This position functions as part of a team performing skilled and responsible horticultural duties related to grounds and landscape maintenance, installation of landscaped and floral bed areas in city parks, downtown mall, schools, right-of-ways and public facilities. This position is essential to maintaining an extremely effective team that follows defined schedules. Performs other duties as assigned. May supervise the work of subordinate staff, which may include voluntary, temporary and benefited staff on a day or project basis. Reports to a Maintenance Specialist III or IV.

The preferred hiring range is $17.01 to $19.46 an hour ($35,373.05 to $40,476.80 annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, non-exempt, position. The position also provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. If questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

Operations and Safety:

• Completes tasks as instructed, and provides guidance to seasonal staff;
• Completes work according to maintenance standards, and provides guidance to seasonal staff;
• Follows safety regulations and procedures, and provides guidance to seasonal staff;
• Independently solves problems, and actively seeks guidance when appropriate;
• Operates power equipment engaged in complex and routine maintenance and construction projects;
• Performs basic equipment maintenance related to area of specialization;
• Provides and documents information required to complete operational and safety records;
• Reports issues in park facilities and grounds to ensure proper operation and/or adherence of safety regulations, and implements corrective measures;
• Responsible for the storage, application, disposal, and record keeping of hazardous materials including pesticides, fertilizers and other turf care products;

• Follows procedures and retains all documentation of purchases made;
• Participates in tracking inventory of equipment and operating supplies;
• Provides input in equipment, and annual operating supply needs;
• Reports to supervisor when supplies or equipment are needed;
• Uses equipment and consumes operating supplies diligently;

• Follows procedures for time and attendance reporting;
• Identifies operational deficiencies and recommends revisions;
• Keeps daily work records;

• Actively participates in performance evaluation system;
• May assist in the hiring process by participating on interview panels or equipment testing;
• Positions at this level are required to train volunteers, seasonal workers and Maintenance Specialist Is, and may conduct training for other staff;
• Positions at this level may supervise volunteers, seasonal staff and Maintenance Specialist I, and may supervise other subordinate staff in the absence of a Supervisor and/or on a day or project basis;

• Advises residents of City responsibility and refers them to the proper authority when appropriate; Represents the department in a positive way;
• Identifies specific needs for volunteer workforce;
• Implements action to address and resolve inter-departmental complaints and work requests; Represents the department in a positive way;
• Maintains a productive working relationship with peers and supervisor;
• Works cooperatively and contributes with other crew members toward completing assigned tasks;
• Works cooperatively and provides guidance to volunteers toward completing assigned tasks;

• Provides input in development of maintenance standards and plans;
• Provides input in the development of project plans;
• Provides input in the development of short, medium, and long term goals and objectives;

Minimum Requirements:

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to high school or vocational school diploma or GED.
• At least two years of experience in a related field such as horticulture, forestry, or similar area.
• Required to obtain Commercial Pesticide Applicator license with Category 3a and 3b within 18 months of hire.
• VDOT Flagger certification within 6 months of hire.
• Possession of a valid, appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Must be eligible to operate a City vehicle (To view our driving eligibility requirements, visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/faq.aspx?qid=166).
• May require a Class B Commercial Driver's License within six months of employment.

• Supplemental college level or technical/vocational school course work in related subjects preferred.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective public and working relationships;
• Ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions;
• Ability to keep records of repair, service, or maintenance operations;
• Ability to perform demanding physical work for continued periods;
• Ability to prioritize tasks;
• Ability to work outside with regular exposure to severe weather;
• General knowledge of plant diseases and insects and of the chemicals and methods used in their control;
• General knowledge of the tools, material, principles, practices, materials, and equipment used in horticulture;
• Skill in planting, transplanting, and pruning flowers and other plants;
• Skill in the operation of tools and equipment related to horticultural and arboricultural work;
• Strong knowledge of plant types and their uses;
• Extensive knowledge of the maintenance, repair and of the use of common hand and specialized power tools required in the work;
• Comprehensive knowledge of the safe use and operation and mechanical equipment required in the work.

Physical requirements for this position as outlined by the Department of Labor: HEAVY WORK: Ability to lift up to 100 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 50 lbs. frequently and/or up to 20 lbs. constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work.

This position may be required to work weekends, nights, holidays, standby/on-call, emergency on-call, and/or weather-related emergency on-call.

This is a safety sensitive position subject to drug and alcohol testing for pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident and random testing.

The majority of time spent in this position involves outside work which may involve exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme brightness, chemicals/hazardous waste, blood-borne pathogens, electrical hazards, extreme darkness, fumes/airborne particles and fuels. This position also requires the regular use of or subject to vibration, ladder/step stool, traffic/roadways, driving light equipment, driving heavy equipment, driving a City vehicle, moving mechanical parts and/or confined space(s). The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated July 1, 2022


Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.


1. LEAVE:

• Vacation:
  • 3.09 hours accrued biweekly - 0 - <3 years
  • 3.85 hours accrued biweekly - 3 - <5 years
  • 4.62 hours accrued biweekly - 5 - <10 years
  • 5.40 hours accrued biweekly - 10 - <15 years
  • 6.16 hours accrued biweekly - 15 - <20 years
  • 6.93 hours accrued biweekly - 20 - <25 years
  • 7.70 hours accrued biweekly - 25+ years
• Sick:
  • 4.62 hours per biweekly pay period, approximately 120 hours a years, no limit on accumulation
• Holidays:
  • 14 paid holidays per calendar year (13 observed and 1 floating)

• Aetna Medical –
  • Choose from three options with different premiums and levels of coverage and coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire:
    • HMO: $0 premium for employee only coverage
    • POS 1: Employee-only premium of $36.28 per biweekly pay
    • POS 2: Employee-only premium of $13.02 per biweekly pay
      • (Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.)
  • Prescription Card ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand, $55 higher cost name brand)
  • Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand)

• Dental (Delta Dental)
  • No cost for employee only coverage. Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.
  • Diagnosis and Preventive - 100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care - 80%; Major Dental Care - 50%
  • Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20
  • Prosthetic & Complex Restorative - $50 deductible, 50/50
  • $1,500 maximum annual benefit
  • $1,000 Orthodontic Benefit
• MetLife Vision Plan: Optional
  • Employee only coverage: $2.50 bi-weekly; Dependent coverage also available at differing rates.
  • Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay;
  • $130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.
• Life:
  • Two times annual salary (paid by the City)
  • Optional supplemental life available for employee, spouse, dependents (paid by employee)
• AFLAC: Optional
  • Cancer/accident/short term disability/intensive care insurance (paid by employee)

• Long Term Disability
  • Protection from income loss due to long-term illness or injury (paid by the City)

• Pension:
  • Choose from two options:
    • A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5 year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
    • A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note that: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees)

• Supplemental:
  • Deferred Compensation (457) - employee contribution

• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Health Care Expenses
  • Dependent Care Expenses
  • Parking/Mass Transit Expenses
  • Parking Subsidy of $50 per month
• Wellness Programs:
  • Gym Reimbursement Program
  • Monthly On-Site Nurse and Annual Flu Shots
  • Health Screenings and Fairs, Education Sessions, & Weekly Fitness Classes
  • Weight Watchers at Work
• Bike Commuter Program:
  • Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bike commuting expenses
• Employee Assistance Program:
  • A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program:
  • Up to $1,500 for undergraduate OR Up to $3,000 for graduate level tuition per fiscal year per employee.