Horticulture Display Foreman

Job Description

Employees in this position are responsible for the design and care of seasonal plant displays throughout the Frelinghuysen Arboretum which is operated by the Morris County Park Commission. Duties include maintaining assigned garden areas to the highest horticultural standards as well as supervising and assisting staff with activities related to the installation and maintenance of seasonal displays. This position is part of the Horticulture Department within Cultural and Environmental Resources Division and is a working supervisory position focusing upon the best practices and procedures of horticulture.

About Us

The Mission of the Morris County Park Commission is to develop and preserve a dynamic and unique system of diverse natural, cultural and historic resources, and to provide innovative education and recreation opportunities of regional value, while exercising environmental and fiscal responsibility.

The Morris County Park Commission is committed to excellence in providing for a growing and diverse system of regional parks, recreation facilities, trails, historic sites, arboreta and open spaces of county, state and even national significance that: connects people with the natural environment, offers outstanding visitor experiences, manages its resources to balance recreation, education, conservation and historic preservation, and enhances the quality of life for current and future generations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Functions:
1. Maintains assigned garden areas to the standards as approved by the Superintendent of Horticulture Maintenance and Manager of Horticulture.
2. Design the seasonal displays for the All-American garden beds and other assigned areas in coordination with the Superintendent of Horticulture Maintenance.
3. Must have a good understanding of designing plantings for containers along with container culture.
4. Diagnose and treats plant health issues.
5. Assists in supervising the staff in the maintenance of annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, tropical plants, and trees in accordance with the horticultural standards established by the Morris County Park Commission and the Manager of Horticulture.
6. Discuss and updates maintenance practices with the Superintendent and Manager of Horticulture as directed.
7. Working with the Superintendent of Horticulture, this position assists staff and volunteers where needed with horticultural tasks and monitors the quality of work, providing instruction, guidance, and corrections as required.
8. Applies pesticides and fertilizers and maintains associated application records as required.
9. Reports changes to the accessioned plant collections to the horticultural plant records curator including additions, removals, and deaths. Performs periodic plant inventories. Requests accession tags and display labels and is responsible for accurate and timely placement of such.
10. Maintains proper records for inventory management of tools, pesticides vehicles and other equipment.
11. Coordinates snow removal activities and schedules employees as required in coordination with the superintendent. Actively participates in snow removal with the staff, throughout the duration of the snow event.
12. Working throughout the arboretum, is responsible for assisting the Superintendent of Horticulture Maintenance and staff with the culture of plant material, including planting, transplanting, pest control, fertilization, irrigation, pruning, and other operations inherent in the successful establishment of new plantings and the maintenance of existing plantings and garden areas.
13. Establishes, maintains, and renovates lawn and turf areas throughout the park, with proper soil preparation, grading, seeding, sodding, liming, fertilization, irrigation, aeration, pest control, and other operations inherent in the successful cultivation of lawn and turf areas.
14. Prunes and trims trees and shrubs from the ground and chips brush in the assigned garden areas. Assists staff with pruning in other garden areas as requested. Maintains the equipment assigned that is necessary to fulfill all pruning functions.
15. Submits a list of needed equipment and supplies for each fiscal year to the Superintendent of Horticulture.
16. Successfully performs the above functions and uses said equipment independently without supervision.

Other Functions:
1. Maintains appropriate and accurate records.
2. Operates Park Commission motor vehicles to transport personnel, materials, and equipment on Park Commission property and public roadways.
3. Functions as an advocate of the arboretum and the Park Commission to visitors. Interacts and willingly answers visitor questions.
4. Assists with carrying out standard operational procedures, as required, including, but not limited to, working overtime for snow removal, events, and other assignments.
5. Assists with educational programming by leading/participating in tours, and/or educational programs, including the coordination of supplies and plant materials, as required.
6. Cleans and sharpens tools.
7. Makes minor repairs to equipment.
8. Paints equipment, buildings, and other park structures when necessary.
9. Ensures that established safety guidelines are followed and that the facility complies with PEOSHA and Right-To-Know standards.
10. Implements regulatory and Park Commission policies and procedures in the operation of the facility.
11. Completes other projects and tasks as assigned and needed.

Education and Experience

Qualifications:
1. A minimum of a two-year associate’s degree in Horticulture, Landscape Design, or a related field.
2. Three years’ experience as a professional gardener, groundskeeper or landscape designer.
3. One year’s experience supervising gardening staff or volunteers in a public garden, landscape contracting, or related horticultural industry.
4. A thorough knowledge of the cultural requirements of a wide variety of herbaceous and woody landscape plants, including tropicals, annuals, vines and ornamental grasses.
5. Demonstrated mastery of the horticultural practices and procedures required for tasks such as soil preparation, planting and transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, propagating, mowing, raking, sweeping and blowing, tree and brush cutting, and chipping.
6. The ability to design attractive and interesting seasonal plantings and containers.
7. The ability to identify and prioritize work tasks and supervise staff.
8. The ability to meet assigned deadlines.
9. The ability to use common landscape and garden tools.
10. The ability to operate push mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, backpack blowers, push blowers, utility vehicles, pickup trucks, chainsaws, and other power equipment effectively.
11. The strength, coordination, and dexterity to safely perform the above functions.
12. The ability to perform basic math calculations.
13. The ability to lift and carry weights up to 50 pounds.
14. Possession of a valid New Jersey driver’s license.
15. The ability to maintain an attendance record adequate to complete essential functions of the position.
16. The ability to obtain a Pesticide Operator/Applicator Registration from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
17. Applicant must pass the Horticulture Foreman test (Written and Plant ID) to be eligible for this position.
18. The ability to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Additional Information

Incumbent may delegate to subordinate part of the responsibility, but may not delegate nor relinquish accountability for results. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Application Instructions

In order to apply, please submit the application form found on the Morris County Park Commission’s website, https://www.morrisparks.net/about/jobs/, along with your resume and cover letter to mcpcemploy@morrisparks.net.