Position Title: Zone Gardener
Department: Close-wide Shared Services (Horticulture & Grounds)
Position Type: Full-time, Non-exempt
Reports To: Assistant Director, Horticulture and Grounds
Salary: $24-$26/hr
Date: February 19, 2025
Job Summary:Serves as the primary gardener for St. Albans School. Responsible for the maintenance and care of ornamental beds, trees, shrubs, as well as the overall appearance of assigned zone. This is an essential personnel position.
Duties and Responsibilities:- Maintains ornamental beds by mulching, weeding, and clearing area free of litter and leave. Also, properly grooms, deadheads, stakes, and prunes plants.
- Recognizes and reports pests and diseases in a timely manner.
- Recognizes and reports potential physiological or nutritional problems such as wilting, leaf scorch, or deficiencies of nitrogen, iron, and magnesium.
- Recognizes water demands of plant material in assigned areas.
- Operates all equipment and tools safely and properly.
- Follows proper techniques of soil preparation, plan installation, and pesticide application.
- Keeps hardscapes in area blown, edged and clean. Keeps gutters and catch basins clean and free of debris.
- Participates in snow removal and safely operates snow removal equipment as assigned.
- Supervises flex gardeners when they are working in the area.
- Works with the St. Albans athletic fields Groundskeeper on projects as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Minimum Qualifications:- Three years' experience in public gardening including landscape and grounds maintenance and/or degree in horticulture or related field preferred.
- Must possess a valid driver's license and good driving record and be capable of operating pickup trucks and tractors and snow equipment safely.
- Successful completion of periodic background checks, including FBI background check, and, at the discretion of the PECF, drug and alcohol screening.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:- Knowledge of plan materials, proper maintenance techniques, and horticulture practices.
- Understanding of Integrated Pest Management techniques.
- Ability to work well within a diverse and multicultural workforce.
- Good interpersonal, communication, and literacy skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team with little or no supervision.
- Ability to operate all types of grounds maintenance equipment such as mowers, power sweepers, sprayers, blowers, trimmers, aerators, and tillers, safely.
- Consistent and punctual attendance; able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
Working Conditions:- Normal schedule is Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Must have flexible schedule, as work priorities will shift.
- Must be able to work required overtime, often with little notice (e.g., snow removal, storm damage). Scheduled overtime includes annual events.
- Must be able to work outside in inclement weather including extreme cold and heat, high winds, rain, and snow.
- Must be able to perform physical work including standing, bending, walking, stooping and reaching, twisting, turning, and kneeling. Must be able to work on feet for extended periods of time and to lift, carry, and push at least 50 lbs.
