Parks Horticulture Technician

Spend your summer outdoors helping keep Gunnison in bloom as a Seasonal Horticulture Technician with the City of Gunnison. This hands on role is perfect for someone who enjoys working with plants and takes pride in creating beautiful public spaces. You will care for flower beds, planters, and hanging baskets throughout the city while supporting vibrant parks and streetscapes that residents and visitors enjoy every day. From planting and watering to pruning and maintaining irrigation systems, your work will have a visible and lasting impact on the community. This position offers a great opportunity to build experience in horticulture and landscape maintenance while working alongside a supportive Parks team. Ideal candidates are dependable, detail oriented, and comfortable working outdoors in a variety of conditions. If you enjoy physical work, learning new skills, and contributing to a team that values safety, quality, and community pride, this is a rewarding way to spend the season. Hourly rate ranges from $21.55 to $24.36 per hour depending on qualifications and experience, plus a $1.84 per hour incentive completion bonus at the end of the season.

General Purpose:

The Seasonal Horticulture Technician performs a variety of duties related to the planting, maintenance, and care of landscaped areas throughout the City, including flower beds, planters, hanging baskets, and other ornamental features. This position supports the overall appearance and health of public spaces through watering, weeding, pruning, fertilization, and general landscape upkeep, while ensuring safe and efficient work practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plant, water, weed, fertilize, and maintain flower beds, planters, and hanging baskets throughout the City.
• Assist with seasonal planting, including bed preparation, soil amendment, and installation of annuals and perennials.
• Prune, deadhead, and remove spent or damaged plant material to promote plant health and appearance.
• Monitor plant health and report issues related to pests, disease, irrigation, or environmental stress.
• Operate and maintain irrigation systems, including hand watering and basic troubleshooting of drip and sprinkler systems.
• Apply fertilizers and soil amendments in accordance with established practices and safety guidelines.
• Assist with general landscape maintenance, including mulching, edging, and debris removal.
• Load, unload, and transport plants, soil, tools, and materials as needed.
• Operate light equipment and tools such as hand tools, trimmers, and utility vehicles in a safe and responsible manner.
• Maintain clean, safe, and organized work areas, including public-facing spaces.
• Interact professionally with the public and provide basic information about horticulture displays when appropriate.
• Follow all City policies, procedures, and safety practices.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

It is also essential for the flower person to communicate effectively with the Parks Foreman on any issues regarding irrigation, safety concerns or aesthetics.

Job Qualifications Required Education and Experience:

1-2 years of previous experience in landscaping, horticulture, grounds maintenance, or related outdoor work preferred. Familiarity with planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and general plant care practices is desirable. Experience operating basic hand tools and light landscape equipment preferred. Ability to work effectively in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions. Experience working independently and as part of a team in a labor-intensive setting preferred. High School education or GED.

Other Necessary Requirements:

Current driver's license. A city truck is provided for transport, maintenance, and watering.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Basic horticulture practices, including planting, watering, fertilization, pruning, and soil care
• Common ornamental plants, annuals, perennials, and basic plant health indicators
• Safe use and handling of hand tools and light landscape equipment
• Basic irrigation systems and watering practices
• Workplace safety practices related to outdoor and manual labor environments Skill in:
• Performing routine landscape and horticulture maintenance tasks efficiently and accurately
• Operating hand tools and light equipment in a safe and effective manner
• Identifying basic plant health issues such as pests, disease, or irrigation problems
• Following verbal and written instructions
• Time management and completing assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Working both independently and as part of a team Ability to:
• Work outdoors in varying and sometimes adverse weather conditions
• Perform physically demanding tasks, including lifting, bending, kneeling, and prolonged standing
• Maintain attention to detail in maintaining public-facing landscaped areas
• Communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors
• Interact professionally with the public when needed
• Adapt to changing priorities during the seasonal work period

Working Conditions Physical Activities:

This position requires regular physical activity in an outdoor environment. Duties involve frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and climbing. The employee must be able to perform repetitive hand and arm motions and work in varied terrain and weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, and precipitation. The position requires the ability to frequently lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, and occasionally heavier loads with assistance or mechanical means. Manual dexterity is required for the use of hand tools and small equipment. Work may involve extended periods of physical labor and exposure to dirt, dust, fertilizers, irrigation water, and other outdoor environmental conditions.

Tools and Equipment Used:

All equipment, materials, and tools that are required for this position will be provided by the

City of Gunnison Supervision Received:

This position reports to the Parks Foreman