GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, this position plans, supervises, instructs and inspects the work of crews performing landscape maintenance of city parks, recreational grounds and facilities. Reports to Landscape Maintenance Superintendent.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Receives requests, schedules maintenance and landscape work orders and determines work to be performed; establishes priorities based upon the nature of the request, condition of the site and available resources; assists with preparing for special events; assigns and inspects work performed, establishes priorities and reviews maintenance schedules and work orders.
Assigns, directs and supervises the activities of staff performing landscape maintenance duties; conducts field inspections, documents work in progress and inspects upon completion; responds to inquiries and service requests; performs routine checks and preventive maintenance on equipment; identifies and reports equipment malfunctions; cleans equipment as needed.
Mixes fuel for power equipment; performs routine checks and schedules maintenance or repair of equipment; identifies and reports equipment malfunctions; evaluates the condition of equipment and recommends purchase of new and/or additional equipment.
Responsible for effective supervision and administration to include budget preparation and monitoring expenditures, staff development and training, succession planning, performance management, employee relations, prioritizing and assigning work and related activities.
Ensures the safety of city equipment, private property, and others by following proper safety procedures, watching for pedestrians, private property, overhead utility lines and other utilities or obstructions.
Establishes systems for ensuring city and departmental personnel policies and procedures are appropriately administered; assists with departmental human resources functions, to include employee relations and staff development programs and develops departmental strategic plans, research and evaluations.
Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of the standard methods, materials and equipment employed in landscaping and grounds maintenance. Has general knowledge of safe operations, preventive maintenance for landscaping equipment, and of the principles of supervising staff. Is able to plan and supervise the work of landscape crews, provide clear and concise reports on landscape operations and inspections and exercise judgement and initiative in planning and supervising landscape work. Is able to follow instructions. Is able to understand and interpret oral and written instructions. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under “Essential Job Functions.”
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Maintenance Superintendent, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions of time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Planning: Plans, directs and uses information effectively to enhance activities and production of the department. Knows and understands the expectations of the city regarding the activities of the department and works to see that these expectations are met. Designs and formulates ways, means and timing to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and the city. Within the constraints of city policy, formulates the appropriate strategy and tactics for achieving departmental and city objectives. Organizes, arranges and allocates manpower, financial and other designated resources in an efficient and effective way to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and city.
Organizing: Organizes work and that of subordinate staff well. Ensures that staff members know expectation and results expected of them, and that they are regularly and appropriately informed of all city and department matters affecting them and/or concern to them.
Staffing: Works with other city officials and management to select and recommend employment of personnel for the department who are qualified both technically and philosophically to meet the needs of the department and city. Personally directs the development and training of department personnel in order to ensure that they are properly inducted, oriented and trained.
Leading: Provides a work environment which encourages clear and open communications. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the principles of effective leadership and how such principles are to be applied. Provides adequate feedback to staff so that they know whether their performance levels are satisfactory. Commends and rewards employees for outstanding performance and does not hesitate to take disciplinary action when necessary. Exercises enthusiasm in influencing and guiding others toward the achievement of city goals and objectives.
Controlling: Provides a work environment which is orderly and controlled. Coordinates, audits and controls manpower and financial resources efficiently and effectively. Coordinates, audits and controls the utilization of materials and equipment efficiently and effectively. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city standards, methods and procedures.
Delegating: Assigns additional duties to staff as necessary and/or appropriate to meet department goals, enhance staff abilities, build confidence on the job, and assist staff members in personal growth. Has confidence in staff to meet new or additional expectations.
Decision Making: Uses discretion and judgment in developing and implementing courses of action affecting the department. Moves decisively and definitively to develop and implement alternatives when a particular policy, procedure or strategy does not appear to be achieving the desired result.
Creativity: Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies, policies and procedures for enhancing the effectiveness of the department and city. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not averse to change.
Human Relations: Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately. Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff.
Policy Implementation: Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city policies regarding the department and city function. Adheres to those policies in the discharge of duties and responsibilities and ensures the same from subordinate staff.
Policy Formulation: Keeps abreast of changes in operating philosophies and policies of the city and continually reviews department policies to ensure any changes in city philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated. Understands the relationship between operating policies and practices and department morale and performance. Works to see that established policies enhance same.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires high school diploma or the equivalent; 1-2 years of supervisory experience in a related field and 3 - 5 years of progressively responsible experience in landscaping and grounds keeping, including the use of tractors, mowers and related hand and small power tools; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with an acceptable driving record.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
This position requires pre-employment medical evaluation and substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to demonstrate flexibility required to inspect landscape conditions and maintenance work; and to carry tools and equipment. Requires the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions to subordinates and assistants, as well as receiving information and assignments from supervisor.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read work orders, equipment manuals, standards, policy manuals and safety procedures. Requires the ability to prepare reports on work performed, respond to complaints and/or inquires, perform inspections, and complete inventory reports, work orders, preventive maintenance forms, leave slips and time sheets using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to communicate effectively in standard English.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to use rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English and landscaping terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automotive, hand and small power tools and equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as automotive, hand and small power tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situations).
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.