Career summary

Details for First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers


Description

Plan, organize, direct, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities, such as planting and maintaining ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns, and applying fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals, according to contract specifications. May also coordinate activities of workers engaged in terracing hillsides, building retaining walls, constructing pathways, installing patios, and similar activities in following a landscape design plan. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and work force requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

Tasks

  • Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
  • Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
  • Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
  • Plant or maintain vegetation through activities such as mulching, fertilizing, watering, mowing, or pruning.
  • Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
  • Train workers in tasks such as transplanting or pruning trees or shrubs, finishing cement, using equipment, or caring for turf.
  • Provide workers with assistance in performing duties as necessary to meet deadlines.
  • Inventory supplies of tools, equipment, or materials to ensure that sufficient supplies are available and items are in usable condition.
  • Confer with other supervisors to coordinate work activities with those of other departments or units.
  • Perform personnel-related activities, such as hiring workers, evaluating staff performance, or taking disciplinary actions when performance problems occur.
  • Direct or perform mixing or application of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
  • Review contracts or work assignments to determine service, machine, or workforce requirements for jobs.
  • Maintain required records, such as personnel information or project records.
  • Prepare or maintain required records, such as work activity or personnel reports.
  • Order the performance of corrective work when problems occur and recommend procedural changes to avoid such problems.
  • Identify diseases or pests affecting landscaping and order appropriate treatments.
  • Investigate work-related complaints to verify problems and to determine responses.
  • Direct or assist workers engaged in the maintenance or repair of equipment, such as power tools or motorized equipment.
  • Install or maintain landscaped areas, performing tasks such as removing snow, pouring cement curbs, or repairing sidewalks.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as authorizing leaves or processing time sheets.
  • Recommend changes in working conditions or equipment use to increase crew efficiency.
  • Confer with managers or landscape architects to develop plans or schedules for landscaping maintenance or improvement.
  • Negotiate with customers regarding fees for landscaping, lawn service, or groundskeeping work.
  • Answer inquiries from current or prospective customers regarding methods, materials, or price ranges.
  • Prepare service estimates based on labor, material, and machine costs and maintain budgets for individual projects.
  • Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.
  • Design or supervise the installation of sprinkler systems, calculating water pressure, or valve and pipe coverage needs.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Customer and Personal Service -Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

None found.

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