Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Supervises the care and upkeep of all planted areas of the campus, both inside and outside of buildings. Ensures that all campus trees, shrubs, lawns, walks, stairs, patios, and inside plants and containers are properly designed, installed and cared for by employing, training, and overseeing the work of a variety of skilled and non-skilled grounds workers to ensure campus grounds retain an attractive, well-groomed appearance.

Qualifications

Successful completion of an approved apprenticeship program as a Master Gardener, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); five years of progressively more responsible experience; and previous supervisory and budgeting experience required. Demonstrated oral and written communications skills; analytical and troubleshooting skills; demonstrated customer services skills; and a valid Utah State Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicator License also required.

The journeyman status is obtained through the successful completion of a 2 year 4,000+ hour accredited apprenticeship program.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

1. Orders replacement and repair parts and supplies, working with the Materials Shop on receiving parts needed, to make needed repairs to grounds equipment.
2. Audits purchase requisitions and reviews budget reports insuring that needed supplies are paid for within the budget guidelines.
3. Schedules daily work load insuring the work is prioritized and that work is completed expediently.
4. Oversees the Grounds Department by hiring, training, firing and making salary decisions, performing performance appraisals, and making work assignments to the Grounds Department personnel.
5. Ensures that all apprentice Master Gardeners receives a well-rounded training program required by the Apprenticeship Program, by scheduling the apprentices on the required types and hours of work.
6. Schedules snow removal for events on campus and the medical center ensuring that walkways and stairs are cleared and salted to prevent snow buildup or injury.
7. Reviews new facilities and remodeling plans, and creates punch lists for project completion assuring landscaping and sprinkler system compatibility.
8. Inspects new buildings and grounds before the building is turned over to the University to insure that the work has been done according to specifications.
9. Supervises the maintenance of the University golf course (69 acres).
10. Plans with each crew leader in setting up a functional grounds organization and assigning realistic objectives to each area so that high maintenance standards can be met with a minimum expenditure of manpower.
11. Controls the grounds budget by recommending the budget amounts required for ground care and by closely directing expenditures so that ground-care objectives are met within the funds available.
12. Keeps maintenance costs at reasonable levels by working with the University Landscape Architect in planning new grounds structures, or altering existing ones that present costly problems.
13. Develops worker skills by planning and conducting classes that teach proper grounds-care techniques.

Problem Solving

This position has the authority to determine the manpower needs that are required to meet the work objectives of the department. The incumbent provides training programs, approves all hires, and counsels crew leaders in handling personnel problems. He/she works with the University Landscape Architect in designing ground structures, and in selecting plants so that the beauty of design and ease of maintenance are properly balanced. The incumbent controls the expenditures of the ground-care budget and supervises three crew leaders in administering the grounds-care program.

Challenges encountered in this position may include maintaining over 500 acres of planted grounds; identifying and diagnosing plant and tree diseases; and maintaining a full crew of grounds workers.