Horticulture Specialist

The Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Operations Horticulture Specialist will be a contributing member of a team responsible for GSI maintenance and operations across the City. The City of Raleigh is expanding the role greenspaces and natural drainages play as nature-based solutions to critical infrastructure needs to improve surface water quality and protect water resources. The new GSI Maintenance Team is a cross-departmental interdisciplinary team between the Parks Maintenance and Natural Resources and Raleigh Stormwater divisions. Our goal is to deliver smart stormwater management to preserve and protect life, support healthy natural resources, enhance habitats, and complement sustainable and equitable growth for the community. We are seeking a passionate horticultural specialist to support this new and innovative team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in the operations of a GSI maintenance team, including plant maintenance, identification, and care. Activities may include planting, dividing, hand-weeding, herbicide applications, cut-backs, and mulching.
• Implement standard operating procedures to coordinate effective and efficient delivery of work products and GSI maintenance activities.
• Participate in specialized and routine maintenance of Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) to enhance and prolong the life cycle of City assets. Maintenance may include mowing, invasive species management (including aquatics), trash or debris removal, vegetation selection and replacement, repairing erosion and sedimentation, mulching, etc.
• Complete work orders in a timely and successful manner to maintain SCMs, and report issues as relevant.
• Engage with the public, including youth groups and other volunteers, to assure quality product delivery and equitable engagement.
• Provide programmatic and technical support to ensure the functional management of engineered stormwater solutions (e.g. – constructed wetland systems, bioretention basins, innovative rights-of-way GSI, etc.)
• Maintain accurate tracking data in asset management software.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or GED and four years of related experience

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.