Horticulture Technician

Please note that applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the day prior to the close date listed on the job posting. Mission: Provide Superior Services that Inspire Community Pride Vision: To be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay Values: Integrity, Collaboration, Passion, Creativity Largo's commitment to a High Performance Organization (HPO) model builds a flexible and resilient organization that intentionally builds leadership capacity at all levels of the organization. CITY OF LARGO ... Naturally A Great Place to Work! Closing: 06/7/2026 Salary: $22.69 hourly rate Job Summary: A highly technical position, performing all aspects of routine park maintenance. Implements work programs related to planting, removing, and caring for various flowers, shrubs, and trees in the City parks and athletic fields. Performs skilled and complex tasks regarding trimming, fertilizing, and disease control of all landscape plants and turf. Performs irrigation repair and monitors and controls the irrigation clock. Sets up and tears down equipment for special events. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: All employees share components of leadership, management, technical, and team skills to assist in making the City of Largo the community of choice in Tampa Bay. Leadership Demonstrates an understanding and reflection of the Citys mission, vision, and values and a commitment to achieve organizational goals aligned with the Citys strategic plan Champions a high-performance work culture that encourages and embraces new ideas, develops individuals, and welcomes and encourages diverse perspectives Articulates strategic and innovative thinking and provides clarity to deliver superior services Approaches the job with enthusiasm and curiosity to promote a solutions-oriented work culture Management Effectively manages assignments and priorities to ensure the fulfillment of projects, tasks, and responsibilities Follows suggested procedures to ensure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance Technical Plans, supervises, assigns, provides work direction, and participates in the work of crew members in the field Includes all aspects of routine park maintenance, such as planting, removing, transplanting, cultivating, trimming, spraying, fertilizing, pruning, and irrigation necessary for the healthy growth of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers in City facilities Provides instruction in the proper horticultural maintenance of flowers, trees, and plants; assists in landscaping design and drawing of plans and blueprints Operates and trains crew members in the safe operation of light and heavy equipment Responds to citizen concerns/complaints, assists with shelter rentals, and works with community groups Performs irrigation repair and construction Installs and maintains landscaping Makes inspections to detect evidence of diseases, insects, irrigation problems, or other conditions endangering or inhibiting the proper growth of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers and takes corrective measures when such conditions exist by mixing and applying fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides; orders chemicals and fertilizer Makes minor and major repairs to tools and irrigation equipment used on park premises Purchases and ensures the quality of plant material Performs tree and safety inspections Team Skills Supports honest and transparent decision-making Collaborates with all team members in a way that builds upon ideas and takes personal accountability and ownership of projects, roles, and assignments Openly exhibits a positive attitude, in words and action, and encourages others to do the same Performs related work as required. EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATUS: As a condition of employment, City of Largo employees will be required to work as directed during an undeclared and/or a declared emergency. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the official job description. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience: High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) (Associate's Degree in Horticulture, Horticulture Science, or a closely related degree is preferred) and two (2) years directly related experience in landscape maintenance, nursery, or horticultural operation; or an equivalent combination of training and experience Experience as a crew leader is preferred Requires State of Florida Restricted Pesticide License issued for public use with Ornamental and Turf endorsement within six months of employment Valid Driver's License Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of modern practices and principles of horticulture, arboriculture, agronomy, and related fields Knowledge of insects, parasites, diseases, and other infestations that affect trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and grass and the composition and application of insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides for their control plant biology and the standard and botanical names of local trees, plants, and flowers irrigation systems and turf management, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards and guidelines for trimming, dead wooding, removal, planting, and staking Skill in the proper use and safe operation of hand and power-operated tools utilized in all phases of horticulture work Ability to: understand and follow oral and written instructions and communicate clearly and concisely detect tree, plant, and turf diseases and determine corrective measures read, interpret, and develop landscape plans understand chemical and fertilizer labels and plan, assign, and supervise the work of a small group of staff perform heavy, strenuous manual labor, sometimes under unfavorable weather conditions WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Work Environment: 5% inside a climate-controlled building and 95% outside, which may include driving. Physical Requirements: The essential functions of the job require sitting approximately one (1) hour per day, standing approximately three (3) hours per day, and walking approximately four (4) hours per day. The work requires frequent bending/stooping, climbing, crawling, fine manipulations, grasping, kneeling, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, lifting/carrying of objects weighing up to 15 pounds, frequent lifting/carrying of objects weighing 15 to 44 pounds, and frequent lifting/carrying of objects weighing 45 pounds and over. Sensory Requirements: Hearing: Ability to perform tasks safely over the noise from heavy equipment such as tractors and tools. Speaking: Ability to communicate orally with others in person and on the telephone. Seeing: Ability to see and read computer monitor screens, operate a vehicle, and read fine print. Driving Requirements: The work requires frequent driving and possessing a valid Florida Class "E" Driver's. Technology: The work requires the ability to operate telephones, smartphones, tablets, photocopiers, printers, desktop and laptop computers, calculators, and all associated software. Other Machines: The work requires the ability to operate the following machines: tractors and front-end loaders, spray rig, and GPS. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Yes - DRUG TESTING (Safety Sensitive) No - CHILDCARE FINGERPRINTING No - CREDIT CHECK No - FDLE AND CJSTC SECURITY CLEARANCE: As mandated by the FDLE, CJSTC, and the Largo Police Department, this position may be subject to additional security clearances due to access to the police department facility or police department's electronic data. The City of Largo is an exceptional place to work and live! As the third largest city in Pinellas County and the fourth largest in the Tampa Bay area, Largo offers the perfect blend of convenience and charm. Located near world-class beaches and top regional attractions, the City provides a picturesque natural setting and an outstanding quality of life. Largos award-winning parks system spans nearly 500 acres and includes 20 parks and 11 miles of scenic walking trails, offering abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and connection with nature. About the Organization The organization serves over 84 thousand residents and 3 thousand businesses by providing superior services that inspire community pride. The organization is made up of 12 departments with a shared strategic focus on sustainability, public health & safety, and community pride. Largo is committed to building a High-Performance Organization (HPO) model to intentionally support flexibility, resiliency, and leadership capacity at all levels of the organization. HPO empowers individuals to participate in meaningful projects and initiatives to promote employee and community engagement. As a national Top Workplace, Largo is recognized for its innovative, collaborative, and passionate workforce. Team members enjoy competitive pay, robust professional development opportunities, generous benefits and leave packages, and a healthy work-life balance. With its family-friendly atmosphere, tree-lined streets, and award-winning parks, Largo offers more than just a workplace, we offer a community. Every day, we work toward our vision of being the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay, Naturally! About our Benefits Team Members enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellness, and financial security of our team members. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; wellness programs; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA); paid life insurance; and AD&D coverage, with optional supplemental life insurance available. Full-time team members participate in a Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan with a generous City match. Public Safety team members participate in retirement plans outlined in their respective union agreements. All team members may enroll in optional Deferred Compensation 457(b) and/or Roth 457(b) plans. Additional benefits include 11 paid holidays, 24/7 access to fitness centers, tuition reimbursement, and ongoing professional development opportunities. For a complete overview of benefits, please review the City of Largos Largo Lifeline.