Civil Service Commission
/ Position Code
1.
Capitol Commons Center, P.O. Box 30002
Lansing, MI 48909
POSITION DESCRIPTION
This position description serves as the official classification document of record for this position. Please complete the information as accurately as you can as the position description is used to determine the proper classification of the position.
2. Employee's Name (Last, First, M.I.) / 8. Department/Agency
New Position / DNR-NATURAL RESOURCES
3. Employee Identification Number / 9. Bureau (Institution, Board, or Commission)
4. Civil Service Position Code Description / 10. Division
Groundskeeper E8 / Parks and Recreation Division
5. Working Title (What the agency calls the position) / 11. Section
Assistant Horticulturist / Resource Protection and Promotion
6. Name and Position Code Description of Direct Supervisor / 12. Unit
Ray Fahlsing, Park and Recreation Manager 3 / Stewardship Unit
7. Name and Position Code Description of Second Level Supervisor / 13. Work Location (City and Address)/Hours of Work
Jason Fleming, SAM 15 / Belle Isle Park, Detroit Michigan / Variable 40 hours per week including some weekends, generally 8 AM – 5 PM M-F
14. General Summary of Function/Purpose of Position
Under the guidance of the Horticulturalist, the Assistant Horticulturalist performs horticultural, floricultural, physical plant and landscape maintenance tasks necessary to care for the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (ASWC), the conservatory’s formal gardens, greenhouses and landscape. The Assistant Horticulturist performs tasks to care for the landscape plantings of Belle Isle Park and the formal and naturalized landscape plantings of nearby Wm. C. Milliken State Park. The Assistant Horticulturalist provides work instruction to MCCC crewmembers, summer youth crews, seasonal employees, volunteers and others. This position will provide back up assistance when the Horticulturist is unavailable.
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (ca. 1904),Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Michigan is an 80,000 square foot plant conservatory which includes the Anna Scripps Whitcomb orchid collection, formal grounds and gardens, including the lily pond garden. The plant collection includes ferns, palm trees, cacti and tropical plants, some of which are over 100 years old. Specialized horticulture and floriculture skills are required for this position.
The Assistant Horticulturist facilitates quality visitor experience and visitor education.
15. Please describe the assigned duties, percent of time spent performing each duty, and what is done to complete each duty.
List the duties from most important to least important. The total percentage of all duties performed must equal 100 percent.
Duty 1
General Summary: / Percentage: / 30
Cares for and maintains the plant specimens and exhibits of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (ASWC) and conservatory plant specimens housed in the greenhouses owned and operated by the City of Detroit.
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Carries out work instruction given by the Horticulturalist.
- Informs Horticulturist of emerging or problems, needed equipment and supplies etc.
- Performs horticulture/floriculture at the ASWC to maintain the various plant collections in the lily pond garden; palm, tropical, fern, cactus and succulent rooms; formal gardens and greenhouses
- Performs and oversees horticultural tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, disease control, pest control, dead heading and plant identification
- Monitors and adjusts temperature, humidity and moisture to ensure proper conditions are maintained for all plant specimens in the conservatory
- Understands and operates the ASWC climate control system
- Cares for the ASWC plants housed in the greenhouses owned and operated by the City of Detroit
- Applies herbicides, fungicides and pesticides to control plant diseases and insects
Duty 2
General Summary: / Percentage: / 30
Performs horticulture tasks and develops care strategies for the landscape plantings of Belle Isle Park and the formal and naturalized landscape plantingsof nearby Wm. C. Milliken State Park
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Landscape new areas and gardens, plants annual and perennial plants, repairsdamagedareas, replaces and maintainsshrubs, trees and hedges
- Maintain and enhance the ASWC grounds, flower gardens, formal hedges and other landscape plantings
- Plants, prunes and trims, trees, bushes, hedges and shrubs using hand tools and/or motorized equipment
- Fertilizes, mows and trims lawn (turf) by means of motorized and manual equipment
- Cleans,services and performs minor maintenance on all equipment used in horticulture and landscaping tasks
- Applies herbicide and pesticide to grounds, trees, bushes, shrubs and lawns in order to control weeds, plant diseases and insects
- Oversees and coordinates the specialized maintenance of the constructed wetland and “naturalized” areas of Wm. C. Milliken State Park, including weeding and invasive plant control
- Removes snow from sidewalks and conservancy maintenance areas and spreads sand and/or salt during icy conditions.
- Drives vehicles such as a car, truck, utility vehicle (gator), sometimes with a dump-trailer
Duty 3
General Summary: / Percentage: / 15
Provides work instruction to ASWC staff, MCCC crew members, seasonal workers, summer work crews, volunteers, horticultural educational program students, interns and others.
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Assigns work tasks
- Provides safety instruction and demonstrates safe operation of tools, equipment and chemicals to MCCC crew members, seasonal workers, summer work crew, volunteers, horticultural educational program students, interns and others
- Explains and demonstrates proper horticulture techniques
- Provides feedback to workers on their performance by observing and providing constructive feedback on work technique and evaluation of completed tasks
- Ensures the safety of labors and park visitors by training, observation and correction
- Provides daily guidance, safety training and work instruction to workers from youth employment programs
Duty 4
General Summary: / Percentage: / 15
Provides back-up for Horticulturist
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Is on call to respond to emergencies such as power outages, flooding, vandalism, etc.
- Has lead responsibility for the ASWC when the Horticultural is not available.
