Gardener
Washington & Lee University
Lexington, VA
Full-time
Construction / Physical Labor / Skilled Trades
Posted on May 4, 2023
Job Description:
Responsible for maintenance of campus grounds including trees, lawns, and 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 inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, 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, monitors and treats plant health problems.
- Plans (including budget and record keeping) and performs garden operations including ornamental beds, green roofs, and container plantings.
- Understands and performs Best Practices in water management, nutrient management, pesticide use and composting.
- Maintains exterior furniture, statuary and other garden ornaments.
- Interacts with contractors, vendors and University clients including guests.
- Works independently and as part of the team to maintain campus landscape; primarily weed control, planting, transplanting, and other bed maintenance.
- Performs other grounds related functions as assigned by his/her supervisor.
- 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 hand held loppers.
- Uses a chain saw for the removal of large branches and small trees.
- 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 power equipment such as, but not limited to ride-on mowers, chippers, power sprayer, aerial-lift truck, flail mower, aerators, edger, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and tractor/loaders as necessary.
- Responds promptly to work order requests and completes necessary records.
- Performs minor equipment repair and maintenance as required; sharpens blades, chain saw chains & check and maintain proper lubrication & oil levels.
- Understands and participates in 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.
Minimum Qualification: 3 to 5 years of experience directly related to horticulture or gardening. 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. Must have and maintain a valid Virginia operator's license. Possession of or ability to obtain Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License, Categories 3A and 3B (Horticulture and turf) within 180 calendar days of hiring.
Application Instructions:
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Resume and cover letter are encouraged. 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.
- 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.
Position Type:
Non-Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible
Minimum Pay:
$19.58 - Pay Commensurate with Experience