Parks & Gardens

Leading Hand

Information Package

& Position Description

PARKS & GARDENS OFFICER – Information Package

Page 1

General Shire Details

Thank you for considering a position with the Shire of Mt Marshall. The Shire is located 270 kilometres north east of Perth in the Central Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It comprises two towns, Beacon and Bencubbin and surrounding agricultural and pastoral land. Agriculture is the primary industry within the shire, with production predominantly based on cereals and sheep. Bencubbin is the main centre within the Shire with local business owners providing all the classic country town services such as groceries, hardware, fuel, country club, post office. There are also many businesses that other small country towns lack such as medical clinics, a banking agency, mechanics, panel beaters, a visiting hairdresser, beauty therapist, café/coffee shop and builder. Some of the exceptional facilities and services available include:

Recreation Complexes with grassed ovals

Parks and Recreation Reserves

Fitness Centre in Bencubbin and Beacon

50m Olympic Swimming Pool (Bencubbin)

Men’s Shed (Beacon)

Community Resource Centres

Silver Chain Nursing Posts

Primary Schools

Police

Caravan Parks with onsite Chalets

Bowling Greens

Golf Courses

Public Libraries Our safe, vibrant communities offer a diverse range of sporting clubs and special interest groups for both adults and children. Just a few examples are cricket, basketball, tennis, bowls and swimming in summer, and football, netball, hockey, golf and rifle club in winter. Each town has a primary school for families with primary school aged children, and a high school is located in neighbouring town Mukinbudin, only 40km away. A public high school in Merredin, a drive of approximately 1hr also offers boarding facilities for high school aged children in years 8 to 12. A well equipped hospital is located in Kununoppin, 46kms from Bencubbin. The resident Doctor operates clinics in each town on a weekly basis. The administrative centre of the Shire is located in Bencubbin. In perspective of location, Bencubbin is approximately 188kms north east of Northam and 273kms north east of Perth. Beacon is located 42km north of Bencubbin.

PARKS & GARDENS OFFICER – Information Package

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The Shire provides housing for its employees, ranging from the smaller properties of one to two bedrooms with minimal maintenance gardens for single staff, right up to 4 bedroom homes with big yards for families (where available). The Shire makes every endeavour to find the right home for the right person. Staff rent is generously subsidised. Both Bencubbin and Beacon have impressive recreation centres with fully grassed ovals. Both towns have various other Shire maintained parks and gardens, streetscapes, caravan parks and public facilities. The Mt Marshall Shire has an extensive road network servicing the needs of the community with approximately 300kms of sealed roads and 1,440kms of unsealed road surfaces. The Shire’s road construction crew operate year round on new construction and maintenance works. The Shire employs 8 administration staff and 16 outdoor staff. The Shire also owns, operates and maintains four (4) graders, a prime mover and side tipper, prime mover and water tanker, a 6 wheel tipper truck & tandem axle trailer, 4x4 backhoe, a 4 wheel tipper/maintenance truck, a large front end loader, a flat drum vibratory roller, a multi tyre roller, and various other smaller plant and equipment.

PARKS & GARDENS OFFICER – Position Description Page 3

General Position Details

The Bencubbin townsite has numerous parks and gardens, an impressive recreation centre with a fully grassed, reticulated oval, a caravan park, swimming pool and botanic garden requiring the attentive care of a Parks & Gardens Leading Hand.

The job is based in Bencubbin and involves a diverse range of duties including maintenance of our parks and gardens, streets, community amenities, the sporting complex and other associated activities. The position involves scope for the successful applicant to up-skill and receive training in various areas throughout the works department.

This job will be ideal for you if you like variety in your work and are self-motivated. You will frequently be required to work autonomously, but will also work as a team with our existing Parks & Gardens Leading Hand and other Shire staff at times.

A ‘C’ class driver’s license is essential for the position and a ‘HR’ class driver’s license is desirable.

Remuneration for the position is in accordance with Level 3.4 of the Local Government Industry Award 2010. Additional Salary

Superannuation Council contributes 9.5% of the employee’s salary to compulsory Superannuation into the WA Local Government Superannuation scheme. The Shire will contribute an additional 4% to superannuation where the employee makes a personal contribution of 6% of their salary to the WA Local Government Superannuation scheme.

Clothing Allowance Protective clothing is allocated annually.

Housing Shire housing may be provided and negotiated with the preferred applicant.

Other Council Benefits

Council will pay up to $4000 for relocation costs. Receipts for the actual cost to relocate will be required. Half the actual cost will be reimbursed after 12 months service and the other half will be reimbursed after 24 months.

Some overtime may be available.

The Shire has recently adopted an Annual Bonus Incentive Scheme policy which provides an annual bonus to employees in December. The bonus is to be paid pro-rata according to both full time employment equivalent and length of service.

Other Information

All new employees are put on a three month trial period, with the option of a further three month trial period if required.

PARKS & GARDENS OFFICER – Position Description Page 4

Successful applicants will be required to pass a medical exam, prior to commencing employment and provide a police clearance.

Outdoor staff, work a nine day fortnight with an RDO every second Monday. Work hours are 7.00am to 4.00pm with a ten minute morning tea break and a half hour lunch break. Work finishes early, at 3.30pm on the last Friday of each pay fortnight.

Annual Leave is generally taken over the Christmas/New Year period.