- Understands the AWSC’s operational systems and physical infrastructure.
- Coordinates with the Park Planner, Unit Manager and StewardshipUnit Manager for repairs and renovations
- Completes administrative paperwork as assigned
Duty 5
General Summary: / Percentage: / 5
Coordinates volunteer and docent programs
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Develops volunteer and docent programs, coordinates volunteers, and other laborers
- Fosters safe and rewarding experiences for volunteers and docents
Duty 6
General Summary: / Percentage: / 5
Performs related work as assigned
Individual tasks related to the duty:
- Attends special events, such as the Holiday Stroll, BIC Garden Party, weddings that involve the ASWC and/or formal gardens
- Provides services to accommodate visitors
16. Describe the types of decisions made independently in this position and tell who or what is affected by those decisions.
The Assistant Horticulturalist often determines the best way to accomplish the work direction provided by the Horticulturalist. The Assistant Horticulturalist often decides how much and which kind of labor is appropriate for a given task and coordinates scheduling of non-PRD labor. The Assistant Horticulturist decides which person(s) should accomplish a horticultural task and provides work instruction. The Assistant Horticulturalist makes routine decisions on plant and landscape care.
17. Describe the types of decisions that require the supervisor's review.
Establishment of work task priorities
Design of gardens, season showroom displays,etc.
Removal of living specimen plants
Decisions that affect Belle Isle Park operations
Assignment of overtime
Decisions that affect the ASWC budget,Belle Isle Park
18. What kind of physical effort is used to perform this job? What environmental conditions in this position physically exposed to on the job? Indicate the amount of time and intensity of each activity and condition. Refer to instructions.
Work is performed in a historic plant conservatory, greenhouses, park landscape and office setting. Physical activities on a daily basis may include: sitting, standing, walking, squatting, kneeling, reaching, bending, lifting, ladder climbing and carrying. Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Conditions include cold and high heat and humidity. Ability to use hand tools, lawn and gardening equipment - including power equipment.Ability to operate motorized equipment and vehicles. Ability to work on ladders and scaffolding. Exposure to pesticides and fertilizers. Ability to lift 50 pounds.
19. List the names and position code descriptions of each classified employee whom this position immediately supervises or oversees on a full-time, on-going basis.
Additional Subordinates
20. This position's responsibilities for the above-listed employees includes the following (check as many as apply):
N
/ Complete and sign service ratings.
/ Y
/ Assign work.
N
/ Provide formal written counseling.
/ N
/ Approve work.
Y
N
/ Approve leave requests.
/ Review work.
N
/ Approve time and attendance.
/ Y
/ Provide guidance on work methods.
N
/ Orally reprimand.
/ Y
/ Train employees in the work.
22. Do you agree with the responses for items 1 through 20? If not, which items do you disagree with and why?
Yes.
23. What are the essential functions of this position?
It is essential that Assistant Horticulturist have the physical and cognitive ability to perform various floriculture and horticulture tasks, including but not limited to: operation of gas hedge trimmers, chainsaws, utility vehicles, rototillers, sod-lifters; the use of hand tools such as pole-saws, rakes, shovels; pruning, digging, walking, bending, reaching and lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds.
It is essential that the Assistant Horticulturist be able to communicate with park visitors in a calm professional demeanor during friendly and confrontational situations.
It is essential that the Assistant Horticulturist be able to convey in clear professional manner, work instruction and technical guidance to MCCC employees and others, through both written and verbal communication.
The Assistant Horticulturist must be able to maintain Michigan Certified Pesticide Applicator Certification.
To be successful in this position, the following competencies have been identified as essential: Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills, .Continuous Learning, Communication, and Decision Making.
24. Indicate specifically how the position's duties and responsibilities have changed since the position was last reviewed.
New position
25. What is the function of the work area and how does this position fit into that function?
Parks and Recreation Division has a legislative mandate to provide public recreation and spaces for outdoor recreation. Belle Isle Park and the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory provide public recreation. This position ensures the health and aesthetics of the ASWC plant collection and landscape aesthetics of Belle Isle Park and Wm. C. Milliken State Park. This provides appealing places for recreation. The iconic ASWC is popular Detroit tourism destination and enhances the local economy. The position helps MDNR, PRD fulfill the requirements of the Belle Isle lease.
26. What are the minimum education and experience qualifications needed to perform the essential functions of this position.
EDUCATION:
High school diploma. College or vocational training in horticulture desired.
EXPERIENCE:
Two years’ experience as a landscape laborer, nursery laborer, farmer, greenhouse worker, groundskeeper or similar work duties that include any or all or the following: floriculture, planting and maintenance of vegetation, landscape maintenance, plant nursery work, pesticide application. Preferred experience: work in a conservatory, floriculture, public garden horticulture, lead worker
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of greenhouse/conservatoryoperation, perennial gardens, landscape maintenance.Knowledge of floriculture. Ability to interact with all guests and team members in a friendly, service-oriented manner. Ability to convey information and ideas clearly and effectively; computer literate, proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
ASHS Certified Horticulturist - Preferred
State Michigan Certified Pesticide Applicator Certification or willingness and ability to obtain certification within first three months of employment
Must have a valid driver’s license
NOTE: Civil Service approval does not constitute agreement with or acceptance of the desired qualifications of this position.
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Appointing Authority
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I certify that the information presented in this position description provides a complete and accurate depiction of the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position.
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