First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are responsible for managing all field operations and creating and maintaining outdoor spaces. In addition, they coordinate the procurement and scheduled use of labour, equipment, and materials to ensure maximum productivity.
The daily tasks of a lawn service worker include monitoring project activities to ensure that all instructions are followed correctly, deadlines are met, schedules are maintained, and direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, pruning shrubs.
Candidates who are willing to pursue a career in this field must have completed a High School Diploma with a Bachelor’s Degree followed by work experience. Besides that, the applicant must have good knowledge of the customer and personal service, mathematics skills, administration, and management skills, followed by a good command of English. Also, the lawn service worker must be proficient in using software such as electronic mail, office suite, word processing software etc.
To become a successful landscaping and groundskeeping worker, one must listen and understand the information, give full attention to the work and team members, see the details closely, communicate information and ideas in speaking to others etc. Some of the career options are Field Manager, Landscape Supervisor, Grounds Crew supervisor, and Grounds Foreman.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 4 Gardener
- NSQF Level 3 Assistant Gardener
- B.Voc Floriculture And Landscape Gardening
- ITI Course Floriculture and Landscaping
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.
Progression Routes
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