Seasonal Landscape Maintenance Worker Preprofessional

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County provides opportunities for people to connect with nature. We offer to the public 60 forest preserves 166 miles of trails 47 miles of rivers and streams and 6 nature and cultural centers. We have 6 million visitors each year.

The Districts mission is to acquire and hold lands containing forests prairies wetlands and associated plant communities or lands capable of being restored to such natural conditions for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora fauna and scenic beauty for the education pleasure and recreation of its citizens.

Job Summary

This position supports the Landscape crew by operating motorized equipment and performing manual labor in the maintenance and upkeep of assigned District sites.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Safely operate and maintain landscape equipment including mowers trimmers and other power and hand tools.
• Perform routine landscape maintenance tasks including mowing trimming weeding delittering and edging.
• Complete turf restoration.
• Assist in the identification and removal of invasive flora using herbicides and manual weeding.
• Install soil and compost.
• Perform cultivation duties on plant beds including irrigation soil amending and fertilization.
• Assist garden and special event volunteers (including setup and takedown).
• Foster a working environment that promotes safe work habits; Become familiar with and observe all applicable safety rules policies and work procedures; Follow all safety rules that pertain to the duties performed and support all aspects of the Districts safety and risk management program; Keep work area clean orderly and free of hazards; Immediately report all unsafe conditions and incidents.
• Maintain a supportive working environment and demonstrate a desire to exceed the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements:

• 18 years of age or older at time of hire.
• Valid Drivers License in good standing.
• 1 year of grounds maintenance experience in landscape maintenance and turf management including the operation of lawnmowers and trimmers is required.
• Proficiency in the identification of native and invasive flora.
• Knowledge of basic horticulture practices.
• Familiarity with common grounds maintenance equipment including mowers and trimmers.
• Ability to perform physically demanding manual labor tasks.
• Skill in maintaining effective relationships with colleagues and team members.

Schedule: Position starts in April/May with an end date in September. Monday through Friday shifts of 6:45 AM until 2:45 PM.

Pay: $1821/hour.

Work Environment: Requires working outdoors. Exposure to all weather conditions insects and other wildlife uneven terrain sharp tools and motorized equipment. Work involves lifting and maneuvering large objects. Requires operating motor vehicles.

Other Information: Safety toe boots and glasses are required and reimbursable. Work tshirts are provided. Bagged lunch and water are required as breaks are taken at work sites. Reports to Blackwell Nursery Complex in West Chicago IL.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace built on a foundation of respect integrity teamwork and excellence. Our organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority