Horticulture Supervisor at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore College

Job description

Position Title: Horticulture Supervisor/ Assistant Horticulture Supervisor Work Type: Full time Location: Swarthmore College Approved Location Type: On Campus Department: Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America) Who We Are: The Opportunity: Provides timely and reliable support for the supervision of gardeners, as well as directly performing gardening care and maintenance of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens plant collections and garden areas. Supervises horticulturists, interns and student workers. Performs necessary grounds maintenance tasks, including turf renovation, snow removal, event set up and other jobs to support College and Arboretum events and classes. Coordinates restoration projects and regular maintenance of the Crum Woods and other campus areas. Provides knowledge and guidance for sustainable landscapes and integrated pest management and oversees monitoring for insects and diseases for the department. Oversees proper record keeping and inventory of horticultural chemicals, pesticides, application equipment and personal protection equipment for the department. Assists in the execution of and participates in the Arboretum’s educational and outreach programs. Works to fulfill the missions of the Arboretum and Swarthmore College. We have two openings for this role and are hiring two candidates. Essential Responsibilities: HORTICULTURAL TASKS 50% Performs horticultural tasks and maintains the plant collections and garden spaces by doing timely planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, leaf raking and other plant cultural practices in order to maintain campus aesthetics and provide proper horticultural care, and supervises others to do the same. Performs detailed horticultural work to maintain specialty garden areas, endowed gardens, various courtyard gardens and major horticultural collections to provide proper horticultural care and maintain these garden areas as the most intensively-maintained gardens on campus. Oversees restoration projects and regular maintenance of the Crum Woods. Coordinates and implements the deer control program of the Crum Woods. Oversees pest management practices for staff being supervised within their area of responsbility. Oversees proper record keeping and inventory of horticultural chemicals, pesticides, application equipment and personal protection equipment for the department. Provides knowledge and guidance for sustainable landscapes and integrated pest management, and monitors for insects and diseases for the department. GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 30% Keeps campus areas, turf, roads, sidewalks and patios maintained in an efficient way. Has the ability to prioritize these tasks to provide a safe and aesthetically-pleasing campus, alone and supervising others to do the same. Leads and performs trash removal, irrigation, turf renovation, turf mowing, snow removal and leaf raking to efficiently maintain safety and high horticultural aesthetics on campus. Leads special function set-up and tear-down to prepare the facilities in a timely way for College-hosted events. Is present for and assists in College emergencies, bad weather occurrences and special College functions in order to maintain campus safety for students, staff and visitors. OPERATES AND MAINTAINS EQUIPMENT 10% Safely and proficiently uses all hand gardening tools, consisting of pruners, shovels, rakes, loppers, hedge shears and other gardening tools, and ensures that supervisees can do the same. With proper training, safely and proficiently uses grounds power equipment consisting of: tractor, loader, trucks, lawn mower, chain saw, weed whip, turf aerator, turf slicer/seeder, snowplow and thrower, chain saw, brush chipper and other grounds maintenance equipment, and ensures that supervisees can do the same. Is proficient at and performs daily maintenance of all grounds hand and power tools and equipment and ensures that supervisees can do the same. PROJECT MANAGEMENT 5% Interfaces with designers and contracto