Director of Grounds, Horticulture & Agronomy

Organization Unit: Operations

Reports To: Vice President for Operations & Finance

Revision Date: August 2018 Narrative

General Description

The Director of Grounds, Horticulture and Agronomy is a twelve month position responsible for providing leadership, planning and management by using his/her horticultural expertise to provide landscape, and grounds maintenance to maintain a safe and attractive campus environment. The Director will also be responsible for sharing knowledge and expertise in coordination of the Horticulture and Agronomy curriculum. Additionally the Director will be responsible for recruiting students who have a desire to pursue theoretical and practical understanding of Horticulture and Agronomy by combining lecture courses with lab experiences.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, planning and management to provide landscape and ground maintenance and improvements, including the maintenance of college landscaping and grounds.
• Perform, plan and supervise the work required to maintain all the formal landscaping, natural and desirable landscape features, sidewalks, parking areas, athletic fields, surface storm drainage and other outdoor areas and irrigation. Is a hands-on leader.
• Perform and supervise the maintenance of all areas of the grounds including but not limited to: Sowing grass seed and seasonal mowing of all grass areas Propagation and growing of all campus plants Planting and pruning trees and shrubs Planning, planting, and maintenance of all campus flower beds Applying fertilizers, pre-emergents, chemicals and mulch.
• Maintenance of roads, parking areas, sidewalks Irrigation systems (Maintenance staff &/or Plumber may assist) Athletic fields Campus signage (Will work with Marketing) Seasonal snow and ice removal (Maint & Grounds working together) Debris and trash removal (policing campus, empty outside receptacles, evening maintenance will address entry receptacles as needed)
• Maintains the health and beauty of the trees and shrubs and evaluates the process from a horticultural and arborist's perspective. This shall include but not be limited to plantings, chemical applications, weed removal, fertilization, watering, wrapping young trees, pruning and removal of trees and shrubs.
• Maintains the health and beauty of the turf taking into account the need for a functional, low maintenance, manicured turf. Identify problems in the turf and remedy through the application of fertilizer, surfactant, herbicides or pesticides. This also includes, but is not limited to mowing, edging sidewalks and shrub beds, watering, sod replacement, and filling holes.
• Installs and maintains annual and perennial flowers, trees and shrubs, in compliance with approved design. This shall include, but not be limited to, soil preparation, construction of planter boxes and retaining walls.
• Inspect the outside of all facilities and grounds for cleanliness, damages, and other maintenance problems and schedule repairs and maintenance.(report building issues to maintenance) Teach courses as assigned.
• Coordinate and make recommendations regarding the Horticulture and Agronomy curriculum.
• Revise and update course materials and content to keep all courses current.
• Provide a syllabus for each course taught and turn in two copies of each syllabus to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Services each semester.
• Recruits quality students for the Horticulture and Agronomy program in order to meet the recruiting expectations for the program.
• Coordinate scholarship paperwork and oversee the completion of financial aid paperwork, admission criteria for students recruited to the program.
• Assume an active interest in the advising and retention of students recruited to the program.
• Oversee the operations of the college greenhouse, including security, supplies, and maintenance.
• Coordinate heating and cooling of greenhouse, irrigation systems and maintenance of horticultural equipment.
• Work with and supervise a diverse staff; ability to collaborate across departments and provide leadership, support and coordination as required on special events such as Red Raven Holiday, Homecoming activities, etc.
• Perform maintenance and minor repair of ground's equipment.
• Maintain and supervise the use of all grounds equipment and tools.
• Maintain an inventory of all equipment and tools Develop security procedures for all equipment and tools.
• Maintain an inventory of grounds specific chemicals that will allow the grounds staff to complete their assigned tasks.
• Supervise the cleaning and maintenance of the grounds shop building.(non-grounds and surplus will be removed)
• Designs, plans and coordinates landscape improvements using information on available plant material, available level of maintenance and the landscape master plan. This shall include estimating quantities of material needed and identifying the individual plants to be utilized at the site.
• Continuously update a campus plan for short and long-range goals for the college grounds.
• Conduct regular safety meetings. Be on emergency on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Keep current in areas of responsibility.
• Development and implementation of safety procedures and polices for areas of responsibility. (grounds crew can be invited to maintenance safety meetings) Development and monitoring of the grounds budget. (a line item within maintenance budget, VP for Operations and Finance gives final approval) Responsible for the operational Horticulture budget maintaining expenditures within budget parameters, strategic planning and any horticultural capital projects as needed.
• Serve on College committees as appointed. Other duties as assigned.
• Supervises the Following Staff Work study students. Full time and seasonal grounds staff. Other staff as directed by the Vice President for Finance and Operations. (seasonal part-time)

Required Knowledge, Skills, Personal Qualifications & Physical Requirements:

• Must be well-organized, multi-tasker, problem solver, self-motivated with strong work ethic, detail oriented, ability to motivate and lead by example.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, including effective presentation, negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Must be able to work with technical and administrative personnel in a pleasant, professional and efficient manner.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands of working outdoors as necessary or to direct staff and ability to work flexibly hours when necessary, including must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds as well as work in extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.
• Self-starter, creative, persuasive and goal oriented.
• Must be able to work independently and lead team members effectively.
• Must have knowledge of mechanical and electrical functions of the grounds equipment.
• Must have knowledge about irrigation systems.
• Must have knowledge of ground chemicals and how they are applied.
• Ability to safely work with mild chemicals common to the trade in a manner which protects oneself, others in the area of the work and the environment.
• Must have valid driver license.
• Within six months of the date of hire, required to maintain a physical place of residence within the CCC service area throughout their employment.

Required Experience: Experience in horticulture, landscape maintenance and in grounds equipment maintenance and repair and supervisory experience. Experience in budget planning preferred.

Required Educational Background: A Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Degree in horticulture, landscape maintenance, a related field or Master Gardner Certificate or 5 years on-the-job experience is preferred. Certification in use of herbicide and ground chemicals also preferred.