Human Resources

Summary

Under the supervision of the Grounds Manager, coordinate the operations of the Gardens unit, including supervision of up to six student employees. Responsibilities include the maintenance of campus landscapes, including but not limited to performing routine weeding and maintenance of ornamental beds, green space, trees and athletic fields.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1. Perform a wide variety of skilled work in gardening operations including, but not limited to the following:
  - Planting, watering, weeding, and fertilizing of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs
  - Maintenance of indoor plant installations, including sanitation, pruning, fertilizing, and other indoor plant care
  - Amending soils, applying mulch, compost, and fertilizer
  - Dividing, propagating, and pruning perennials, trees, and shrubs
  - Supporting other special projects as assigned including aspects of landscape construction and installation
2. Perform a wide variety of skilled work using hand-held tools and equipment including, but not limited to the following:
• Weed trimmer/Edger
• Push Lawn Mower
• Electric Chainsaw
• Circular Saw
• Reciprocating Saw
• Drivers/Drills
3. Assist with the placement, care and maintenance of campus landscapes, including greenspace, ornamental beds, trees and athletic fields.
4. Provide direct supervision of gardens personnel, including interviewing, hiring, and training student staff; planning, assigning, and directing work; and addressing day to day staffing issues such as scheduling, time management, and problem resolution.
5. Procure and maintain unit inventory including plant material, equipment and gardening hardware, seasonal materials such as sod, mulch, fertilizer, and other supplies necessary to support and sustain the campus gardens.
6. Be responsible for connecting hoses to exterior spigots and placing and positioning sprinklers at select areas in campus gardens to ensure that areas are sufficiently irrigated and maintained.
7. Assist in Integrated Pest Management efforts, including monitoring, collection, sanitation, and applications of biological controls.
8. Coordinate with campus partners and Facilities Management staff to assess and design sustainable garden sites on campus.
9. Coordinate the preparation of floral arrangements for campus events such as commencement.
10. Create and manage and work orders through the University’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
11. Provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, students, and off-campus customers including answering questions, addressing requests related to the campus gardens and related initiatives.
12. Work irregular hours due to the nature of the position, including performing chemical applications during hours when activities on campus are minimal and weather permits.
13. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work. Report all safety-related concerns to supervisor.
14. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High School diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Must possess appropriate valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated ability to use sustainable methods of gardening applicable at an institutional level.
• Demonstrated understanding of unique environmental, habitat, native species, and ornamental design consistent with regional growing conditions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google suites.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Three years of supervisory experience in commercial landscaping, gardening, or an equivalent combination of experience and comparable knowledge.
• One year of project management experience including budget development, project planning, and implementation oversight.
• Possession of a valid Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification.
• Formal college education in subjects such as chemistry, biology, botany, dendrology, soil chemistry, landscape ecology.
• Certifications or accreditations in landscape design, horticulture, or professionally recognized gardening or landscaping program.
• Experience with facility operations and maintenance in a residential or institutional setting.
• Experience inspecting completed work for conformance to specifications and standards and ensuring conformance to safety and sanitation regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, including prioritizing and organizing work assignments and ensuring that work is completed on time and within budget.
• Familiarity with maintenance management software and electronic work request ticketing system.
• Prior safety training in any of the following:
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Ladder Use
• Scaffold Use
• Tree Trimming
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Hazardous Substance and Spill Awareness

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Knowledge of local weed identification, and perennials, annuals, bulbs, and houseplants.
• Knowledge of plant diseases, pests, pest identification, and biological controls.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret documents, such as safety rules, operation and maintenance manuals, and written instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, summarize results and compose routine reports/correspondence.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to frequently changing work environments, conditions and work schedules.
• Ability to work from general assignment and proceed with minimum supervision or direction from others.
• Demonstrated success in working with persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment .

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Ability to initiate action and render decisions efficiently.
• Excellent relationship-building skills that allow for work with students and employees on sustainability issues and to develop a positive sustainability culture on campus.
• Experience being a goal-oriented, self-disciplined, willing risk-taker with a genuine interest in the success of all students.
• Knowledge of process improvement and business management.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and written/presentation skills.
• Excellent work attendance record.
• A positive attitude towards innovation and creativity, and a sense of humor.

Language, Mathematics and/or Reasoning Skills

Language Skills:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information in one on one situations to customers or employees.

Mathematical Skills:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of problems in standardized situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written or oral form.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment for this position is comparable to that of a typical ‘industrial plant’ office. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate, but can be very loud when working in other locations on campus.
While performing the duties of this job the employee may occasionally be required to work in elevated locations or in areas where chemical, biological, or physical hazards may be present. In addition, the employee may be required to work in other high hazard conditions including areas where fumes or particulates are present; areas where risk of electrical shock is present; or areas where moving mechanical parts may be present. The employee may also be required to work in all outdoor weather conditions including blizzards, storms, hail, wind, rain, fog, extreme heat, extreme cold, and sunshine.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may be required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel an object; and taste or smell and be able to communicate with others via cell phone or radio.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; frequently lifting and/or moving more than 100 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following training courses; additional training may be required by the department.
Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training will be required by the department on a periodic basis:
• General Safety Awareness
• Hazard Communication
• Bloodborne Pathogens

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

1.00

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

9 months

Pay Rate/Salary

The anticipated salary for this position is $21.00/hour.

Title of Position Supervisor

Grounds Manager

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Please include a cover letter with your resume when applying.