<p>POSITION PURPOSE:</p> <p>To maintain and enhance the safety, functionality, and aesthetic appeal of campus grounds year-round-through seasonal landscaping, snow and leaf removal, and event support-ensuring a welcoming environment for students, staff, and visitors.</p> <p>ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:</p> <ul> <li>Provide high-level horticultural care to cultivate, maintain, and enhance campus landscapes which includes plant identification, pruning, planting, watering, fertilization and soil management, weeding, and integrated pest management. </li><li>Plant selection and layouts for new plantings, replacements, and annual flower rotation. </li><li>Complete campus inspections with actionable lists on a routine basis with the goal of identifying issues and providing corrective actions. </li><li>General landscape and turf responsibilities, this includes duties such as mowing, mulching, lawn fertilization, tree removal, weed control, litter and trash removal, leaf pick up, irrigation and snow removal. </li><li>Safe Operation of tools equipment as part of daily duties, this will include but is not limited to hand tools, small engine power tools, mowers, tractors, skid steers, golf carts, sprayers, and plows. </li><li>Perform tasks for duties required for special events such as graduation, alumni and parents' weekend. </li><li>Create work schedules and oversee tasks for hourly employees as needed. </li><li>Participate in the 24/7 rotational "On Call" program and respond in a timely manner to emergency situations on campus such as snow and ice removal, flooding, limbs/ trees down and other severe weather problems. This may include evening and weekend work. </li></ul> <p>SECONDARY DUTIES</p> <ul> <li>Help prepare athletic fields and surfaces to ensure they are safe and ready to use. This includes grooming fields, tennis court maintenance and athletic event setups as required. This may also include assisting with operations </li></ul> <p>in the hockey rink.</p> <ul> <li>Provide support to other departments with the care of campus infrastructure. </li><li>Other duties as assigned. </li></ul> <p>JOB QUALIFICATIONS: MINIMUM KSA'S (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES) REQUIRED FOR PLACEMENT IN POSITION</p> <ul> <li>Accountability, honesty, integrity </li><li>Ability to work independently. </li><li>A positive customer service attitude at all times </li><li>Ability to work and communicate effectively with various levels of school personnel. </li><li>Willingness to participate in training and educational opportunities in order to enhance skills and abilities. </li><li>Willingness to work in inclement weather conditions. </li><li>Ability to understand and follow all applicable safety guidelines. </li><li>Knowledge and competent skills and experience in grounds keeping maintenance. </li><li>Knowledge of tree and shrub care as well as identification </li><li>Good oral and written communication skills, ability to follow oral and written instructions. </li><li>Basic computer skills </li><li>Must be accessible and available in the event of emergencies or for events scheduled during non-regular business hours. </li><li>Able and willing to fulfill scheduled "on call" responsibilities. </li><li>Must posses and maintain a valid State of CT driver's license. </li></ul> <p>Education:</p> <ul> <li>High school diploma or equivalent </li></ul> <p>Prior experience:</p> <ul> <li>3-year minimum grounds experience or education </li><li>Previous experience using grounds equipment, tractors, large mowing equipment, power tools, hand tools etc. </li></ul> <p>Licenses & Certifications:</p> <ul> <li>State of CT Applicators license required </li><li>State of CT Custom Grounds License secured within 6 months of hire </li></ul> <p>Specialized training in:</p> <ul> <li>Knowledge on identification of invasive species and their control </li><li>Grounds certifications: Master Gardener etc. preferred. </li><li>CT Arborist license preferred but not required. </li><li>Knowledge of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) </li><li>Experience in organic landscape, plant, and turf care programs. </li></ul>