**Position Overview**: Are you passionate about creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces? Join Casey City Council as a Horticulture Specialist and play a key role in developing, achieving, and maintaining a standard of horticulture excellence at our prominent sites, including Wilson Botanic Park, Premier Activity Centres, Casey Fields, Community Facilities, and other locations throughout our Open Space network. As part of our team, you will demonstrate your expertise in horticultural practices, customer service, and team collaboration.
**Key Responsibilities**:
- Assist in the development and maintenance of all garden areas, including garden design, hardscape areas, garden preparation, and plant selection.
- Perform general garden and turf maintenance tasks, such as weeding, planting, fertilizing, watering, mulching, pruning, spraying, raking, and sweeping, adhering to industry best practices and Council policies and procedures.
- Operate a range of mechanical equipment and plant associated with general horticultural operations.
- Provide horticultural advice and information to the team and other Council staff based on your professional knowledge and industry best practices.
- Collaborate with relevant working groups to progress planning and enhancement of Casey parks and reserves.
- Utilize outdoor portable devices to access Casey's Asset Management System and other software programs for efficient communication and coordination.
- Audit and provide feedback on Open Space contractors' performance as required.
- Report defects on assets within Council's Open Space network, including parks, reserves, trees, and streetscapes.
**Required Qualifications and Experience**:
- A tertiary qualification of AQF level 3 or higher in Parks and Gardens, Horticulture, or a related discipline, or relevant experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in undertaking horticultural maintenance of premier open spaces, including the use of a broad range of plant and equipment (desirable).
- Demonstrated experience in the management and delivery of OHS & Risk Management principles and practices (desirable).
- A current AgVet Chemical Users Certificate (desirable).
- A current Australian Driver's license with Light Truck endorsement.
- Front End Loader License (desirable).
- Current certificate in First Aid (desirable).
- National Criminal History Check.
- Working with Children Check.
- Functional Assessment (Physio/Medical Examination).