Grounds Enhancement Technician

Purpose: 
The Grounds Enhancement Technician is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the beauty, safety, and appearance of Ferrum College's campus through landscape installation, grounds maintenance, and seasonal beautification projects. This position focuses on creating and maintaining attractive campus landscapes, including flower beds, mulch beds, shrubs, trees, lawns, and other landscaped areas, while supporting the overall operation of Grounds Department. 

As an essential employee, this position may be required to work beyond normal business hours and remain on campus during emergencies or critical events, including severe weather, snowstorms, power outages, and other situations requiring continuous campus operations. 

Duties: 
Maintain and enhance the appearance of the college campus through the installation and maintenance of flower beds, mulch beds, shrubs, ornamental plantings, trees, and landscaped areas. 

Develop and implement seasonal landscape enhancement projects that contribute to a welcoming and attractive campus environment. 

Perform mowing, trimming, edging, pruning, weeding, watering, fertilizing, mulching, and other grounds maintenance activities. 

Assist with tree, shrub, and landscape maintenance to ensure healthy and attractive campus grounds. 

Operate and maintain a variety of motorized grounds equipment and hand tools, including mowers, tractors, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, utility vehicles, and other equipment. 

Perform routine inspections of campus grounds and report safety hazards, equipment concerns, or maintenance needs. 

Assist with snow and ice removal from roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, entrances, and other campus areas. 

Support campus events by assisting with grounds preparation, setup, cleanup, and restoration. 

Perform general Groundskeeper duties as needed to support departmental operations.

Maintain equipment in safe operating condition and report repair needs promptly. 

Follow all college safety procedures and applicable OSHA regulations while performing assigned duties. 

Provide courteous, professional, and responsive customer service to students, faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the external community. 

Participate in departmental training and professional development opportunities. 

Serve as an essential employee during emergencies and critical campus events. 

Emergency and Essential Employee Responsibilities: 
As an Essential Employee , this position is expected to: 

Report to work during college closures when directed. 

Remain on campus overnight, if necessary, during emergency situations such as severe weather events, snowstorms, extended power outages, or other campus emergencies. 

Assist with emergency response and recovery efforts to maintain safe campus operations. 

Work overtime, evenings, weekends, holidays, or modified schedules as operational needs require. 

Minimum Qualifications:
High School Diploma or GED required. 

One to three years of experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, or a related field preferred. 

Working knowledge of landscape maintenance techniques, plant materials, turf management, and grounds care. 

Ability to safely operate motorized equipment and hand tools. 

Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. 

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Strong work ethic, dependability, and commitment to customer service. 

Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of landscaping, horticulture, and grounds maintenance practices. 

Ability to safely operate landscaping equipment and machinery. 

Ability to identify and address landscape maintenance needs. 

Ability to prioritize work and complete multiple assignments efficiently. 

Other:
Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, students, faculty, and staff. 

Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions throughout the year. 

Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 75 pounds and perform physically demanding work involving bending, kneeling, climbing, walking, and standing for extended periods. 

This position requires extensive outdoor work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, and ice. Work may involve exposure to dust, noise, chemicals used in landscaping, and operation of heavy equipment. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required. 

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. The college reserves the right to modify or assign additional duties as operational needs require. Employees are expected to perform other duties as assigned. 

Pay Range: $12.77 - $14.50