Grounds Superintendent

Job Summary:
This is professional, skilled, and manual work, growing and maintaining lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees on all university property.  Work involves planning and executing the beautification plans for the campus and includes landscaping projects performed within the framework of good horticultural practices and project or master landscaping plans. Utilizes familiarity with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Leads and directs work of others. Spends 60% or more of work time on supervisory managerial duties. Exercises a high degree of creativity and latitude.

Supervision received and exercised:
Employee works under the direction of the Chief Facilities Officer, or department head.  Supervise the Assistant Superintendent of Grounds and the ground maintenance staff.  Work is reviewed through review of completed projects for quality and results achieved.

Examples of duties: 

• The ability to make appropriate decisions regarding diseased and dangerous trees, work outdoors in inclement weather, and deal effectively with the public.
• Creates bedding and landscape plans; determines planting scheme, selects, and purchases plants, bulbs, purchases seeds; sows, transplants, waters, and fertilizes plants.
• Propagates and cultivates a wide variety of plants and performs a wide range of gardening work, such as fertilizing different varieties of plants using foliage or root feeding and soil additive techniques; transplanting trees or plants considering factors such as soil conditions, soil erosion, angle of slope, proper drainage, and sufficient air for roots; pruning and trimming shrubs, trees, and other plants to remove defects and excess branches and to obtain a proper balance between roots and top growth; mows and trims lawns and lays mulch, as required.
• Maintains university trees; oversees removal or pruning of all university trees; uses bucket truck to prune; access both street and campus trees; arranges and supervises contract tree work, including spraying trees with pesticides.
• Selects, purchases, and plants university trees; submits tree planting proposals with cost estimates; solicits bids; coordinates with contractors and supervises work; maintains maintenance records on all work.
• Develops flower beds and selects plants for particular purposes, e.g., shade, boundary lines, erosion control, or pleasing appearance.
• Uses a variety of hand and power-operated garden tools and equipment, such as seeders, spreaders, edgers, hedge trimmers, pruning shears, and sprayers.
• Supervises ground technicians assigned to assist in the conduct of work.
• Budget preparation and administration responsibilities, including coordinating purchasing and documentation and monitoring department expenditures. 
• Makes recommendation regarding the hire and termination of grounds employees.
• Ensure staff is properly trained to perform their jobs according to policies and procedures.
• Completes annual performance reviews for grounds employees.
• Coaches and counsels grounds employees, as needed.

Education, Experience & Knowledge/Abilities:

• Associate’s Degree in Horticulture, Botany, Forestry, Landscape Architecture or a closely related field preferred or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Considerable knowledge of methods, materials, tools, and practices used in landscaping.
• Considerable knowledge of plant, shrub, and tree species and their related care and maintenance needs.
• Considerable knowledge of plant nutrition and insecticide use and handling
• Considerable knowledge of standard horticultural practices.
• Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions of work.
• Ability to plan an area for planting.
• Ability to follow both oral and written instructions.
• Ability to supervise, train, and work effectively with others.
• Ability to communicate with others effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently.
• Skill in trimming, pruning, and repairing damaged trees.
• Proficient in Microsoft and Excel

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a NC Pesticide applicator’s license.
• Possession of a valid NC driver’s license, in good standing. 
• Ability to meet all university requirements for operating a university-owned or leased vehicle, including successfully completing the motor vehicle record (MVR) check and maintaining an acceptable driving record throughout employment.