The University of Lynchburg, a private regional university, located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia is seeking a full-time grounds beautification technician to join our maintenance team.
The grounds beautification technician reports to, is supervised by, and evaluated by the grounds supervisor. The evaluation of work performance will be ongoing and will be carried out by the director of campus grounds. It will include the specific duties and responsibilities of this position description plus employee attitude and general working behavior.
Job type:
- Full-time, benefits eligible
Job purpose:
- The responsibility of a gardener is to enhance and maintain the beauty of the University’s outdoor spaces. They perform a range of tasks including producing, renewing and preserving outside spaces. They will help develop and be the primary implementer for the detailed landscape plans. They will care for the landscaping, including proper maintenance, fertilizing, chemical applications, watering, weeding, pruning and other tasks as necessary to enhance the beauty of the campus.
Specific job duties:
- Plants, transplants, fertilizes, applies chemicals, waters, prunes and weeds flowerbeds and plant areas.
- Maintains flowers, perennials, shrubs and trees by watering as necessary.
- Implement landscape plans and planting projects as deemed necessary.
- Perform basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying trash bins, managing weeds and leaf raking.
- Plant and nurture new trees, flowers and other various plants.
- Work with hand tools and basic light machinery such as vehicles, tillers, golf carts and small diggers.
- Maintain a clean garden by clearing rubbish, weeds and litter from the garden and grounds on a daily basis.
- Trims and edges around walks and flowerbeds. Using clippers, weed cutters, and edging tools.
- Trims and shapes trees and shrubs to improve growth or to remove damaged leaves or branches, using pruning tools.
- Spray beds, flowers, shrubs and trees with herbicides and insecticides as needed, using hand or automatic sprayer.
- Work is performed on and above ground level requiring the ability to safely climb a ladder.
- Snow and ice removal from walks, using hand tools, power equipment, sand, or chemicals. This may require working overtime, nights, early morning, weekends, or holidays.
- Operates all power equipment and hand tools in a safe, cautious manner. Wears protective safety glasses, shoes, respirators, clothing, etc. as required.
- Report safety hazards by taking prompt action to communicate potential problems to management or campus security.
- Perform other related duties as may be required.
Benefits:
- Generous sick time and family leave, comprehensive insurance (medical, dental, vision, etc.) and retirement plans, flexible spending account, tuition remission, life and long term disability insurance, and more. Learn more about employment benefits at the University of Lynchburg.
Schedule:
- 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (8 hours/day with some evening and weekends to meet needs of department may be required)
Experience/skills:
- Ability to communicate effectively and have the ability to understand, comprehend and follow directions.
- Must have good teamwork skills.
- Knowledge of horticulture methods and materials, landscaping and cultivation of trees, and woody plants.
- Knowledge of proper watering and fertilizing techniques and pesticide applications.
- Skills in interpreting and completing landscape plans.
- Ability to use hand and power tools applicable to the trade.
- Ability to lift and manipulate heavy objects.
- Must have a strong attention to detail.
- Must be a reliable worker who is able to perform routine tasks without direct supervision.
Physical demands:
- Work is primarily performed outdoors, sometimes during extreme weather conditions.
- Work is performed on and above ground level, requiring the ability to safely climb ladders.
- Work requirements involve lifting or otherwise moving materials weighing 50 pounds or more.
- This is a physically demanding job, requiring considerable stooping, bending, reaching, kneeling, standing and walking with little sitting during an 8 hour shift.
- Occasional overtime, holiday, or weekend work required in emergencies.
- Little travel, other than to local nursery or retail store.
- This position is designated as Essential Personnel as outlined in the Staff Handbook of Personnel Policies and Procedures.
Required qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED; at least 2 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
- Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred qualifications:
- A certification in horticulture or landscaping would be preferred.
Conditions of employment:
- Must have a valid Virginia driver’s license.
- Must have or be able to obtain a Pesticide registered Technicians certificate within 6 months of employment.
Work remotely:
- No
How to Apply
Submit an employment application and email or mail a résumé and contact information of three professional references, to:
University of Lynchburg
Office of Human Resources
1501 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24501
The selected candidate must successfully pass a background check that is satisfactory to the University.
We seek candidates who are committed to the University of Lynchburg’s efforts to create an environment that fosters a student-centered environment, develops the breadth of knowledge associated with liberal education, respects and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, values and celebrates diverse faith traditions, and sustains close working relationships among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.
The University of Lynchburg is committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from persons of color, women, Indigenous/aboriginal people of North America, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University of Lynchburg community.
The University of Lynchburg is an equal opportunity employer.
