Groundskeeper III

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

7d•$19 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves managing volunteers and garden employees, overseeing garden design and maintenance, performing grounds work, and ensuring facility maintenance. The role requires a leadership presence, hands-on gardening skills, and the ability to manage budgets and inventory.

Requirements

Completion of ninth grade
Two years of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

Landscaping experience of at least four years
Knowledge of horticultural practices in public gardens
Ability to design specialty garden plantings

Responsibilities

Introduce new volunteers and FWS students to the history and purpose of the gardens.
Oversee volunteers and FWS students in tasks such as weeding, fertilizing, watering flowerbeds, and removing debris.
Oversee the use of equipment including wheelbarrows, hand tools, and power tools by volunteers and FWS students.
Establish and oversee work assignments for volunteers and FWS students, and take corrective action when necessary.
Serve as a leadership role model for FWS students who will assist in managing volunteer activities.
Design, select, and locate plant materials, and oversee the installation of plant displays.
Make recommendations for the planning of garden areas and their continued development.
Advise on the acquisition and disposition of plants; grow and/or procure plant material for teaching and research.
Review and supervise all accounting, purchasing, and inventory activities; recommend a total budget to a director or committee.
Set priorities on expenditures based on the objectives of the operations.
Participate in long-range planning of garden activities.
Maintain and water multiple specialty gardens.
Perform lawn care including mowing with a zero-turn mower, edging with power equipment, raking, removing yard debris, fertilizing, and watering.
Prune ornamental shrubs and trees.
Remove seasonal debris, blowing, and power-washing sidewalks.
Maintain plants and shrubs in the garden nursery, including watering, pruning, and fertilizing.
Apply herbicides to control weeds in planted areas.
Apply insecticides to control pests throughout the gardens.
Care for extensive camellia collection, including spraying for pests, removing moss and debris, trimming, applying fertilizer, planting new specimens, and applying mulch.
Perform periodic cleaning of outdoor storage areas.
Ensure that all plants, shrubs, and trees throughout gardens have identification markers.
Supervise maintenance of facilities, machinery, painting, and utilities.
Recommend the purchase of equipment and supplies.
Clean and maintain the three-part water feature in the Chapman Healing Garden.
Be responsible for opening and closing facilities each workday, ensuring the security of facilities and equipment.