CareerZone Pennsylvania

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.

Job Zone

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Education Requirements

Related work experience - Training is gained through hands-on work and experience in a similar occupation.

Interests

Knowledge

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.
Personnel and Human Resources	Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
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.

Skills

Operations Analysis	Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Complex Problem Solving	Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Writing	Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Management of Material Resources	Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Systems Evaluation	Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Selection	Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Mathematics	Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing	Teaching others how to do something.

Tasks

• Direct activities of workers who perform duties such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
• Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
• Schedule work for crews depending on work priorities, crew and equipment availability, and weather conditions.
• Confer with other supervisors to coordinate work activities with those of other departments or units.
• Direct or perform mixing and application of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
• Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
• Inventory supplies of tools, equipment, and materials to ensure that sufficient supplies are available and items are in usable condition.
• Investigate work-related complaints in order to verify problems, and to determine responses.
• Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
• Order the performance of corrective work when problems occur, and recommend procedural changes to avoid such problems.
• Perform personnel-related activities such as hiring workers, evaluating staff performance, and taking disciplinary actions when performance problems occur.
• Provide workers with assistance in performing duties as necessary to meet deadlines.
• Review contracts or work assignments to determine service, machine, and workforce requirements for jobs.
• Train workers in tasks such as transplanting and pruning trees and shrubs, finishing cement, using equipment, and caring for turf.
• Answer inquiries from current or prospective customers regarding methods, materials, and price ranges.

Wages

In 2006, the Pennsylvania average annual wage was $43,170.00. The entry-level wage was $28,040.00 while an experienced worker made $50,740.00.

Outlook

During 2004, there were approximately 4,990 people employed in this field in Pennsylvania. It is projected that there will be 5,520 employed in 2014. This occupation will have about 53 openings due to growth and about 46 replacement openings for approximately 99 total annual openings. This occupation experienced significant growth.

Colleges and Training

Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.

• Landscaping and GroundskeepingA program that prepares individuals to manage and maintain indoor and/or outdoor ornamental and recreational plants and groundcovers and related conceptual designs established by landscape architects, interior designers, enterprise owners or managers, and individual clients. Includes instruction in applicable principles of horticulture, gardening, plant and soil irrigation and nutrition, turf maintenance, plant maintenance, equipment operation and maintenance, personnel supervision, and purchasing.

For additional college information and related training about this career path, please visit:

AES EducationPlanner, PA Dept of Labor, PA Career Link, college.gov, and College Navigator

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