September 4, 2024

City of Durham

Durham

FULL TIME

Laborer

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

The General Services Department's innovative, highly qualified, service-oriented individuals support the City we love. Building and maintaining city facilities and public spaces is what we do. Promoting our enviable quality of life and serving as a foundation of a healthy economy is why we do it. If you're interested in applying your unique skills to meaningful work while growing in your career, our team is for you!

Work Hours/Days: Monday - Friday
6:00 am to 2:30 pm

Position devoted to maintaining and enhancing lawns, beds and landscaped areas along roadways and on City property through the performance of semi-skilled and skilled labor, the operation of light-duty equipment and power tools, application of seed, fertilizer, water and herbicides, plant installation and other duties related to the field of Landscape Maintenance and the management of snow, ice and litter. Incumbents may also assist with general maintenance tasks in addition to their primary assignment. In the growing season (March-November), duties are mostly limited to following an established operational routine. Decisions are limited primarily to carrying out assignments, operating tools and equipment and performing work efficiently to meet established standards and deadlines. In the dormant season (December-February), incumbents will participate in snow and ice removal, landscape bed, retaining wall, unit paver, and tree installation, mulching, turf improvement activities, tree and shrub pruning, skills training and litter collection.

An incumbent is responsible for participating in the work assigned to a crew, to include; performing technical work (mowing, edging, trimming, blowing, spraying), following care and custody protocols on equipment and vehicles; operating light-duty equipment and power tools; fueling equipment, and filling/rinsing and properly storing spray-units; maintaining assigned PPE and supplies; reporting daily work metrics to a supervisor (including pesticide logs); and performing related duties.

Duties/Responsibilities

Assists in the performance of mowing operations including deployment of necessary equipment and gear, adherence to use of PPE and proper work zone setup in a roadside environment, performs mowing and litter collection operations as assigned; picks up litter along service area, operates zero-turn, walk behind and ride-behind mowers, hedge trimmers, blowers, edgers, string trimmers (“weed-eaters”), vehicle-mounted tank sprayers and backpack sprayers, salt spreaders, and tractor-mounted brush cutters, brooms, and plows.
Assists in the performance of technical work, service checks, and preventative maintenance on applicable equipment, systems, and vehicles; follows care and custody protocols associated with assigned gear; and operates light-duty equipment, power and hand tools.
Reports information on work metrics to supervisor
Provides customer service; responds to customer questions and concerns; understands and stays current on policies and procedures.
Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

High School Diploma or equivalent (GED, Hi Set, TASC)
One year of experience in the field of landscaping or applied horticulture.
A valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record or must obtain within 60 days.
This position is critical to emergency operations and will report to work in spite of or because of an emergency or disaster event.

The City of Durham Encourages Diversity in the Workplace.

Additional Preferred Skills

Experience with residential or commercial landscaping.
Experience with riding lawn mowers.
Experience do you have in residential or commercial landscaping.
One (1) year of experience working in outdoor environments.
North Carolina Pesticide Applicator’s License.
Education or coursework in landscaping or applied horticulture.
Knowledge of plant, shrub and tree maintenance.
Valid North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License (A or B) with a satisfactory driving record.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

12-13 paid holidays per year
13 standard work days of vacation per year
13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
2 weeks paid military leave per year
Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
State and City retirement plans
Short and long term disability plans
Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
Paid funeral leave
Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
48 hours for volunteer work each year*
4 hours parental leave each year
Workman's Compensation Insurance
457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service