practical, real-world skills that are in high demand? Then you’re the perfect applicant for the Parks Horticulture Worker position.
The Parks Horticulture Worker position is a job where you’ll be working outdoors, helping with the horticulture maintenance in the landscaping at City buildings, downtown public spaces, and other City owned locations. You’ll learn green industry standards, landscaping techniques, turf care and irrigation practices while performing a variety of duties including pruning, mulching, weeding, and planting which are practical and in demand career skills.
Incentives:
Hourly employees are highly valued team members that the Parks Department and the City of Fort Collins recognize by providing the following perks:
- Potential for paid personal time and paid holidays.
- Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal and financial assistance.
- Wellness program and access to workout facilities.
- Personal and professional learning opportunities plus potential for career mobility.
- Collaborative work environment.
- Gift card drawings for participating in Safety and Wellness programs.
- Discounted Golf Green Fees.
- Discounted passes to City Recreation facilities.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided such as gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, boots, ear protection, etc.
- Safety boots and Parks Division logo work attire provided.
- Mentoring by world-class, knowledgeable, and experienced Park professionals.
- Training opportunities to expand educational background.
- $100.00 gift card for referring a newly hired employee through the Employee Referral program.
Essential Duties:
- Assist with horticultural maintenance, Integrated Pest Management best practices, and plant health care in medians, rights-of-way, shrub beds, planter pots and general transportation areas.
- Assist in maintenance of City parks, trails, facilities, medians and downtown public spaces.
- Perform rototilling, soil amending, fertilizing, mulching, watering, pruning, deadheading, weed control, planting of shrubs, perennials and annual flowers.
- Learn general knowledge of plant, weed and pest identification.
- Learn to operate and maintain various equipment including truck and trailer combinations, traffic control devices, utility vehicles, and hand and power tools.
- Assist with irrigation maintenance, repairs, and irrigation controller operation.
- Apply chemical herbicides after required training.
- Follow established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties in a timely and efficient manner.
- Work successfully in a team environment, as well as autonomously, in all weather conditions.
- Interact with the public in a professional and courteous manner.
- Maintain a positive, helpful, and solution-oriented attitude while assisting others.
- Engage with team members in a considerate and helpful manner and project a positive attitude in the workplace.
- Assists with snow removal and special events.
- Assist with additional tasks to help other Park divisions including Cemetery or Forestry if needed.
- All other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications/Experience:
- Unrestricted valid driver’s license.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Successfully pass a motor vehicle record and background check.
- Possess physical, mental, and cognitive abilities sufficient to perform the essential duties outlined above with or without reasonable accommodation.
These include:
-Must be proficient in English with the ability to read, write, speak, and understand.
-Physical ability and stamina to perform duties including bending, lifting, digging, pushing and kneeling.
-Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds regularly; occasionally up to 50 pounds maximum.
Proper safety measures for lifting/moving any item are expected to be followed; including, but not limited to, the use of proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), use of lifting/moving equipment, and/or assistance from co-workers.
Work Schedule/Conditions:
- Position is a non-benefitted seasonal/temporary hourly position.
- Potential for flexible work schedules to allow for work-life-school balance.
- Hours vary from part-time to full-time and may include weekends and holidays.
- Potential for overtime pay and accrued sick/personal time based on qualified hours worked.
- Work occurs outdoors in a variety of weather conditions under the supervision of a crew leader.
- Safety gear is provided and required including, but is not limited to, safety-toed boots, safety glasses and ear protection.
- May use chemicals including cleaning supplies and herbicides.
- Attendance at weekly staff meetings, trainings, and safety meetings is required.
- City of Fort Collins works together with staff to prevent the spread of germs (COVID, etc.) to maintain a clean, safe environment.
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.
Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.
The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.
Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.
The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.
POST OFFER BACKGROUND CHECK AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT (MVR) REQUIRED. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.
