A crucial step in any hiring process is writing a job description that effectively explains the role and responsibilities. 

However, getting it right with your busy schedule can be tricky. 

Using a landscaping assistant job description template streamlines the process, ensuring you include all the necessary information to attract the right candidates. 

This article covers all the details in the job description template, how to fill it out, and some helpful information about hiring a landscaping assistant.

Introducing your landscaping assistant job description template

A strong job description lays the foundation for smooth hiring as it clearly sets expectations for new team members from their first contact with your organization. A landscaping assistant job description template helps companies create detailed and structured job listings that attract high-quality candidates.

Our template is fully customizable, allowing you to tailor the content to your specific requirements.

The template covers the following key sections:

• Role Summary: The position and how it fits into daily operations.

• Qualifications and Skills: The necessary experience, certifications, skills, and education.

• Responsibilities and Duties: Core tasks and expectations.

• Working Hours and Environment: Schedule, conditions, and work environment.

• Compensation and Benefits: Shares the pay structure and any perks offered.

• Company Overview: Introduces your business, values, and culture.

• Application Process: How to apply and what successful candidates can expect next.

How to fill in the template

You can edit the sections of this template to fit your business requirements, size, structure, and service types, and even use it for various roles.

It’s crucial to fill in the template with clear, accurate information that aligns with the company's goals. Ensure you include all necessary details about the role, including requirements, responsibilities, and cultural fit, to avoid making a bad hire.

Why does my company need an assistant job description template?

A landscaping assistant job description template brings your company several benefits, including:

• Enhanced candidate experience: A well-structured job description ensures candidates understand the role’s responsibilities and expectations before applying, creating a smoother hiring and onboarding experience.

• Consistent hiring practices: Templates ensure every job listing follows the same format, promoting fairness and reducing the risk of missing details.

• Lower turnover rate: Clearly defined roles attract qualified candidates who are well-aligned with the role, helping to avoid mis-hires and reducing employee turnover.

• Easier candidate evaluation: Standardized job descriptions make applicant comparisons easier and help you stay organized throughout the hiring rounds.

• Legal compliance: A template ensures that all required information is included to comply with labor laws, thereby protecting your business from potential legal issues.

What information should I include in a landscaping assistant job description template?

Your landscaping assistant job description should include all the information about the role and your company so candidates can determine if they’re a good fit.

Here is a summary of what each section must include:

1. Role Summary

The first section of the job description should feature a short overview of the role. Outline the main responsibilities, the purpose of the role, how it contributes to company goals, and your ideal candidate.

• Position overview: Summarize the role.

• Key responsibilities: Include daily tasks, such as loading and unloading tools, assisting with hardscape installations, and supporting the lead landscaper or foreman as needed.

• Ideal candidate: Highlight the skills and experience required.  

• Purpose: Outline how the assistant role aligns with your landscaping company's goals.

2. Job Responsibilities

Clearly explain what is expected of the employee. Share details about specific tasks and responsibilities, the equipment they will use, and if they will interact directly with clients.

You can also outline the team structure, noting who the successful candidate will report to and work with.

• Daily tasks: Outline daily tasks, such as mowing, cleaning tools, spreading mulch, and assisting the lead landscaper.

• Seasonal duties: Include tasks such as raking and bagging leaves, shoveling snow from walkways, and supporting pest and weed control.

• Equipment use: Detail the landscaping equipment your hire will use, like lawn mowers, leaf blowers, aerators, and hedge trimmers.

• Client interaction: Determine if your hire is expected to communicate directly with clients.

3. Qualifications and Skills

This section covers the job requirements, including experience, skills, education, and physical requirements.

• Education: Note the minimum required education level, such as a high school diploma.

• Experience: Since this is an entry-level position, you may not require prior landscaping experience. You can mention experience here as a nice-to-have.

• Skills: Define the required skills, such as basic tool handling, attention to detail, willingness to learn, teamwork, following instructions, and communication skills.

• Physical requirements: Landscaping jobs are physically demanding, so it is essential to outline the physical requirements. This could include stamina, mobility, strength to lift and move heavy tools, and tolerance to work outside in all weather conditions.

• Certifications or licenses: This is an entry-level role, so it’s unlikely that your candidates will already have relevant certifications or licenses. Most landscaping roles require a valid driver's license, so please note this.

4. Working Hours

Are you looking for a full-time or part-time landscaping assistant? Will you need them year-round, or seasonally? It’s essential to be transparent about the required working hours so your candidates understand if it fits their availability.

• Employment type: Full-time or part-time.

• Seasonality: Year-round or seasonal.

• Schedule: Show the typical working hours, and if early starts or late finishes are required. Note if the hours change seasonally.

