Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Horticulture Technician

Preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

Job Summary: The Conservation Horticulture Technician I is responsible for maintaining landscaped areas and native plantings within Memorial Park as directed by the Conservation Horticulture Supervisor. The Conservation Horticulture Technician I reports to an assigned Conservation Horticulture Coordinator. The Conservation Horticulture Technician I will work collaboratively with other Conservation Horticulture team members to ensure the proper care and proactive management of landscaped areas and native plantings in Memorial Park. The Conservation Horticulture Technician focuses on ecological based management practices through invasive species removal and increasing native plant diversity. Base Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00am- 2:30pm; schedule may adjust based on seasons.

Specific duties include:
• Work in a wide range of native areas including garden beds, bioswales, green walls, and lake slopes on a regular basis.
• Physically perform general landscape maintenance including blowing, edging, raking, mulching, planting, seeding, weeding, watering, fertilizing, spraying, pruning, and other tasks as needed.
• Operate small and large equipment including utility vehicles, trucks, backpack blowers, string strimmer, tri-blades, edger, and others as needed.
• Demonstrate ownership of assigned work by upholding maintenance standards to the highest degree.
• Communicate issues regarding infrastructure, furnishings, safety hazards, quality of the Park user experience issues as needed via work order software.
• Interact with Park users in a courteous and professional manner.
• Comply with all MPC rules, safety policies, and procedures, and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Assist with cleanliness of office and storage spaces.
• Assist with trash and debris removal, sweeping and blowing of areas as needed.
• Work alongside volunteers and lead volunteer groups at the discretion of assigned coordinator. Some volunteer events are held on an occasional weekend.
• Assist with other Park Operations teams as needed.

Qualifications: the ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
• Degree from an accredited institution in Horticulture, Natural Science, Environmental Science, or related fields preferred
• In lieu of not possessing a degree, 2 or more years of verifiable experience working in horticulture, conservation, native plant establishment, and/or invasive species management.
• Knowledge of conservation horticulture practices such as: weeding, pruning and installing plants, and operation of associated equipment.
• Demonstrated success in working in a team-oriented environment, as well as ability to work independently.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills; highly motivated.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Abilities Required:
• Ability to perform heavy, physical labor daily in all weather conditions.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. repeatedly throughout a given workday.
• Sufficient strength and manual dexterity to operate power equipment throughout a given workday.
• Must be able to bend, crouch, repel, kneel, stand, walk and perform various types of manual labor for extended periods of time throughout the workday.

Safety Requirements:
Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and follow federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards, which could cause an injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways). If an employee discovers a potentially dangerous condition, they should alert other employees and notify their supervisor immediately.

Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Compensation:
This is an hourly non-exempt position; range is $14-17 per hour. Benefits include full medical, dental and vision benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability and 401k retirement plan.

To Apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter to Careers@memorialparkconservancy.org