What are the responsibilities and job description for the Gardener position at Washington and Lee University?
Responsible for maintenance of campus grounds, including trees, lawn, flower beds as well as hardscape features. Uses a variety of machinery such as lawnmowers, trimmers, edgers, and hand tools to accomplish tasks.
Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and welcoming environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.
Working Conditions:
Types of Work: Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
$22.38 - Pay Commensurate with Experience
Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and welcoming environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.
Essential Functions:
- Understands plant pathology and monitors and treats plant health problems.
- Plans (including budget and record keeping) and performs garden operations including ornamental gardens, green roofs, and container plantings.
- Understands and performs Best Practices in water management, nutrient management, pesticide use, and composting.
- Interacts with contractors, vendors, and University clients including guests.
- Works independently and as a group, in allocating time and resources among several campus locations.
- Edges with a small push-type edger, trimming turf away from sidewalks and curb edges.
- Shears shrubs using gas-powered hedge clippers.
- Performs hand weeding in flower beds, mulch as needed.
- Cuts back brush, small saplings and small branches using handheld loppers.
- Plants flowers, shrubs and trees and encourages growth through watering.
- Uses leaf blowers, turf-vacs, power sweepers, and other tools to remove trash and debris from grounds.
- Operates various power equipment as needed for job duties
- Responds promptly to work order requests and complete necessary records.
- Understands and participates in the maintenance and operation of irrigation and landscape lighting systems.
- Supports campus-wide activities in the areas of setups, snow, and ice removal as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Work Schedule: 6:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associates in horticulture and/or 2 -3 years of directly related experience.
- Must be willing to receive additional training as required.
- Committed to following safety guidelines to protect self and others.
- Must be able to follow verbal and written directions and provide responses in writing.
- Ability to use computers to read and respond to emails and to use basic applications is also required.
- As essential personnel, must respond to emergency events and weather conditions.
- Must have and maintain a valid Virginia operator's license.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain a Virginia Registered Technician Pesticide License within one year of hire.
Application Instructions: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Resume is required. Upload both required documents to the Resume/CV upload section of the application. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.
Physical Requirements:
- Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
- Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
- Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
- Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
- Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
- Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
- Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
- Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.
Working Conditions:
- The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
- The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
- The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
Types of Work: Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Position Type:
Non-Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible
Minimum Pay:
Salary : $22
