Parks and Gardens Maintenance Officer - Urban Forest

E ngā iwi, e ngā karangatanga huri noa i te motu, tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He īnoi tēnei ki a koe. Tono mai ki tētahi tūnga ki te Kaunihera o Ōtautahi

The Botanic Gardens team is recruiting for a fixed-term role within our Parks Urban Forest team. You will be part of a group of specialists dedicated to the planting and care of juvenile trees within the City's parks.

Trees are vitally important to the urban environment and are key to the ongoing health and livability of Christchurch City. They provide shade, beauty, and essential environmental services, purifying the air, supporting biodiversity, and reducing stormwater runoff.
Christchurch's reputation as the Garden City reflects its long-standing commitment to urban greenery, now further reinforced by the development of the Urban Forest Plan.

Christchurch City Council is establishing a dedicated Urban Forest Planting team within the Parks unit to support the delivery of the Urban Forest Plan. This team will play a key role in increasing tree planting across our Urban Parks, with the aim of reaching 40% canopy cover across all public open spaces.

About the role | Ko te mahi nei

A primary focus of the role will be to undertake tree planting in urban parks and provide ongoing care to ensure their successful establishment over the first five years.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Planting trees
• Watering and caring for young trees
• Mulching and staking newly planted trees
• Controlling weeds around planting areas
• Carrying out formative pruning
• Assisting with community planting days
• Helping collect propagation material
• Supporting the production, processing, and dispatch of plant collections from the Council's nursery

About you | Ko Koe Tēnei

You'll be someone who understands the environmental and community benefits that trees bring to urban spaces and is passionate about contributing to a greener, more resilient Christchurch. You're motivated by work that positively impacts the environment and are ready to be part of a team working towards long-term ecological goals.

Requirements of the role:

• At least 3 years' practical experience working with trees and/or gardens
• Level 4 National Certificate in Horticulture or equivalent qualification
• Current full NZ Class 1 driver's licence
• Experience delivering exceptional customer service and maintaining stakeholder relationships

Additional Information | Ko ētahi atu kōrero:

We understand that recruitment processes can be challenging. If you require any support or adjustments to help you put your best foot forward, please reach out to us at [email protected]

• Hours of work: Monday to Friday, 7am - 3pm.
• Position: Full-time, fixed-term for 10 months.
• Location: This position is primarily based at Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Salary: The salary band for this position goes from $65,502 - $72,780 per annum based on a 40 hour week.

What's in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

Working for the Christchurch City Council allows you to contribute directly to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents and visitors. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.