Horticulturist

Sweet Briar College is a women’s liberal arts institution, located in Central Virginia approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 60 miles south of Charlottesville. Founded in 1901, the College’s curriculum encompasses a comprehensive baccalaureate program in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as graduate programs in education. It is one of two women’s colleges in the United States offering an ABET-accredited engineering degree. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.

Job Title: Horticulturist

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Grounds Supervisor 

Job Summary/Objective: 

Responsible for maintenance of campus grounds, primarily at Sweet Briar House, Garden Cottage, Main Entrance, Sweet Briar Drive and all building plants. To include container plants, lawn, flower beds as well as hardscape features. Uses a variety of machinery such as lawn mowers, trimmers, edgers and hand tools to accomplish task.

Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Grounds. Full time, 40 Hours per week    7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with occasional weekend hours.

Essential Responsibilities: 

• Understands plant pathology, monitors and treats plant health problems.
• Plans, documents and performs garden operations including ornamental gardens, and container plantings.
• Understands and performs Best Practices in water management, nutrient management, pesticide use and composting.
• Maintains exterior furniture, statuary and other garden ornaments.
• Interacts with contractors, vendors and College faculty and staff including guests.
• Works independently in allocating time and resources among several campus locations.
• Performs other grounds related functions as assigned by his/her supervisor. Listed below.
• May support mowing of large lawn areas with zero-turn mowers and tractors and handheld equipment. 
• Edges with a small push type edger, trimming turf away from sidewalks and curb edges.
• Shears shrubs using gas powered hedge clippers.
• Performs hand weeding in flower beds, mulch as needed.
• Cuts back brush, small saplings and small branches using hand held loppers.
• Uses a chain saw for the removal of large branches and small trees.
• Plants flowers, shrubs and trees and encourages growth through watering.
• Uses leaf blowers, turf-vacs, power sweepers and other tools to remove trash and debris from grounds.
• Operates power equipment such as, but not limited to ride-on mowers, chippers, power sprayer, aerial-lift truck, flail mower, aerators, edger, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and tractor/loaders as necessary.
• Responds promptly to work order requests and completes necessary records.
• Performs minor equipment repair and maintenance as required; sharpens blades, chain saw chains & check and maintain proper lubrication & oil levels.
• Understands and participates in maintenance and operation of irrigation and landscape lighting systems.
• Supports campus wide activities in the areas of setups, trash collection, snow and ice removal as assigned.

Required Qualifications: A.S. in horticulture and/or VNLA Horticultural Certification with 3 to 5 years of directly related experience. Must be willing to receive additional training as required. Committed to following safety guidelines to protect self and others. Must be able to follow verbal and written directions and provide responses in writing. Ability to use computers to read and respond to emails and to use basic applications is also required. Must have and maintain a valid Virginia operator's license. Possession of or ability to obtain Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License, Part A & B within 180 calendar days of hiring.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Plan and Coordinate - Realistically estimates the time required to accomplish tasks and keeps others informed of potential problems/delays. Takes appropriate steps to ensure that the College resources (e.g., workspace, equipment, tools, etc.) are in good working order. Makes an effort to ask questions to identify issues and solve work problems.
• Technical Skills - Demonstrates a higher level of knowledge and understanding of a technical or specialty area and is able to apply it in daily work. Able to identify problems as they occur and takes appropriate steps to promptly solve or communicate them to supervisors. Consistently and carefully checks details of tasks and assignments to ensure quality and accuracy before routine reviews by supervisors.
• Results Focused - Displays a level of comfort in exploring different work approaches, rather than the routine. Responds to requests in a timely fashion and keeps track of own progress towards goals and deadlines. Takes initiative to independently find solutions or improve approach when issues/problems are repeatedly encountered.
• Communication and Relations - Able to clearly and concisely explain College policies and procedures to others. Able to write correspondences and summarize ideas or facts with few or no errors (within role requirements). Skilled at diffusing difficult situations independently and recognizes when issues/requests require special attention (e.g., confidentiality, supervisor review, etc.). Consistently acts on requests and suggestions in a positive and unbiased way.
• Teamwork - Willingly shares information, materials and responsibility to contribute to and achieve work objectives. Seeks input of other work group members and encourages their participation and involvement. Makes an effort to help and actively support work group members in their tasks/assignments.

Work Environment: 

• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
• The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
• The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation.
• The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

Physical Demands: 

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.
• Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

How to Apply: If applying for a faculty or staff position, please submit a Sweet Briar College employment application, cover letter, résumé and three professional references to [email address here].