Description

The University of Lynchburg, a private regional university, located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia is seeking a part-time seasonal grounds and events position to join our Claytor Nature Center team.

The Seasonal Grounds and Events position reports to, is supervised by, and evaluated by the Director, Claytor Nature Center. The evaluation of work performance will be ongoing and will be carried out by the Director. It will include the specific duties and responsibilities of this position description plus employee attitude and general working behavior.

Job type: Part-time/Temporary (up to 20 hours/week; hours may vary each week), Non-Exempt (hourly)

Dates of employment: March 21-June 10

Hourly rate range: $15.50/hour – $16.75/hour

Schedule: 10-20 hours per week; some evenings and weekends.

Work Remotely: No

Job purpose:

This staff position will increase Claytor’s capacity to generate revenue and create the perfect environment for the most important day of a wedding couple’s lives. The employee will be the face of Claytor during the wedding, educating guests in informal ways about the educational programming and conservation at Claytor. This employee will support Community Engagement Goal 1: Build revenue streams, constituency, and volunteer base to support operations and programs at Claytor.

This position will advance the Center’s mission which is to engage our community in the enjoyment, appreciation, and study of our diverse natural habitats in the Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions, toward the advancement of the wellbeing of all people and the environment through educating guests and directly engaging in mission-supporting activities.

Specific job duties:

Weddings

• Staff weddings on at least one Saturday per month from April through June. Represent Claytor at these weddings and ensure the experience of guests is the best it can be.
• Under the direction of the Events Director and events staff, help with set up and take down of weddings.
• Be responsible for the cleaning service that cleans the farmhouse after each wedding and be a contact for linen service for the farmhouse and ecolodge.
• The Events Office will communicate staffing needs for weddings to the Director who will assign staff; the Events Office will oversee the work of the employee during weddings; and the Director of CNC is the employee’s supervisor for all personnel matters.

Grounds

• Trim and mow lawns around the farmhouse.
• Weed and trim formal Memorial Gardens.
• Assist Groundskeeper with grounds to work around the entire property, especially work prior to weddings.

Special events

• Help with logistics of special events (such as Earth Day and other fundraisers).
• Be present during the event and ensure volunteers are in place with jobs, help with parking and directions, answer questions from guests, check-in/register attendees, and generally make sure that the event runs smoothly.

Qualifications

Experience/skills:

• One to three years of knowledge, training, and experience in proper grounds keeping and gardening techniques.
• Valid state driver’s license is required.
• Experience working with the public in a customer service capacity.

Physical demands:

• Work is primarily performed outdoors, sometimes during extreme weather.
• Work is performed on ground level and above ground level, requiring the ability to safely climb ladders and stairs.
• Work requirements involve lifting or otherwise moving materials weighing approximately 75 pounds.
• This is a physically demanding job, requiring considerable stooping, bending, reaching, kneeling, and walking considerable distances on campus property.
• Tasks require the ability to stand or walk with little sitting, and continuously perform essential functions for an 8-hour shift, with two 15-minute breaks and a 1-hour meal break.
• Little travel, other than to local nursery or for trash removal.

Required qualifications:

• Must have the ability to work effectively with people from all walks of life.

Preferred qualifications:

• Positive outlook.

Education: High School degree and relevant area or equivalent education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

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.