Position Purpose
Every position at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is important to the organization’s success and contributes to the accomplishment of the strategic goals and, ultimately, achievement of its vision for the future. This role encompasses every employee’s goal of engaging with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in support of the organization’s mission. Engagement includes participation on teams and committees, exerting extra effort to help the organization succeed, and investing time in the guest experience. Success in this position involves taking pride in working for this organization, committing to effective communication, being solution focused, and embracing a culture of positive change. FWBG is continuously working to build a culture where employees each work with an enthusiastic desire to contribute their skills, wisdom, and ideas towards their team’s performance and to experience a sense of satisfaction in the important role they play.

The Licensed Irrigator is responsible for all irrigating opportunities, from designing irrigation systems to installing, maintaining, and repairing irrigation systems in accordance with local and state regulations. This position is also responsible for keeping a log of all Botanic Garden irrigation installations, renovations, and repairs.

Principal Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

This position has four areas of responsibility: administrative, operational, mechanical, and interpersonal.

Administrative:

• Develop work plans and schedules for the provision of services in the assigned area.
• Prepare weekly reports of repairs and special projects and submit to supervisor.
• Establish and follow a preventative maintenance schedule for equipment.
• Establish and maintain inventories of parts, tools, and supplies according to established procedures.
• Maintain service records of all repairs and materials used.
• Prepare daily log of work performed and repairs made.
• Maintain vendor information and contacts for reference.

Operational:

• Enter manholes to service power distribution lines, pumps, and flow transmitters.
• Keep truck stocked with materials sufficient for emergency repairs.
• Operate a handheld radio and use appropriate radio language.
• Monitor water usage and communicate issues to appropriate personnel regarding repairs or other irrigation opportunities.
• Maintain a safe working area while using heavy equipment including identifying area under repair with caution tape, cones, and other methods of restricting unauthorized access.
• Assist with traffic control as needed: blocking roads with cones, trucks, lights, etc.; report incidents and any traffic related information such as flooded areas, roads needing repairs, etc.
• Calculate pesticide and fertilizer application rates as applicable; store, distribute, clean up, and dispose of chemicals appropriately.
• Participate in the planning, preparation, and filling of employee roles for various public events/exhibits hosted by the FWBG.

Mechanical:

• Inspect and troubleshoot irrigation systems and perform responsible repair, maintenance, and audits of all types of systems: drip, micro, turf, beds, greenhouses, mist.
• Install and repair backflow devices as needed and required.
• Test rain/freeze sensors on an annual basis.
• Manage computerized irrigation controllers; program and repair as needed.
• Schedule and keep records of watering times per zone, per area.
• Test and record information regarding installed backflow and cross connect devices for each irrigation system; submit annual records as required. Maintain test equipment.
• Maintain water features including installation and repair of pumps and plumbing components.
• Inspect and clean tools daily.
• Employ safe work practices and follow safety guidelines.

Interpersonal:

• Supervise work of unskilled personnel as appropriate.
• Develop effective working relationships with vendors, gardeners, and others.
• Train new individuals and staff working with irrigator on projects or repairs of systems as required.

Supervisory Responsibility

May supervise community service personnel, irrigation technician, and irrigation helpers/laborers.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, Travel

• This is a full-time position, and regular hours of work and days are Monday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, this position can regularly require long hours and occasional weekend work. Local daytime travel may be required.
• Flextime is a work schedule arrangement that may or may not be appropriate for this position.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting and intense noises. Employee will be expected to perform manual labor tasks in extreme weather conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, push, pull and lift. Position requires use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and may use repetitive motions.
Employee can expect to be required to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Special Position Requirements

• Must maintain valid Texas Class C Driver’s License and auto-related liability insurance
• Irrigator (L1) license as required by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
• Backflow Testing and Repair certification (or willingness to acquire) as required by TCEQ to perform repairs and tests
• Willingness to maintain certifications/license with continued education (24 hours every 3 years)
• Satisfactory completion of confined entry training
• Successful completion of physical exam to assess whether the employee can perform the duties of the position with or without accommodation.

Required Education and Experience

• HS Diploma/GED supplemented by specialized training in irrigation systems and two years of related experience.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment including backhoe, trencher, mini excavator, tractor, boring machine, and wire tracer or valve locator.
• Ability to drive and back up trucks with trailers, and teach others necessary skills to hook up trailers, back up trailers, and maintain lights on trailers.
• Working knowledge of small engine equipment with ability to train others on usage of equipment.
• Experience training employees and communicating irrigation needs.
• Experience performing irrigation audits and determining best irrigation practices.
• Experience repairing irrigation systems including visually inspecting to determine repairs needed and estimating system downtime during repairs.
• Computer competency and experience with various work-related programs including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Experience locating, purchasing, and documenting materials’ purchases.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Consistently follows common safety practices.
• Organized with ability to plan and prioritize work and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to make decisions using sound judgement.
• Ability to work within a budget for department while using and purchasing supplies, and rental equipment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to operate assigned vehicles.
• Physically able to perform strenuous manual labor tasks related to assigned responsibilities including climbing and working from ladders and working in confined spaces.

Preferences

• Knowledge of environmental regulations and city code requirements relating to irrigation and water usage.
• Knowledge of electric wiring and electrical components used such as valve locator and volt-ohm meters in order to repair, track and identify issues with solenoids, wiring, and controllers.
• Experience with materials such as fittings, valves, pipe, etc.
• Knowledge of pesticide and fertilizer applications.
• Experience working from and maintaining as-built plans.
• Working knowledge of computer-based irrigation controls: how to set times, determine watering schedules, and set and program lights when appropriate.

To learn more about the Fort Worth Botanic Garden please visit us at https://fwbg.org/. If you have questions about this position or the application process please feel free to contact us at hr.risk@fwbg.org.