Leading Hand Parks Maintenance – Botanic Areas
Location: Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Position Number: PE0215 | Classification: Level 5 (Stream B) | Department: Infrastructure and Operations | Program: Parks & Open Spaces
About Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
The Gardens are a hub for nature lovers and community activities, featuring a tropical shade garden, lagoons, and unique plant collections from the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion and beyond. Visitors enjoy guided walks, exhibitions, yoga sessions, and birdwatching events—all set in a tranquil environment that promotes biodiversity and sustainability.
About the Opportunity
Join Mackay Regional Council and play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the stunning Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. This position is responsible for delivering programmed maintenance schedules, horticultural displays, landscape development, and collection management in one of Queensland's most picturesque public gardens.
As a Leading Hand, you will assist in supervising a dedicated team, ensuring high standards of service and presentation across the Botanic Gardens. Your work will help preserve a living collection of plants and create a welcoming environment for visitors to enjoy guided walks, exhibitions, and community events.
Key Responsibilities
* Supervise and support the Botanic Areas team in daily operations.
* Deliver scheduled maintenance services, including horticultural displays and landscape development.
* Ensure compliance with Service Level Agreements and workplace health and safety standards.
* Contribute to collection development and management, supporting the Gardens' mission to showcase local native plants.
* Foster a positive, safe, and inclusive work environment.
Qualifications & Experience
* Demonstrated experience in parks or horticultural maintenance.
* Leadership skills with the ability to supervise and motivate a team.
* Knowledge of horticultural practices and landscape development.
* Commitment to workplace health and safety.
* Relevant qualifications in horticulture or a related field.
* QLD C Class Drivers Licence.
* General Construction Induction White Card.
* Experience conducting visual inspection of park facilities.
* Experience operating and maintaining chainsaws (Level 1).
* Chemical accreditation.
* Experience operating a pole saw.
Benefits
* Base annual salary of $ 67,054.26.
* Up to 18% superannuation (conditions apply).
* Choice of 4 or 5 weeks' annual leave with 17.5% leave loading.
* Flexible work arrangements with a 9 day fortnight roster.
* Potential salary sacrificing options.
* Study and assistance programs for career development.
* Learning and career development opportunities.
* Employee Assistance Program.
* Employee health and wellbeing initiatives.
* Active social clubs.
Important Information for Applicants
* All candidates must have the appropriate working rights for Australia; these will be verified during recruitment.
* Applicants who progress beyond the interview stage will undergo a pre-employment process, including medical assessments and drug/alcohol testing.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, where all applicants are treated fairly and respectfully and have equal access to all available opportunities. At Mackay Regional Council, diversity is about creating a respectful and inclusive workplace that recognises our employees' unique contributions and perspectives, working together to deliver extraordinary results.
View the Position Description (PD) for this role in the document attachments.
How to Apply
Prepare and submit your cover letter and resume, outlining your relevant experience for this role. After submitting, you will receive an automated confirmation email. If you do not receive this, please ensure you have submitted your application and that your email address on your account is correct.
Applications Close: Thursday, 11 December 2025
Having troubles submitting your application? Reach out to one of our friendly Recruitment Officers by phoning 1300 MACKAY ).
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