Can you please ensure that your application is completed correctly, and contains:

o Standard Shire application form – filled out correctly and completely.

o A brief cover letter and an up to date copy of your resume is desirable. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned during working hours on 96851202 or 0499 851 111 if you require any further information on the position. Andrew Johnson Works Supervisor

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Parks & Gardens Leading Hand

Level: 3.4 Local Government Industry Award 2010

Directorate: Engineering Services

Responsible to: Works Supervisor

1. POSITION OBJECTIVES

1.1. Objective(s) of the position: To assist the Bencubbin Town Maintenance / Parks & Gardens Officer to maintain / carry out all or parts of:

The Shire’s various parks and gardens, street verges, and the Sporting Complex, inclusive of associated infrastructure

To perform non-trade tasks within the employee’s skills, competence and training

Town drainage, keep catchment areas free of blockages

Town waste tip site

Commercial rubbish pick up

Ensure town streets, laneways and footpaths are free of weeds and rubbish

Gardens in vacant Shire housing

1.2. Within unit:

To participate in and contribute to the works services unit to ensure unit objectives, performance criteria and standards are achieved.

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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2. REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB

2.1. Skills:

Developed interpersonal skills

Sound verbal and written communications skills

Demonstrated ability to work under general direction within a highly organised timeframe

Some knowledge off and safe operation and maintenance of gardening type equipment – e.g. lawn mowers, whipper snippers, edgers, chainsaws, etc

Moderate plant operation skills

Repair and maintenance of reticulation systems (including automatic controllers) and modification and additions to existing systems including low voltage electrical work

Developed time management and organisational skills

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment

2.2. Knowledge / Experience:

Some knowledge of gardening and related maintenance techniques, materials and methods relative to the industry

Safe operation and maintenance of plant and equipment

Some knowledge of applying chemicals

Some knowledge of reticulation practices

Some appropriate and relevant experience

2.3. Essential Qualifications and/or Training:

Current ‘C’ class drivers license is essential

Hold current Safety Awareness Training certificate, at all times

2.4. Desirable Qualifications and/or Training:

Current ‘HR’ class drivers license

Current First Aid qualifications

Current Safety Awareness Training (SAT)

Safe Operation of Chainsaw certificate

Relevant qualification in Safe Chemical Handling

Current Basic Worksite Traffic Management Certificate

Current Traffic Controllers Certificate

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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3. KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1. Outcome – Customer Service

Develop and maintain a sense of loyalty and team ownership between members of the unit

Promptly attend to customer (works unit) enquires in a courteous and effective manner

Take initiative to attend to existing or potential customer needs

To assist other works staff within the shire of Mt Marshall

3.2. Outcome – Occupational Health & Safety

Promptly report all workplace hazards and incidents/accidents to the Works Supervisor

Operate and maintain plant, equipment, appropriate devices and protective equipment in accordance with demonstrated safety procedures and proper instruction

Comply, as far as is reasonable, with safety and health instructions

3.3. Outcome – Parks & Gardens

Ensure the correct standards are achieved in accordance with council policy and the Australian Standards for parks, gardens, ovals and reserves.

Undertake works programs in accordance with the Works Supervisor and council policy to achieve unit objectives

Undertake other duties as required by the Works Supervisor consistent with the level of this position and the broad banding principles of the Local Government Industry Award 2010

Acknowledge and adhere to the Shire’s Code of Conduct 2016. This will be provided during new employee inductions.

Note: The above key duties and responsibilities are in accordance with the broad banding principles of the Award. They are not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the position.

4. ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

4.1. Responsible to:

Works Supervisor

4.2. Supervision of:

Other Parks and Gardens Staff

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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5. EXTENT OF AUTHORITY

5.1. This position works under the general direction of the Works

Supervisor.

Solutions to problems are generally found in documented techniques, precedents, guidelines and instructions

Assistance is available when required

5.2. This position may make decisions in the following areas

independently, without the guidance of the Works Supervisor:

Employee may use some originality in approach with solutions usually attributable to the application of previously encountered solutions or experience

Required to make technical and operational decisions relating to own work and safety and safety of the public

5.3. This position may give direction (either directly or indirectly) to:

Other Parks and Gardens Staff

5.4. This position may exert influence in the following areas:

Involvement in formulating and implementing the unit’s overall objectives

5.5. All positions require some degree of problem solving, creativity and

judgement in order to fulfil the objectives and requirements of the position.

This position is required to exercise judgement where procedures are not clearly defined

5.6. This position may make recommendations on:

Systems and procedures that impact upon the provision of quality service to internal and external customers

5.7. This position may approve and officially sign the following document

for/on behalf of the Shire (internally or externally):

Nil

6. SELECTION CRITERIA

6.1. Essential:

Demonstrate relative experience in operation of small plant and multi-function equipment, maintenance and set up

Current ‘C’ class motor vehicle driver’s licence

Hold current Safety Awareness Training certificate

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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Sound knowledge of safe work practices and procedures

Basic verbal/written communication skills

Demonstrated ability to work under general direction

Demonstrated ability to work unsupervised, successfully and productively

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment

6.2. Desirable:

Demonstrated experience in the parks and garden industry

Demonstrated experience in carrying out minor maintenance

Demonstrated experience in installation, repair and maintenance of reticulation systems (including controllers), and/or modifications and additions to existing systems

Current HR class motor vehicle driver’s license

Current Basic Worksite Traffic Management certificate

Current Traffic Controllers certificate

Current First Aid qualifications

Current Safe Use of Chainsaw certificate

Current Safe Chemical Handling certificate

7. ANNUAL APPRAISAL & KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Quality of Work

Quantity of Work

Relationships with others, including the public

Incidents – plant & property maintenance – OH&S

Commitment & attitude

PARKS & GARDENS Leading Hand – Position Description

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8. POSITION DESCRIPTION (Administration Only)

Position PARKS & GARDENS – Leading Hand

Present Occupant: Date Appointed:

Signed:

Reviewed By: Mr Andrew Johnson Works Supervisor

Signed:

Date Reviewed: 24 October 2016 No. of Sheets: 6