5. Role Compensation

Clearly stating the pay range in your job description can help avoid wasted time and incentivize interested candidates to apply. Failing to disclose the salary can deter candidates from applying; therefore, it’s essential to be transparent.

• Pay range: Note the pay range and indicate whether the role is salaried or paid hourly. Mention if you offer seasonal pay or overtime.

• Bonuses: Add details of any bonuses you offer.

• Benefits: Outline your company's key benefits, including paid time off, health insurance, 401(k) matching, and life insurance.

6. Company Overview

Here, you should inform candidates about your company and why it is a great place to work. Summarize your company history, mission, culture, and values. If executed properly, this section will attract high-quality candidates who align with your company's culture.

Details you could mention include:

• Company history: Outline your landscaping company’s background, including the year it was established, its growth trajectory, team size, and service offerings.

• Mission and values: Explain the core principles and values that guide your company and that candidates must align with.

• Work environment: Introduce your team structure, reporting hierarchy, and safety protocols, and explain where and how your successful candidate will be working.

• Career opportunities: Mention any learning and development incentives you offer, such as assistance with gaining certifications, and note how your landscaping assistant can progress in their career with your company.

What are the primary responsibilities of a landscaping assistant?

Landscaping assistants are responsible for assisting the lead landscaper and the landscaping team with various tasks, including cleaning and maintaining equipment, and performing basic functions under supervision.

Here are some core landscaping assistant responsibilities:

• Lawn care support: Assisting with mowing, edging, weeding, and applying fertilizer, usually supervised or working with another landscaper.

• Plant upkeep: Helping with planting flowers, bushes, and trees, watering, fertilizing, mulching, and basic pruning, both supervised and independently.

• Tool and equipment management: Loading and unloading, setting up, cleaning, and maintaining hand tools and other landscaping equipment. Assistants are typically shown what to do and then left to complete these tasks independently.

• Site assistance: Working with crew leads during installations and transporting materials as needed.

• Seasonal work: Assisting with seasonal planting, snow removal, de-icing walkways, and seasonal cleanups. These jobs may be supervised or independent.

What skills, experience, or training does a landscaping assistant need?

Landscaping assistants are entering the field for the first time, and they will gain plenty of on-the-job experience working with you and your team. However, some skills make a candidate a better fit for the role.

Here are some important skills to look for in your candidates.

• Soft skills

  • Reliable, with a strong work ethic (doesn’t slack off, completes tasks thoroughly)

  • Time management

  • Follows instructions, willing to learn, and takes feedback well

  • Team player

• Physical requirements

  • Physical stamina (can handle many hours of manual labor)

  • Strength (can lift, hold, and move heavy items and materials)

  • Dexterity (can use hand tools and power tools safely)

  • Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions

• Basic technical knowledge

  • Familiarity with hand tools and landscaping equipment, and how to use them (shovels, rakes, leaf blowers, trimmers, etc.)

  • Understanding of safe tool handling and maintenance, or willing to learn

  • Familiarity with large landscaping equipment, such as tractors and other heavy machinery (optional)

• Training and experience

  • Typically, no prior experience is required, but it is beneficial

  • A valid driver’s license is helpful, particularly for transporting plant material or landscaping tools to job sites

What is the salary range for a landscaping assistant?

On average, landscaping assistants in the US earn $16.66 per hour before benefits. The salary you offer your assistant will vary depending on your region, the size of your landscaping business, the benefits you offer, and various other factors.

Many landscaping businesses also offer overtime pay, performance bonuses, and seasonal pay, as well as a benefits package to round out the compensation. Take this into consideration when deciding your budget for this role.

How can I improve the hiring and onboarding process?

The hiring and onboarding process sets the tone for how your candidate experiences your company. 

Aspire’s all-in-one business management platform simplifies this procedure. It helps landscaping companies manage all their business processes, including hiring, onboarding, and team coordination:

• Employee scheduling: Easily build and adjust employee schedules with the drag-and-drop interface.

• Performance management: Set clear expectations, monitor progress, and identify both strengths and areas for improvement.

• Job checklists: Keep your team on track with clear, detailed task lists tailored to each service, project, and job, ensuring nothing gets forgotten.

• Aspire Mobile app: Your team can access their checklists, schedules, and time-tracking tools directly from their phones, wherever they are.

• Time tracking: Location-tagged time tracking enables better accountability, accurate tracking of work hours, and streamlined payroll processes.

• Optimized routes: Reduce drive time and ensure technicians arrive on time with smart routing through the Aspire Mobile App.

Over to you!

A clear and well-structured landscaping assistant job description is essential for hiring top talent and building a productive, well-aligned team.

Aspire’s free, customizable landscaping assistant job description template simplifies writing professional job postings, speeds up the hiring process, and clearly communicates expectations from day one.

Schedule a free demo with Aspire and learn how the platform can help your business.