Horticultural Assistant

Join Metroparks Toledo as a Seasonal Horticultural Assistant. In this role, you keep our landscaped areas of the parks beautiful. You’ll help enhance the natural surroundings at parks that thousands of people enjoy every day. You play a big role in ensuring we maintain our “Clean, Safe, and Natural” promise.

Day in the Life?

Every day is different. You may be maintaining our landscaped areas, updating plant inventory, maintaining shop equipment and tools, or supporting the broader Park Services team. 

Here’s why we think you’ll love working at Metroparks

• Field experience in horticultural helps grow your skills.
• Monthly set schedule so you can plan your life.
• Competitive pay, health care, and retirement benefits. Read more here. 
• Grow your career by advancing to a Horticulture Technician.

You’ll love this job if

• You are aesthetically minded and want to learn more about horticulture.
• You like working outdoors in all kinds of weather. 
• You enjoy hands-on work with a wide variety of plants.

Job Summary

Advance Metroparks Toledo’s core conservation mission by performing a variety of garden maintenance and plant care in landscaped areas. Learn about and assist with horticultural duties within Metroparks and on Metroparks properties. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist Year-Round Horticulture Staff by performing basic garden maintenance and plant care, including planting, pruning, weeding, watering, deadheading, edging, mulching, tilling, and composting.
• Assist with plant recordkeeping and plant labeling. 
• Control invasive species by applying pesticides and herbicides to specific identified plant species under the supervision of a licensed applicator.
• Assist with greenhouse production [primarily Toledo Botanical Garden].
• Assist horticultural staff coordinate work activities for volunteers and other groups.
• Safely drive park vehicles between work assignments on park trails and roadways. 
• Support broader park services team by performing various maintenance duties, such as cleaning restrooms, picking up litter, trash removal, and special event set-up and clean-up. 
• Respond to customer questions, comments and suggestions in a courteous and timely way.
• Other Park District duties as assigned.

Equipment Used

• General office equipment 
• Software & Apps: Microsoft Office Suite
• Maintenance Equipment: lawn equipment, power and hand tools, irrigation equipment, greenhouse equipment, high and low volume chemical dispensing systems 
• Vehicles: on & off road trucks, UTVs

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Length of employment varies based on need. Generally, March – December. Employment will not exceed 1,480 hours in a calendar year.
• Schedule: 30–40-hour work week. 4 or 5 days/week, 8-hour shift. 6am – 2:30pm. May require work on the weekends and/or holidays 
• Home Work Location: Glass City
• May require business use of personal vehicle to travel between Metroparks locations.
• Extensive outdoor physical labor exposed to climate extremes, inclement weather, stinging insects, dust and pollen, and herbicides. 
• Requires frequent lifting and carrying of up to 35 pounds and occasional lifting over 50 pounds. 
• Requires ability to walk and work outdoors for extended periods of time in all types of weather including extreme heat and cold. Must be able to move about off trail over uneven ground and in wooded areas while carrying equipment.

1. Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
2. Education: High School Diploma or GED
3. Experience: No prior experience required. 6 months experience in landscaping, greenhouses, or horticulture, preferred. 
4. Certifications: Must obtain the following certifications within 2 weeks of employment and fulfill requalification and recertification requirements:

• Pesticide Trained Service Person 

Alternates to the position requirements may be made as Metroparks finds appropriate and acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated appreciation for enhancing quality of life and conserving the region’s natural resources through clean, safe and natural parks and open spaces.  

Knowledge

• Some knowledge of the operating procedures and tools used in garden maintenance
• Some knowledge of plant identification

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.  
• Demonstrated problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills.

Abilities

• Ability to learn proper horticultural practices. 
• Ability to learn how to safely operate landscaping tools and equipment. 
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with all stakeholders, including employees, volunteers and the general public.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with speed and accuracy under the pressure of deadlines.
• Ability to comply with all safety rules and regulations.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and/or written policies, procedures and instructions.

Metroparks Toledo is an Equal Opportunity Employer