Zoo Horticulture Supervisor

City of El Paso•Various Locations within the City of El Paso, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled duties associated with the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens encompassing 35 acres of exhibits and support planning, managing, maintaining and irrigating the Zoo grounds. This is an unclassified contract position.

Requirements

High School Diploma, GED or higher
Five (5) years of experience in landscaping, nursery or related field involved with grounds maintenance, gardens, planting and propagation and/or greenhouse management
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.

Responsibilities

Oversee, install, and sustain turf, landscaping and botanical garden collection.
Planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, flowering plants, groundcovers, plantings.
Maintaining 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.
Collaborate with management to plan exhibit improvements, enhance animal welfare, and meet Botanical Garden goals.
Plan, develop and design planting/landscape areas to benefit zoo animals, guest experience, and ecological impact.
Coordinate 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.
Perform periodic inspection and review of 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-in.
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.
Supervise assigned personnel.
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.