Green Stormwater Infrastructure Operations Horticulture Specialist

The City of Raleigh is hiring a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Operations Horticulture Specialist to maintain and operate GSI across the city. This full-time position requires collaboration with various departments and public engagement to enhance stormwater management and natural resources. The ideal candidate should have interdisciplinary skills in horticulture and landscape management. The job is located in Dix, NE, with a salary range of $42,357 to $68,480 annually.
Salary: $42,357.00 - $68,480.00 Annually
Location : Dorothea DIx Park, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-00504
Department: PRCR- Parks-Natural Resources
Opening Date: 05/23/2025
Closing Date: 6/6/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Hiring Range: $42,357.00 - $54,407.00

Job Description
The Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Operations Horticulture Specialist will be a contributing member of a team responsible for GSI maintenance and operations across the City. The City of Raleigh is expanding the role greenspaces and natural drainages play as nature-based solutions to critical infrastructure needs to improve surface water quality and protect water resources. The new GSI Maintenance Team is a cross-departmental interdisciplinary team between the Parks Maintenance and Natural Resources and Raleigh Stormwater divisions. Our goal is to deliver smart stormwater management to preserve and protect life, support healthy natural resources, enhance habitats, and complement sustainable and equitable growth for the community. We are seeking a passionate horticultural specialist to support this new and innovative team.
About You:
The ideal candidate for this position is an interdisciplinary professional who is comfortable working across agencies. They are equally comfortable talking to engineers, wetland scientists, and landscape maintenance staff. They are also comfortable working with the public - handling citizen concerns, as well as, community groups, youth groups, and volunteers. This candidate grounds their broad perspective in ecological systems with practical experience in landscape management. They will utilize their skills and knowledge in practice to successfully achieve our goals of stormwater mitigation, habitat provision, and equitable distribution of services. Finally, they are driven to become an expert in this rapidly developing field - seeking out continuing education where available and being a leader in this innovative approach to managing stormwater.
About Us:
The City of Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Driven by a strong economy and outstanding quality of life, Raleigh is consistently ranked among the nation's best places to live and operate a business. The "City of Oaks" is also known for its beautiful natural resources, parks, and greenway trails, with approximately 58,000 acres of tree canopy, over 220 parks, 120 miles of greenway trail, more than 10 lakes, and 1,200 miles of streams.

Come be a part of the city that gets noticed!
• Raleigh ranked as #3 best place in the US to live - US News and World Report's Best Places to Live Rankings for 2023-2024
• Raleigh ranked #4 City in the US as "Best Places to Live" - Money Magazine 2022-2023
• Raleigh is #4 Best U.S. City for Work/Life Balance & Mental Health - Coworking Café Study, January 2023
• Raleigh is the 2nd Best State Capital for Safety & More - WalletHub, February 2023
• Raleigh is the 2nd Most Climate-Resilient City - Architectural Digest, February 2023
• Raleigh is the 8th Biggest Boomtown - LendingTree, February 2023
• Raleigh ranks 10th among 415 cities as best place for college students to live - WalletHub, December 2022
• Raleigh ranks No. 1 as best place for veterans to call home - WalletHub, November 2022

Duties and Responsibilities
• Participate in the operations of a GSI maintenance team, including plant maintenance, identification, and care. Activities may include planting, dividing, hand-weeding, herbicide applications, cut-backs, and mulching.
• Implement standard operating procedures to coordinate effective and efficient delivery of work products and GSI maintenance activities.
• Participate in specialized and routine maintenance of Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) to enhance and prolong the life cycle of City assets. Maintenance may include mowing, invasive species management (including aquatics), trash or debris removal, vegetation selection and replacement, repairing erosion and sedimentation, mulching, etc.
• Complete work orders in a timely and successful manner to maintain SCMs, and report issues as relevant.
• Engage with the public, including youth groups and other volunteers, to assure quality product delivery and equitable engagement.
• Provide programmatic and technical support to ensure the functional management of engineered stormwater solutions (e.g. - constructed wetland systems, bioretention basins, innovative rights-of-way GSI, etc.)
• Maintain accurate tracking data in asset management software.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or GED and four years of related experience

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Licensing and Certifications:
• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's license with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
• North Carolina Public Operator Pesticide License or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire
Preferred Qualifications:
• A Bachelor's degree in horticulture, natural resources, biological or agricultural engineering
• 3 years' experience in landscape maintenance
• Certified Stormwater Control Measure Inspection and Maintenance Professional by North Carolina Cooperative Extension with 3 years of experience
• Certified Plant Professional

Additional Information

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Proper horticulture practices and operations
• Plant and natural plant communities identification
• Pesticide applications
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure principles, applications, and operations
• Wetlands, wetland engineering, and/or delineation
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment)
• Occupational hazards and applicable safety principles and practices
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment)
• Customer service principles
• Assessing and evaluating schedules and timing for various planting, pruning, fertilizing and maintenance tasks
• Organizing tasks, meeting deadlines and prioritizing competing demands
• Providing and overseeing the maintenance of plants, trees, landscape, turf, vegetation and equipment
• Providing direction to others to meet standards
• Providing attention to detail in assignments
• Comprehending reference books and manuals
• Operating assigned tools and equipment
• Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
ADA and Other Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Heavy Work:
Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Working Conditions:
Work is performed in both the field and in an indoor office environment with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions (such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, etc.); moderate exposure to environmental conditions (such as disruptive people, imminent danger, or a threatening environment); and frequent exposure to intense noise.

Note:
This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) designation may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.

To find out about the City's benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits

The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01

Please select your highest level of education completed.
• Some high school
• High school diploma (or GED)
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD or other professional degree

02

How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in this field?
• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 3 years
• 3 to less than 4 years
• 4 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 6 years
• 6 to less than 7 years
• 7 to less than 8 years
• 8 to less than 9 years
• 9 to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

03

Do you have a valid North Carolina Driver's License Class C or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire?
• Yes, I currently have a valid NC Driver's License.
• I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License, but I can obtain one within 60 days of hire.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 60 days of hire.

04

Do you have a valid North Carolina Pesticide License or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire?
• Yes, I currently have a valid NC Pesticide License.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Pesticide License, but I can obtain one within 90 days of hire.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Pesticide License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 90 days of hire.

05

Do you have at least three years' experience in landscape maintenance?
• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least three years' experience with maintenance of Stormwater Control Measures?
• Yes
• No

07

Will you be able to work extended hours on rotating shift during emergencies and inclement weather?
• Yes
• No

Required Question
Salary: $map.get("vacancy_salary_details"). Date posted: 05/25/2025