Landscape, Turf & Athletic Fields
People in this occupational group work for landscaping and lawn care companies, golf courses, cemeteries, as well as the landscaping operations of public works departments and private organizations.
Job titles may vary by organizations.
Cemeteries Supervisor
This position is responsible for overseeing the business of the civic cemeteries including the office administration, customer interaction, business operations and field operations. The position objective is to provide exceptional customer service to external customers, business partners and internal customers. This role requires an understanding of other business units and city services and their alignment to cemetery operations. This position supervises administrative support and operations/maintenance staff and reports to the Manager of Cemeteries.
Salary Range
Hourly salary range: $32.55 to $40.70
Story
I’m Kevin Bunnett. I’ve worked as a Cemetery Supervisor for the Township of Langley; the City of Coquitlam, and in the private cemetery industry for a total of 19 years. Here is my story…
Q: What do you love about your job?
A:To be able to help people. To make them more comfortable about decisions they have to make regarding end of life.
Q: How did you come to decide to pursue a career in this occupation?
A: Started out as a second job doing ground maintenance in a cemetery. I liked being outdoors. I did all the ground maintenance, burial and setting headstones, and moved into a supervisory role where I can help give people direction.
Q: What are good traits or skills that someone should have when considering this career?
A: Listening and compassion.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in the Parks Sector?
A: This job is specific, so here it’d be experience within industry, being a labourer and working my way up. Before I can help people with decisions, I should know what those decisions are and entail. Cremation, in ground or out of ground, full casket burial – The why and where of decisions, and how it effects them later.
Q: Do you have any hiring practices tips to share?
A: In our area experience and honesty and knowledge of what you’re getting into. It’s completely different than other areas in parks. Most people I know of in the field know someone. It’s an outdoor job, physical activity, you’re usually at same park every day, depending on the municipality. There are different needs at different cemeteries.
Required Skills, Training and Education
Education and Experience:
- The knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position are obtained through completion of a diploma in Business Administration
- Three to five (3-5) years experience in business office management in a medium size service industry with (2) years in a supervisory capacity.
- Training or experience in cemetery business and operations including grounds maintenance management would be an asset.
Foremen – Turf Specialist
This is specialized park maintenance work involving the inspection and the coordination of maintenance for sports field, natural grass or artificial turf areas and hard surface repairs in parks and other public areas.
Salary Range
Monthly Salary: $4,927 – $5,799 (2016 rate)
Required Skills, Training and Education
Education and Experience
- completion of Grade 12 preferably supplemented
by technical courses in turf management - work experience in the preparation, installation, and ongoing
maintenance of natural grass and artificial turf
Skills
- The ability to prepare and maintain records and reports related to the work is also required.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to maintain and establish effective working relationships.
- A valid BC Drivers Licence is required
- Turf Management Certification is preferred.
Golf Course Maintenance
Perform general golf course maintenance labouring, assist with golf construction projects and assist with other golf course maintenance activities as required.
Salary Range
Hourly salary: $29.32 per hour (2016 rate)
Required Skills, Training and Education
Education and Experience
- High school graduation plus considerable
- Experience in golf course turf grass maintenance preferably in a supervisory capacity or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Considerable knowledge and experience with the methods, practices, materials, and equipment in golf course turf grass maintenance is required for this role.
- An incumbent must also be able to perform skilled greens keeping and golf course maintenance work.
- The ability to supervise, train, delegate, and participate in the work of one or more subordinates in golf course turf grass maintenance is required. The ability to deal courteously and effectively with golf course patrons and the general public is strongly desired in this role. A current BC Pesticide Applicator Licence (landscape general) is an asset for this position. A valid BC Drivers Licence is also required
Horticulture and Landscape Technician
Landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists survey and assess landscapes; draw sketches and build models of landscape designs; construct and maintain gardens, parks, golf courses and other landscaped environments; advise clients on issues related to horticulture; breed, cultivate and study plants and treat injured and diseased trees and plants.
People in this occupation:
- are employed by landscape designers and contractors, lawn service and tree care establishments, golf courses, nurseries and greenhouses and municipal, provincial and national parks, and may also be self-employed
- must have a comprehensive knowledge of the qualities and care needs for ornamental and food plants, trees and shrubs
- must be physically fit and able to bend and lift heavy objects
- should have an artistic sense and have the ability to visualise completed landscaped environments
Common Job Titles
- arborist / arboriculturist
- floriculturist
- greenskeeper / greens superintendent
- specialist, lawn care / turfgrass mgmt
- superintendent, golf course / greens
- technician, hydroponics
Source WorkBC and CareerTreckBC
Salary Range
Employment Trends 2019–2029
- Annual employment growth: 1.1%
- Job openings: 900
Salary: $54,080
Stories
I’ve worked as a Parks, Trails and Horticulture Technician for a municipality within the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region for the past six years. Here is my story…
Q: What do you love about your job?
