Rose Specialist

The City of St. Cloud is accepting applications for a three-quarter-time (30 hours per week) Operations and Maintenance Technician I- Gardens position with the City of St. Cloud Park and Recreation Department . Work within the Gardens is specialized horticulture work in the production, propagation, care, cultivation, display and transplanting of various greenhouse and garden plants with a focused emphasis on the Virgina Clemens Rose Gardens. Work involves specialized skill and knowledge in the production and culture of shrubs, potted plants, and flowers for use in City parks. The employee oversees a small staff engaged in bedding, irrigating, cultivating, and transplanting a wide variety of horticultural products throughout the City. This role plays a crucial part in maintaining the flower beds, lawns, greenhouses, and other buildings and areas in and around Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens. Other tasks will include: Performs skilled horticultural work involving the production, propagation, cultivation, and display of greenhouse and garden plants; Plants seeds and seed plugs, root cuttings; prepares potting soil; pots rooted plants; transfers flats between various sections of greenhouse, monitors greenhouse crops and display gardens to determine and approve daily cultural needs such as water fertilizer, pruning, weeding and cleaning; Assists in the design of outdoor floral gardens and displays on park property throughout the city; Directs seasonal staff and volunteers, including enforcement of safety and training policies; Leads tour groups; responds to visitors inquiries regarding horticultural practices, plant identification, and Park history; Supervises and participates in the spading of planting beds in parks, plants flowers, arranges and replaces rocks in gardens and along walkways. Operates and maintains power equipment such as lawn mowers, weed whips, blowers, sod cutters, snow blowers, and other equipment; issues tools equipment and vehicles; Plow and shovel snow from walks, driveways, and parking lots, and spread salt in these areas; Monitors and cleans pools; repairs and maintains fountains; programs, repairs and maintains irrigation systems; Prepares flowerbeds by raking, top dressing with compost, weds, tills, and fertilizes; divides and moves perennials; prepares beds for spring and winter; Leads tour groups; responds to visitors inquiries regarding horticultural practices, plant identification and park history; Performs related work as required. Minimum Requirements; High school diploma; Knowledge in commercial horticulture, including greenhouse production and operation, and commercial landscape; Must possess or have the ability to acquire within four months of date of hire, a MN pesticide applicator license; Valid Minnesota issued driver’s license that is unrestricted except for corrective lenses. Retirement : An excellent retirement pension plan is provided by the city through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA).