Crew Leader Maintenance

• Permanent Full Time opportunity available (9 day fortnight, 38 hours/week)
• Certificate III in Horticulture
• LGE6 (S6LH) ($61,674 per annum + superannuation)

Why Choose Us

Townsville City Council is the largest local government authority in Northern Australia. We are committed to creating value by growing Townsville through driving economic diversity and generating an enriching lifestyle.

Our organisation provides and maintains close to $9 billion worth of community assets including water and wastewater network and treatment plants, bridges, drainage, roads, waste management, community facilities, sporting venues and more.

We contribute to an active lifestyle for our residents and visitors through events, providing recreational facilities, protecting the natural environment and heritage, while creating a mentally and physically healthy city.

We are driving economic diversity and cultivating an enriching lifestyle, growing a city for this and future generations by building a vibrant, sustainable and innovative city.

Council's vision is for Townsville to be a connected, lifestyle driven and innovation focused city while continuing to deliver service excellence and to be led by our community to create an exciting today and future.

Our Vision: A globally connected community driven by lifestyle and nature.

Our Purpose: Grow Townsville

Our Values: Safety, Excellence, Respect, Value, Enjoyment

About the Role

Passionate about public gardens?  Want to make your mark in a significant tropical garden?

This is a rare opportunity to work in a truly iconic public space, delivering first-class garden management in an inspiring location.

Spanning 17-hectares, the PALMETUM BOTANIC GARDEN displays one of the largest and most diverse public collections of palms in the world.  It is one of three botanical gardens in Townsville, boasting a palm collection containing all six subfamilies within the family Arecaceae.

Reporting to the Team Leader Botanics, the Crew Leader is responsible for the delivery of high-quality horticultural operations and the care of curated living collections across this popular botanic garden.

This is a dynamic and influential role that supports good plant curation and landscape design, as well as biodiversity conservation, heritage protection and community well-being.

This role will work from Palmetum Botanic Gardens Depot.

About you

Is this the role you're looking for?  To be considered, you need Certificate III in Horticulture or significant experience in managing on-ground operational crews in the delivery of allocated Horticultural work activities. Experience in Botanical Gardens will be highly regarded. You will also require the following:

• Construction Safety (White Card QLD - Course in General Safety Induction for the Construction Industry).
• "C" class manual driver's licence
• "MR" class driver's licence
• Traffic Management Implementation (TMI) certified under the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Part
• Knowledge of the capabilities and safe operation of a range of light plant and equipment including chainsaw
• First Aid/CPR/Emergency Life Support Certificate
• Agricultural Chemical Distribution Certificate (ACDC) accreditation
• Accredited Chainsaw ticket (Level 2)
• Visual Inspection Park Facilities accreditation

You will have demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and communication skills with experience supervising field based or operational staff and providing technical advice and support in open space maintenance delivery related fields, a high level of oral and written communication skills with the ability to effectively and professionally engage with and influence others and excellent customer service skills with the ability to develop and maintain both internal and external work relationships.

You will also have sound problem solving skills with the ability to achieve creative, effective and efficient solutions to challenges and changes and a working knowledge of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, advisory standards, industry codes of practice and all other associated legislation and guidelines relevant to the position.

How to Apply

Your application can be submitted through the 'Apply' button. Please include a cover letter (maximum 2 pages), outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience would allow you to achieve success in this role. We also will require your resume and attached copies of any licences and qualifications as per the key requirements of the role.

For further information review the Position Description.

Closing Date: 11.45pm, Tuesday 18 November 2025

What We Offer

• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Up to 5 weeks annual leave
• Up to 3 weeks Personal/Carers Leave
• 14 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Domestic and Family Violence Leave
• Natural Disaster Leave
• Up to *13.5% Superannuation employer contribution for contributing members
• Salary Sacrifice opportunities
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Fitness Passport program offering discounted membership to selected gym, pool, and yoga facilities
• Employee Loyalty Program offering discounts at selected local businesses
• Employee Assistance Program

* The Council contribution to employees' superannuation for contributing employees shall be 13.5% of the employees' ordinary time earnings subject to the employee contributing a minimum of 6% of their ordinary time earnings.

We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace where diverse styles, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, encouraged, and respected. People from diverse backgrounds (including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with diverse gender identities and sexualities, people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability, and veterans) are encouraged to apply

All successful candidates are required to undergo drug and alcohol testing as part of the recruitment process. Please be aware Townsville City Council has a 'zero tolerance' policy to drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

If you need any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact or phone for a confidential discussion.