Experience with, or the ability to learn, the use and maintenance of powered and non-powered trade tools is required.
A valid State of Illinois Class D Driver’s License and age 18 or older at the time of the start date are required.
A current Illinois Pesticide Applicator License, or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of employment, is required.
AED/CPR and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain them within 12 months of employment, is required.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written directions is required.
Ability to maintain working relationships with supervisors, team members, volunteers, and the public is required.
Ability to work independently under general direction from the Site Superintendent or Gardens and Trails Supervisor, exercise judgment, and identify or solve problems is required.
Ability to represent the Forest Preserves professionally and maintain composure and self-control in difficult situations is required.
The role requires working outdoors in varied weather and interacting frequently with the public; exposure may include hazardous flora and fauna, chemicals, machinery with moving parts, and high noise levels.
Working from heights on a ladder or in a lift is required.
The role requires physical abilities including stooping, twisting, climbing, balancing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, prolonged standing or walking on uneven terrain, handling and repositioning objects, and lifting or moving up to 50 pounds regularly and up to 100 pounds occasionally with assistance or assistive devices.
Ability to talk and hear or otherwise communicate effectively with staff and patrons is required; visual acuity for close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception is necessary.
Personal protective equipment appropriate to specific tasks is required, potentially including work boots, protective gloves, safety goggles or glasses, chaps, earplugs or ear covers, reflective vest or hi-vis shirt, respirators or masks, and helmets or hard hats.
Responsibilities
Perform landscape maintenance, including mowing and bed care in botanical garden spaces and defined landscape beds throughout the preserves.
Prune shrubs and trees using horticultural best practices.
Mulch beds and utility spaces.
Perform fall bed cleanups and manage leaves in turf and other hardscape areas as directed.
Control weeds, including invasive species, using chemical or mechanical methods as appropriate.
Maintain trails, including removing fallen trees, limbing branches, repairing uneven surfaces, and controlling erosion.
Install landscapes by planting trees, shrubs, ground covers, annuals, and bulbs, and install hardscapes including all preparatory work.
Perform greenhouse tasks, including potting, watering, and tending to plants.
Operate grounds maintenance equipment, including zero-turn mowers, edgers, string trimmers, sprayers, chainsaws, and basic gardening hand tools.
Load bulk materials using a skid steer and/or loader tractor.
Assist with maintenance of high-visibility native areas, including invasive species removal, timber stand improvement, and restoration work.
Install and recover holiday lights and accessories.
Clear snow and ice from sidewalks.
Serve as a backup to Operations staff by taking turns opening the forest preserves.
Answer questions and assist the public during special events, such as rentals or weddings.
Assist in directing volunteers in Botanical Gardens-managed areas or as directed.
Support and participate in tasks, projects, and efforts of the Lake of the Woods Operations department as directed.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
A degree in horticulture, natural resources, or botany, or a related field, is a plus.
A Class C driver's license is preferred.
Strong ornamental, native plant, and tree identification skills are preferred.
ArcGIS experience is preferred.
Strong chainsaw and tree-felling experience is preferred.
Experience with and maintenance of garden ponds and pump systems is preferred.
Description
Classification: Full-Time
Department: Lake of the Woods Botanical Gardens
Work Location: Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve (Mahomet, IL)
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
IMRFPension Plan: Eligible
Insurance Benefits: Eligible for group insurance plans (medical dental, vision, etc.)
Paid Time Off: Sick leave, vacation leave, comp time, paid holidays, paid family leave
Schedule: Work hours are typically between the hours of 7:00am-3:30pm Monday-Friday unless otherwise scheduled. Some evenings, weekends, and holidays will be required.
Pay: Grade 5; $21.36-$26.15/hr
Position Summary
The Landscape/Garden Worker II is responsible for performing a variety of duties related to the Botanical Gardens, trails, other landscaped areas, and high-visibility native spaces.
Supervisory Relationships
The Landscape/Garden Worker II reports to the Gardens and Trails Supervisor. This role may also supervise part-time or seasonal employees.
