Grounds and Landscape Technician

Grounds and Landscape Technician

The Campus Services department invites applications for the full-time position of Grounds and Landscape Technician. Applicants for this position should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references to . Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Summary

The Grounds and Landscape Technician performs week-to-week and day-to-day groundskeeping and landscaping operations as supervised by the Manager of Facilities Services and communicated by the Grounds and Landscape (G&L) Coordinator. Overall, these responsibilities include supporting the University's routine operations and strategic initiatives during the academic year and breaks, as well as year-round special activities and events by maintaining excellent, healthy, and appealing green spaces, lawns, shrubs, trees, beds, walkways, and parking areas.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• With the G&L Coordinator, follow and conduct a consistent service schedule that will meet the needs of all University routine operations and special activities through grounds and landscaping operations.

• Assist the G&L Coordinator to train and oversee student-workers in routine tasks as well as daily processes and supporting policies.

• Perform regular grounds and landscaping tasks as scheduled, such as, but not limited to:

• Operating mowers, trimmers, and other commercial grounds and landscaping equipment as necessary to maintain excellent green spaces, lawns, shrubs, trees, beds, walkways, and parking areas.

• Performing inspections and routine maintenance on all assigned equipment and tools.

• Blowing off and otherwise maintaining clean and safe walkways and parking lots.

• Other duties as assigned by the Manager of Facilities Services.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Keep Grounds and Landscaping workshop and storage areas are consistently in a neat and orderly fashion that supports efficient work and effective delivery of services. Follow all applicable storage and work policies and processes as all applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations and requirements.
• Assist the G&L Coordinator in ensuring student-worker execution of tasks, policies, and processes pertaining to Grounds and Landscaping Services.
• Assist the G&L Coordinator with seasonal snow and ice removal, seasonal leaf removal, pest and animal control efforts, pesticide and herbicide applications, and the removal of both commercial and residential campus waste.
• Other adjacent duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Able to train student-workers and oversee the completion of tasks and projects.
• Professional, courteous, and able to work with a diverse body of faculty, staff, students, and guests.
• Effective problem-solver.
• Continued development in both knowledge and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations, policies, and best practices.
• Able to effectively navigate unscheduled interruptions in a professional and courteous manner while remaining effective and accomplishing goals.
• A "initiative-taker" and motivated to achieve goals and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Able to clearly communicate via email, text, phone calls, and/or team messaging services.
• Able to operate a variety of equipment effectively and safely, including lifts, commercial mowers and ground equipment and tools, pallet jacks, sprayers, vans, UTVs, and trucks.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Hold a valid TN driver's license with a good driving record.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Minimum of 2 years of grounds and landscaping experience.
• Lift operators training certification (current or within 1 year of employment).
• All-terrain forklift certification (current or within 1 year of employment).
• Herbicide application certification (current or within 6 months of employment).
• Professional and possessing integrity.
• Detail-oriented, possessing effective time-management skills, and intrinsically motivated to do quality work.
• Able to operate well as an individual contributor as part of a larger, cross-functional team.

Working Conditions

• This job requires you to work outside in all four seasons as well as indoors in both climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled environments.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs. routinely, as well as climb ladders and stairs and crawl into tight spaces without assistance.
• Must be able to stand, walk, reach, and/or sit for an entire shift.
• Able to work with chemicals common to trades activities including, but not limited to, standard housekeeping, automotive, groundskeeping, and construction products.
• Must be able to work within different industry normal air quality environments.
• Travel may be required for training.
• Regular use of lift equipment.
• Able to work with contact to vegetation within the normal scope of grounds and landscaping.
• Occasionally requires work during non-traditional work hours at the request of the Grounds and Landscaping Coordinator and Director of Facilities Services.

Equal Employment Opportunity Provider

Johnson University is a Christian university affiliated with Christian churches and churches of Christ. Its mission is to educate and develop students who advance the worldwide mission of Christ through their lives, ministries, and careers. Accordingly, Johnson University seeks to hire and educate individuals who share its vision and core values to carry out that mission. Johnson University does not unlawfully discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

Johnson University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or disability-if such disability may be accommodated without undue hardship-in provision of educational opportunities, programs and activities, or employment opportunities and benefits, pursuant to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent amendments to that act, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and subsequent re-authorization of that act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and subsequent amendments to that act.

The University, however, reserves the right under those provisions to make certain employment decisions based on religion, marital status, or sex consistent with the University's religious beliefs when establishing qualifications for certain positions. Further, as a Christian ministry, the University retains the right to select those who serve in ministerial positions, as that term has been defined by the courts in the context of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, based on criteria established by the University without regard to Title VII, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law governing the employment relationship.