A: Being outside and watching things grow!
Q: How did you come to decide to pursue a career in this occupation?
A: I started in biological sciences (botany) and needed a practical aspect so I went into horticulture. I was in the nursery industry for a number of years.
Q: What are good traits or skills that someone should have when considering this career?
A: Horticulture skills and service skills (i.e., customers and dealing with public) and time management.
Q: Do you have any hiring practices tips to share?
A: Try it first before going to school for it. Make sure you enjoy being outside even in all types of weather.
Required Skills, Training and Education
Education and Experience
- Grade 12 education supplemented with horticultural courses plus a minimum of 1 year of related experience
- Experience utilizing small hand tools and landscape maintenance equipment
- Sound knowledge of plants, plant maintenance, soil, disease, weeding, identifications and pruning
- Experience interpreting landscape drawings
- Ability to perform heavy manual outdoor work in all weather conditions
- Supervisory experience
- Knowledge of safety regulations
- Horticulture Citaton (Certificate from Residential Landscape Course)
- Occupational First Aid Level 1
- A Valid BC Class 5 Driver`s Licence plus Class 3 Driver’s License with Air Endorsement
Irrigation Technician
The position of Irrigation Technician is an essential role for landscaping and lawn care companies, golf courses, cemeteries department and in the provision of quality and turf health. The Irrigation Technician
is responsible for:
- overall operation and maintenance of the course irrigation system
- detecting and making necessary repairs to the system
- maintaining all irrigation heads, pipes, wires, and controllers to exceptional working standards
Salary Range
The average salary for an Irrigation Technician is $24.77 per hour in British Columbia, which is 14% above the national average..
Source: indeed
Required Skills, Training and Education
- At least three years of experience in the irrigation field
- Ability to lead an irrigation crew
- Working knowledge of irrigation installations, maintenance and blowouts (certified irrigation technician preferred)
- Competence with common irrigation tools and machinery
- Valid driver’s licence and ability to drive an irrigation van and trailer
Landscape Architect and Designer
Landscape architecture takes a holistic view of the design, planning, management, and stewardship of the land. Landscape architects often work as members of a multidisciplinary team, for example with planners, ecologists, and engineers, on projects that can range from designing residential yards and parks to constructing wetlands to treating polluted runoff from former industrial sites. Landscape architects use art and science to create a balance between the needs and wants of people and the limitations of the environment.
Source: Eco Canada
Landscape Architect responsibilities would include:
- Prepare conceptual designs
- Prepare presentation graphics and drawings to clients and prepare formal proposals
- Inspects construction work in progress to ensure compliance with landscape specifications, to approve quality of materials and work and project is on budget
- Knowledge and use of landscaping computer hardware and software
- Estimate costs
- Write specifications
Salary Range
The average salary for a Landscape Architect is $44.83 per hour in British Columbia, which is 13% above the national average.
Source: indeed
Stories
I’m Chris Marshall. I’ve been a Landscape Architect for nine years, the last three working with the Township of Langley. Before that I interned for 5 years. Here is my story…
Q: What do you love about your job?
A: It is a great mix of office design work yet you are also outside in the field and in the dirt.
Q: How did you come to decide to pursue a career in this occupation?
A: I grew up working on golf courses and thought of careers in the design field, which lead me to landscape architecture.
Q: What are good traits or skills that someone should have when considering this career?
A: You need to have good creative processes and problem solving skills. I have a good ability to visualize things before they’re constructed – good 3D visualization abilities.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in the Parks Sector?
A: Get experience building things outside. Construction experience is key. The American Society of Landscape Architects website (www.asla.org) has videos and exercises promoting landscape architecture as a career targeted towards high school aged individuals.
Q: Do you have any hiring practices tips to share?
A: The Township of Langley has a regimented process through the Human Resources Department but what I’ve found in the private sector is that construction experience is valuable. Be able to demonstrate that you can get out of the office and deal with contractors off site.
Required Skills, Training and Education
Education and Skills
- Post Secondary degree in the field
- Able to balance a number of different demands and come up with a creative solution
- Have an appreciation of design
- Good communication skills
- Have an understanding of related topics such as conservation, civil engineering, surveying, geology, horticulture and earth-moving techniques
- Strong negotiating skills
- Work well in a team and on their own initiative
- Maintain good computer skills.