Job Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
Perform landscape maintenance activities such as mowing and bed care to botanical garden spaces and defined landscape beds throughout the preserves
Prune shrubs and trees using horticultural best practices
Mulch beds and utility spaces
Perform fall cleanups of beds as well as leaf management in turf and other hardscape areas as directed
Provide chemical or mechanical control of weeds including invasive species as appropriate
Perform trail maintenance, including removal of fallen trees, limbing up of branches, repair of uneven surfaces, and erosion control
Install landscapes including planting trees, shrubs, ground covers, annuals and bulbs; and hardscapes including all prep work
Greenhouse related tasks, including potting, watering, and tending to various plants
Operate various grounds maintenance equipment such as zero turn mower, edger, string trimmer, sprayer, chainsaw, and basic gardening hand tools
Load bulk materials with skid steer and/or loader tractor
Assists with maintenance of high visibility native areas including invasive removal, timber stand improvement and restoration work
Install and recover holiday lights and accessories
Clear snow and ice from sidewalks
Secondary Responsibilities
As a backup to Operations staff, takes turn opening the forest preserves
Answer questions and assist the public during special events (such as rentals or weddings)
Assists in directing volunteers in areas managed by the Botanical Gardens or as directed
Support and participate in tasks, projects, and efforts of the Lake of the Woods Operations department as directed
Perform other duties as assigned
Requirements
Minimum Education and Experience
High school diploma or GED; a degree in horticulture, natural resources, botany or related field is a plus
Experience with or ability to learn the use and maintenance of tools of the trade, both powered and non-powered
Valid State of Illinois Class D Driver’s License (Class C preferred) and 18 years of age at time of start date
Current Illinois Pesticide Applicator License or the ability to obtain within 6 months of employment
AED/CPR and First Aid certification or the ability to obtain within 12 months of employment
Skills and Abilities
Ability to understand and follow both verbal and written directions
Good communication skills and ability to maintain good working relationships with supervisors, team members, volunteers, and the public
Strong ornamental, native plant, and tree identification preferred
ArcGIS experience preferred
Strong chainsaw and tree felling experience preferred
Experience with and maintenance of garden ponds and pump systems preferred
Ability to work independently under general direction from the Site Superintendent or Gardens and Trails Supervisor, to exercise judgment in the performance of duties, and to identify or solve problems as they arise
Ability to represent the Forest Preserves in a professional manner and to maintain composure and self-control in difficult situations
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS Work is primarily performed outdoors under various weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, or ice. Duties will be performed in close proximity to the general public, and the employee may have frequent interactions with patrons. While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be exposed to hazardous flora and fauna (e.g. poison ivy, wild parsnip, biting/stinging insects, ticks) and chemicals (e.g. cleaning supplies, herbicides/pesticides, and gasoline/oil). The employee may also be exposed to machinery with moving mechanical parts and high noise levels. Working from heights on a ladder or in a lift is required.
Normal duties may include stooping, twisting, climbing, balancing, kneeling, crouching, and crawling. Prolonged standing or walking, often on unpaved/uneven terrain, will be frequent. The employee may regularly handle, grasp, or feel objects; reach, push, or pull to reposition items; and may regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or may occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds using assistive devices or with assistance from other employees. Ability to talk and hear or otherwise effectively communicate with staff and patrons is required. Visual acuity necessary for this position includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Use of personal protective equipment will be required based on job specific tasks. This may include, but is not limited to, the following items:
Work boots
Protective gloves
Safety goggles or glasses
Chaps
Earplugs or ear covers
Reflective vest or hi-vis shirt
Respirators or masks
Helmets or hard hats
The work environment characteristics and physical demands described above are representative of those an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EEO Statement
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or any other non-merit factor.
Values
At the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, our values guide everything we do. We are committed to:
Stewardship: acting thoughtfully and responsibly to care for one another and the financial, natural, and cultural resources entrusted to us.
Community: building trust through respect, inclusion, and collaboration with colleagues, visitors, and partners.
Discovery: encouraging curiosity, learning, and growth while inspiring wonder through exploration of the world around us.
These values shape our culture, our work, and our shared responsibility to preserve and enhance the Forest Preserves for future generations.
Please note: Studies have shown that people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, women and other excluded or historically excluded people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe that they meet every one of the qualifications as stated in the job description. The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for the role.
This job description is intended to describe the general content of and requirement for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.
Changes, including additional duties, may be assigned at any time.