• Do you have experience planning high-end designs for parks?
• Do you have experience leading a crew of landscape professionals?
• Are you a seasoned Horticulturist?

If this sounds like you, come join us on the Horticulture Services Team at Montgomery County Parks in Gaithersburg, Maryland! Montgomery Parks is seeking a highly motivated and highly knowledgeable Horticulturist – Landscape Lead to plan, design, install and maintain high impact landscapes in select parks, county-wide. In addition, the horticulturist will lead, and direct other staff assisting with the program, safely operate and maintain equipment and tools and provide horticulture training to other staff.

The Horticulturist – Landscape Lead would join the Horticulture, Forestry and Environmental Educational Division which is part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. This great team preserves and maintains the natural resources of parkland, ensures a safe environment for park patrons, and enhances the beauty of parks.

The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership experience, with a strong background in supervising teams or serving as a crew lead in field operations. They will possess a CDL Class A License with Tanker endorsement, and demonstrate deep expertise in plant and soil science, including the ability to select appropriate plant species for diverse growing conditions. Additionally, they will be highly skilled in diagnosing and treating plant health issues, such as pest and disease management. The goals of this position include guiding and mentoring field crews, ensuring high standards of horticultural care across Montgomery Parks, and fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and ecological stewardship.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a six-time National Recreational and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner.  Behind the vast and diverse Montgomery County Department of Parks system is a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees, 415 parks and over 37,000 acres of park land that serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in the Washington, DC metro area.

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/

Please Note: The salary range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Very competitive and flexible benefits programs available!

Plans, Designs, Installs and Maintains Landscape Displays in Select Parks

• Surveys Park areas to determine horticulture and landscape needs
• Assists with the planning of high-end designs for landscape projects in parks
• Coordinates height, color, texture, peak performance, and other variables to create artistic designs from season to season; provides layout

Applies Technical Expertise and Horticulture Consultation to Park Projects

• Performs horticultural tasks to optimize plant growth including conducting soil tests, adding soil amendments, watering, and plant maintenance
• Inspects plants and identifies pest problems; makes recommendations for treatments using integrated pest management strategies
• Develops watering, fertilization, and plant maintenance schedules

Applies Integrated Pest Management to Maintain Plant Health and Control Pests

• Researches pest and disease problems and ensures best control method is utilized
• Applies pesticides as needed and in compliance with all appropriate local, state, and federal regulations

Trains, Leads, and Directs Staff

• Provides hands-on training for staff on horticulture topics and techniques such as mulching, pruning, plant installation, pest identification and management
• Leads and directs staff in performance landscape and garden development and maintenance
• Leads and directs staff in performance of landscape and garden development and maintenance; assigns tasks and oversees staff on the jobsite

Performs Administrative Tasks, Data Collection, and Tracking

• Accounts for labor and materials for each project and input it into the enterprise asset management (EAM) system in a timely manner
• Develops landscape designs and written maintenance plans for each landscaped area. Creates routes for landscape project aftercare program and tracks cycles of maintenance

Important Skills and Characteristics

• Collaborative with a strong work ethic; a cooperative spirit, excellent communication, creative thinking, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Proven ability to approach and interact with people of all backgrounds and the ability to think collaboratively with various members of the organization.
• Ability to work with highly confidential documents and data while ensuring confidentiality.
• Superb written, verbal, organizational and interpersonal skills.  Proficient in office software (MS Office), enterprise software and specialized software for planning, scheduling, communicating (email), word processing, collecting and reporting data (Access Database), preparing presentations, and researching (Internet).

Preferred Qualifications

1. Previous supervisory or crew lead experience strongly desired
2. Strong understanding of plant/soil science, and ability to make effective plant selections for under a variety of growing conditions
3. Possesses a CDL Class A License with Tanker endorsement
4. Knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating plant health issues, including pest and disease management

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture or any related field.
2. One (1) year of professional experience in horticulture or closely related field.
3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total five (5) years.
4. Valid driver’s license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s licenses must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required of the position.
5. Maryland State Pesticide Applicator License may be required within twelve (12) months of employment, depending on area of assignment.

Working Conditions:

Work typically includes the following depending on assigned duties. Works inside and outside an assigned facility which may operate seven days per week. Works extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays. Some vehicle driving required. Work requires long periods of standing and walking, and recurring bending, stooping, reaching and similar activities. Work may also include frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 49 pounds. Work involves exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as those due to adverse weather conditions such as high winds and low or high temperatures; irritating chemicals and noxious fumes during horticulture, pesticide and weed control activities; and poisonous insects, plants, or snakes. Work requires special safety precautions or protective clothing and equipment.

Get to know Montgomery Parks and the opportunities available:

https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/divisions/

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.