Groundskeeper

Henry Ford Estate: Fair Lane•Dearborn, MI

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The Groundskeeper supports the care, preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the gardens, landscape features, and grounds of Fair Lane, ensuring that the property adheres to historical landscape standards and integrity, and provides an enjoyable and safe outdoor experience for visitors. This position reports to the Manager of Gardens & Grounds.

Requirements

Demonstrated interest in furthering plant knowledge through hands-on experience.
Demonstrated experience or ability to operate various landscape equipment, including power trimmers, brush cutters, walk-behind mowers, and hand tools such as shovels, rakes, pole saws, and pruners. Willing to train in using and maintaining a chainsaw (no tree climbing required).
Good interpersonal skills.
Must be organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated.
Ability to perform duties without loss of efficiency or composure.
Must be able to follow basic safety procedures and precautions.
Able to mow turf grass with a walk-behind mower, edge flower beds with a power trimmer, rake leaves, and clear driveways and walkways of debris and snow, as needed.
Ability to lift 25 pounds regularly and 50 pounds occasionally.
Ability to perform manual labor requiring considerable walking, lifting, reaching, climbing, stooping, pushing, pulling, and carrying. Prolonged periods of standing.
Ability to work in a variety of weather conditions, tolerate biting insects, poison ivy, and other challenges of outdoor work.
Actively works hands-on with Gardens & Grounds staff and volunteers to complete tasks and projects.
Ability to drive pickup trucks and retain a valid Driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Previous landscape, nursery, or grounds maintenance work preferred (either seasonal or full-time experience).

Responsibilities

Responsible for ensuring that the site is presentable and walkable for special guests, visitors, and other staff by clearing trash, leaves, woody debris, snow, and ice from pathways and driveways; mowing, edging, and repairing lawns; weeding garden beds, pruning shrubs with guidance from horticulture staff; composting and spreading mulch; and assisting staff with minor irrigation repairs.
Maintains and repairs landscape-type tools and equipment.
Assists Gardens & Grounds staff with greenhouse and garden watering, including on weekends.
Supports other Gardens & Grounds staff in preparing plant beds and planting trees, shrubs, perennials, flowering annuals, and bulbs, and other special landscape or garden projects.
Shares responsibility with other Gardens and Grounds staff in maintaining the cleanliness of the Potting Shed and other workspaces.
Assists with occasional garden-related programs and events.
Professionally represents the Henry Ford Estate while interacting with the public (i.e., an ambassador for Fair Lane). This includes engaging with the public to answer questions about wayfinding, site history, gardening, etc. It also includes contacting the appropriate response person or entity in cases of dangerous or destructive behavior by members of the public, as well as providing aid/assistance in the case of accidents and emergencies. Demonstrates good judgment in cases where immediate intervention is appropriate versus taking shelter and/or seeking other support.
Additional applicable responsibilities as assigned by the department director or the President & CEO to support the work of the organization.

Benefits

100% employer-paid BCBSM medical (Simply Blue PPO Gold $2,000 deductible) and vision insurance, and Delta dental insurance, for the employee, with 50% employer-paid insurance for dependents and employee-paid plan buy-up opportunities.
100% employer-paid life, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, and critical illness insurance, including an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides numerous mental health, finance, and legal benefits.
21 days (168 hours) of Paid Time Off (PTO) earned annually; PTO is accrued biweekly at a rate of 6.46 hours.
14 paid holidays, which includes a year-end holiday break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.
1 day (8 hours) of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO).
Paid parental leave with no minimum service requirement.
Paid bereavement leave.
403(b) plan with a 3% employer contribution and 3% employer match.
Ford x-plan discount.
Professional development budget and opportunities.
On-site and free bean-to-cup coffee machine.
Donuts, bagels, and other snacks during weekly All-Staff Meetings.
In-House Perks including a free photo permit (up to $400 savings), Tribute Garden discounts ($75 savings), and Patron-Level membership without Patron gifts ($300 savings).