Vanderbilt University Jobs

About the Position:

The Landscape Gardner has the responsibility for assisting in the care of the University’s gardens, lawns, and sports fields with other members of the Grounds Staff. Typically, we expect the successful candidate to one year of related landscaping/grounds keeping experience.

About the Work Unit:

Plant Operations provides facilities support for all construction, renovation, and routine maintenance of University Central space and facilities; housekeeping services for approximately 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space; grounds care for 330 acres that are a registered arboretum; turf care for athletic fields; and utilities for the University Central and the Medical Center.

Facilities annual budget exceeds $100 million in operating expenses and includes over 400 employees. Facilities manages major capital project expenditures totaling $125 million annually and facility renewal, replacement and large maintenance project expenditures totaling $20 million annually.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Mixing and application of herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides

• Minor repair of irrigation systems

• Litter policing

• Pull weeds in shrubs/flower/groundcover beds

• Rake leaves and pickup

• Pickup trash receptacles and cleanup dumpster site

• Pickup recycling

• Mow lawns operating reel, push, walk behind, and zero turn radius mowers

• Pressure washing

• Hand watering of plants

• Clean stairwells, gutters, storm drains

• Snow removal

• Plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, flowers

• Mulch landscape beds

• Sport and recreational fields lining

• Roundup herbicide spraying

• Special events support

• Assist arborist crew with storm damage clean-up

• Outdoor patio furnishings placing and removal

• Lawn maintenance: core aerating, slit seeding, over seeding & fertilizing

• Apply pre-emergent in shrub, flower & groundcover beds

• Occasionally remove bikes

• Operate and perform operator level maintenance on landscape truck

• Operate the following equipment

• Weed Eater

• Vacuum

• Backpack Blower

• Edger

• Push Blower

• Front-end loader

• Steer Loader

• Tractor

• Turf Roller

• 100-gallon sprayer

• snowplow

• woodchipper

• stump grinder

• Operate trucker vehicle & golf cart

• Other duties related to classification

Working Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Education and Certifications:

• High School Diploma or GED is required

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred

• Valid driver license is required

  Experience and Skills:

• Working in Higher Ed is preferred

• Push, pull, lift, and carry at least 50 pounds.

• Able to work in various weather conditions

• One year of previous experience is preferred.

• High work ethic

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.