Leading Hand Landscape (Urban Greening)
At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.
Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.
We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.
The Opportunity
Play a hands‑on role in shaping Wollongong's urban landscape while working outdoors, independently, and as part of a small, close‑knit team. As a Leading Hand - Urban Greening, you'll coordinate street tree planting and maintenance works across the LGA, helping deliver Council's long‑term sustainability and canopy growth programs.
You lead a small team, collaborate closely with arborists, parks teams and internal stakeholders, while also engaging with the community on a daily basis. This role suits someone who enjoys practical work, values safety, and takes pride in leaving public spaces better than they found them. As a Leading Hand, you will lead your crew, manage your day, make sound decisions on site, and be the go‑to contact for residents when works are underway.
This is a permanent, full‑time, on‑site position. The role is physically active and involves outdoor work in public spaces. Some overtime or weekend work may be required to meet operational needs. Salary from $85,916.92 up to $96,259.86 (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications).
A minimum increase of 3.25% to the salary from 1 July 2026 in accordance with Council's Enterprise Agreement.
What you will be doing
- Coordinate and carry out street tree planting, replacement and maintenance works across the Wollongong LGA
- Lead day‑to‑day activities of a small two‑person crew, ensuring work is completed safely and to standard
- Select suitable plant species based on location, environmental conditions and site constraints
- Plan and organise daily work schedules, resources, materials and plant
- Apply strong Work Health & Safety practices when working in public and roadside environments
- Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and public safety obligations
- Work closely with arborists and other Council teams to support coordinated outcomes
- Engage respectfully with residents and stakeholders, responding to enquiries and explaining planned works
- Complete routine operational reporting, job records and safety documentation
About you
You enjoy working outdoors and bring a practical, solutions‑focused approach to your work. With experience in horticulture, landscaping, parks or garden maintenance, you're confident identifying plants, understanding site conditions, and delivering quality outcomes in public spaces.
As a Leading Hand, you bring experience coordinating and managing day‑to‑day activities and people, supported by strong safety awareness and a genuine commitment to environmental responsibility. You work comfortably and independently, organise your day effectively, and make sound decisions on site, while communicating clearly and respectfully with the community and your team.
You bring:
- Certificate III in Horticulture (or equivalent)
- Experience in parks, gardens, landscaping or urban greening operations
- Strong plant knowledge and an understanding of environmental considerations
- A safety‑first approach, particularly when working in public environments
- Confidence engaging with residents, staff and stakeholders
- Current Class C Driver Licence
- Traffic Control Using a Stop/Slow Baton - Level 1
- Traffic Control Worksite Planning - level 3 (or willingness to obtain)
- WHS General Construction Induction (White Card)
- Class C Drivers Licence
- Physical capability to perform hands‑on outdoor work
A commitment to Council's values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability and Courage.Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!
- True work-life balance
We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes. - Great working conditions
Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO). - Career growth and recognition
We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.
- Generous leave provisions
Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years. - Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships. - A vibrant social culture
Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!
Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.
For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.
Applications close 11:59pm, Monday 4 May 2026.
We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.
Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.
Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.