Grounds & Horticulture Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Facilities Director, this position supervises full-time and seasonal crews responsible for grounds maintenance, sanitation, and horticulture at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Responsibilities include care and maintenance of pathways, landscaped areas, trees and shrubs, irrigation systems, and related facilities, as well as support for special events. This is a working supervisory role requiring strong leadership, organizational, and technical skills.

At the zoo we look for employees who are passionate about conservation, who approach their daily work with a can-do attitude, who are resourceful, who communicate respectfully with everyone, and are ready to work hard supporting the zoo’s mission of creating champions for wildlife by making connections between people and animals to inspire action. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Reports to: Director of Facilities
Supervises: Grounds staff (full-time and seasonal)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organizes and schedules work tasks, assigns duties to skilled and unskilled staff, and inspects work for quality and completion.
• Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates seasonal employees during high workload periods.
• Develops spring and fall landscape and planting plans, including tree/shrub replacements and enhancements.
• Manages supplies, materials, and equipment; recommends purchases; and ensures safe, proper maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Oversees sanitation and grounds maintenance, operating equipment such as loaders, sweepers, mowers, trucks, and carts as needed.
• Prepares payroll, reviews attendance, and manages work orders within the maintenance management system. Completes logs, inspection reports, and safety/vandalism documentation. Establishes preventive maintenance schedules.
• Reads and interprets blueprints and landscape plans; inspects construction projects for compliance with zoo standards.
• Identifies and resolves staff performance issues in line with established guidelines.
• Ensures grounds safety by addressing hazards, implementing barricades, and training staff in safe practices.
• Collaborates with zoo departments, external partners, and event planners to support zoo operations and events, including setup and cleanup.
• Participates in after-hours callouts as needed.
• Conducts regular staff meetings to communicate priorities and foster motivation.
• Oversees asset tracking of benches, tables, fences, and other infrastructure to ensure accountability and USDA compliance.
• Develops and supervises annual snow and ice removal plans to maintain safe guest access throughout the zoo.
• Maintains shop areas in an organized, safe, and efficient condition.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates commitment to the zoo’s mission and maintains confidentiality at all times.
• Commitment to the zoo’s mission.
• Ability to work over-time as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains strict confidentiality.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES NEEDED

Technical skills and abilities:

• Computer operations and technical software applications.
• Microsoft Office Suite.
• Maintenance management software.

Mathematical skills and abilities:

• Accounting, budgeting, and bookkeeping.
• Mathematical concepts and logic.
• Performs basic mathematical formulas and calculations.

Grounds care skills and abilities:

• Accepted floriculture, horticulture and landscape designs procedures and operations.
• Grounds maintenance and sanitation including fertilizers, irrigation/watering systems, tree and shrub maintenance, herbicides, hard surface cleaning techniques, equipment used in these processes, and standard mowing and planting practices.
• Snow and ice removal techniques, procedures, and equipment to ensure pathways, sidewalks, building entry and parking lots and parking stalls are cleared for public access and safety.

Communications skills and abilities:

• Interpersonal conflict resolution method.
• Effectively promote organization and services offered.
• Interpersonal communication.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Must have the ability to:

• Supervise, train, and motivate a team.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Apply critical thinking techniques.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Prioritize work.
• Perform within deadlines.
• Ability to stay focused despite interruptions.
• Deal with stress caused by deadlines.
• Work well in a team environment as well as independently.
• Memory for details.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS 

• Four (4) years post high school training in Agriculture, Horticulture, Turf Management, Agronomy, Botany or related field, with four (4) years of job-related experience. Must have leading or supervisory experience that is part of current job or in past experience area.
• State of Utah, Department of Agriculture Non-Commercial‑ Pesticide Applicators License is required, or able to obtain one with a few months.
• Possession of arborist, turf, and landscape certifications will be a plus.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION 

• Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a drug-free workplace. All employees are subject to random drug testing.
• Provide a negative TB test prior to hire date and maintain TB testing through course of employment
• Requires a valid driver’s license.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Tasks require a variety of moderately heavy physical activities which generally involve muscular strain. Requires activities related to walking, standing, bending, stooping, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing and seeing. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity required to perform essential functions. Exposure to spraying of insecticides and herbicides, spreading of fertilizers, cleaning and sanitation chemicals heat, cold, noise, dust and fumes. Requires lifting of up to 50 lbs. 

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.