GROWER 1

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This permanent, full-time position is within the Parks, Forestry & Recreation division, specifically in the Parks section, located at the High Park Greenhouse. The role involves propagating, growing, planting, transplanting, installing, and maintaining various horticultural and native crops for displays. This includes flowering plants, tropical foliage, interior office plants, park bedding material, and native plants, utilizing diverse cultivating techniques. The position requires formulating written schedules, keeping detailed records, and providing reports and recommendations to ensure high-quality crop production. Responsibilities also include preparing growing media, gathering and storing propagules, and maintaining correct growing conditions in a greenhouse or nursery environment. The Grower 1 will demonstrate work to other staff and the community, assist with permits, and participate in the formulation and implementation of an Integrated Plant Health Care Program. This includes monitoring crops, implementing effective Plant Health Care measures, and maintaining accurate records. The role involves preparing and applying chemicals and biological controls, operating various motor vehicles and mechanized grounds/garden equipment, and completing related reports. Ensuring Health & Safety standards are maintained and performing work safely, efficiently, and courteously is paramount. Additionally, the position requires answering horticultural questions from the public and conducting tours of horticulture and natural areas, ensuring pathways are clear and safe.

Requirements

Degree, Diploma, or certificate in horticulture, or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience in the propagation and growing of flowering, woody, tropical and native plants in greenhouses, conservatories, and nurseries.
Extensive experience in Plant health care with an emphasis on Integrated Pest Management in a greenhouse environment.
Must possess and be able to maintain a valid Province of Ontario, Class “G” Driver’s License and must qualify for the City’s equipment operating permits and requirements.
Must be able to foster and maintain good public relations and customer service with general public and be able to communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
Must be able to demonstrate work to other staff, community and assist with permits.
Must be familiar with requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations for the safe performance of his/her duties and responsibilities or capable of obtaining familiarity of same.
Possession of or the ability to qualify for an Ontario Greenhouse Exterminator License within six months.
Must possess and be able to maintain as appropriate, any valid Province of Ontario requirements to operate mechanized equipment.
Must be available to work shift/ weekend/ overtime/ on call duty.
Ability to orient new staff on assigned vehicles/equipment.
Ability to use or learn to use various technical devices related to the position.
Ability to deal courteously with the public.

Responsibilities

Propagates, grows, plants, transplants, installs and maintains various horticultural and native crops for displays including flowering, tropical foliage plants, interior office plants, park bedding material, native plants and crop plants using various cultivating techniques
Formulates written schedules, keeps detailed records, routinely provides reports and recommendations in order to ensure high quality crops are produced as required
Prepares various growing media prior to planting, gathers, cleans and stores propagules, determines and maintains correct growing in a greenhouse or nursery environment
Required to demonstrate work to other staff, community and assist with permits
Participates in the formulation of and implementation of an Integrated Plant Health Care Program
Monitors crop in greenhouse environment and formulates and implements effective Plant Health Care measures; keeps accurate records and provides written reports and recommendations as required
Prepares and applies chemicals and biological controls to plants and flowers etc.
Operates various types of motor vehicles and mechanized grounds, garden equipment
Completes reports (e.g., Driver’s Collision/Incident Report) related to assigned duties and responsibilities
Ensures that Health & Safety standards are maintained in all aspects of work and performs work in a safe, efficient and courteous manner
Answers horticultural questions from the general public and conducts tours of horticulture and natural areas including ensuring pathways for the public tours are clear and safe