Zoo Horticulture Supervisor

About the role

This is an unclassified contract position at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The position involves overseeing, installing, and sustaining turf, landscaping, and botanical garden collections. Duties include planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, flowering plants, groundcovers, and plantings; maintaining irrigation systems; aerating, fertilizing, mowing, trimming, and seeding grounds and turf areas; performing various installation and repair tasks; picking up trash and litter; assisting in graffiti removal; coordinating exhibit improvements; collaborating with management to enhance animal welfare and meet botanical garden goals; performing pest control coordination; supervising assigned personnel; and scheduling, assigning, instructing, guiding, and checking work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, install, and sustain turf, landscaping and botanical garden collection.
  • Planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, flowering plants, groundcovers, plantings.
    • Maintain associated irrigation systems repair and installation.
    • Aerate, fertilize, mow, trim, edge and seed grounds and turf areas.
    • Perform various installation and repair tasks associated with the upkeep of facilities, grounds, exhibits and gardens.
    • Pick-up trash and litter, clean surfaces and assist in graffiti removal.
    • Assist and coordinate major irrigation system extension or revisions.
• Plan, develop and design planting/landscape areas to benefit zoo animals, guest experience, and ecological impact.
  • Collaborate with Education Curator to maintain and expand educational signage and programming related to the botanical collection and eco-friendly landscaping.
  • Assist animal care teams in providing safe and non-toxic browse (animal food) and exhibit plants for zoo animals.
• Develop and manage greenhouse facility and operations.
  • Organize and maintain horticultural operations, inventory and procedures to meet regulatory, accreditation and collection needs.
  • Utilize and maintain, general, and specialized tools, equipment, materials and supplies associated with grounds keeping and gardening procedures.
  • Periodically inspect and review grounds, exhibits, gardens and planting areas for hazards and take corrective action or report to supervisor.
  • Work with computer software and equipment to input data and create documents and reports.
  • Participate in preparation for special events such as holiday lights, concession rentals, meetings, displays, education programs, concerts and programs.
  • Be available for after hours or for unscheduled tasks or emergency call-ins.
  • Perform pest control coordinator functions.
  • Coordinate services of contracted pest control professionals to control rodent, insect, and other pests on grounds.
  • Work closely with Chief Veterinarian and animal care supervisors to ensure safe pesticide and herbicide use around sensitive zoo animals.
  • Apply pesticides and herbicides as required.
  • Maintain inventory of pest control supplies.
  • Utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles to achieve goals with minimal negative environmental impact.
  • Schedule, assign, instruct, guide and check work.
  • Appraise employee performance.
  • Provide for training and development.
  • Enforce personnel rules and regulations and work behavior standards firmly and impartially.
  • Counsel, motivate and maintain harmony.
  • Interview applicants.
  • Recommend hiring, termination, discipline, merit pay or other employee status changes.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED or higher, and five (5) years of experience in landscaping, nursery or related field involved with grounds maintenance, gardens, planting and propagation and/or greenhouse management including one (1) year of supervisory or lead work experience.
• Texas Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent from another state.
• Non-commercial Applicator's license issued by Texas Structural Pest Control Board must be obtained during the first 12 months of appointment.

Skills

• Knowledge of grounds maintenance, landscaping, and botanical garden management.
• Ability to operate and maintain various tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Experience with integrated pest management (IPM).
• Strong organizational and supervisory skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma, GED or higher.
• Experience: Five (5) years of experience in landscaping, nursery or related field involving grounds maintenance, gardens, planting and propagation and/or greenhouse management, including one (1) year of supervisory or lead work experience.
• Licenses and Certifications: Texas Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent from another state; Non-commercial Applicator's license issued by Texas Structural Pest Control Board.

Benefits

The position offers a salary range of $46,211.15 - $68,392.50 annually. Specific benefits may vary based on the department and may include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Please refer to the job description for details.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $46,211.15 - $68,392.50 annually. Specific pay details will be determined based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is flexible and will be determined based on the needs of the zoo and the individual's availability. Employees may need to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed.