Description

Capital Planning and Facilities (CPF) works to ensure that Indiana University (IU) campuses are beautiful, functional, and sustainable supporting excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement across the entire university. A unit within CPF, Facility Operations maintains our physical campus to support research, teaching, and learning at Indiana University Bloomington. As a unit of Capital Planning and Facilities, Facility Operations provides wide-ranging services all with the goal of creating a beautiful, well-functioning campus.

Job Summary

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Maintains woody, perennial, and annual plants and beds to ensure their healthy, safe, and attractive condition including weeding, mulching, pruning, transplanting, fertilizing, and removal of any dead, diseased, or declining plant stock. Inspects campus landscapes for issues, hazards, and risks and works with supervisor to determine solutions.
• Operates standard nursery and grounds keeping equipment, including trucks, tractors, skid-steers, roto-tillers, edgers, pruners, sheers, mowers, etc.
• Performs installation, maintenance, and upkeep of native landscapes, including ability to distinguish between desirable species and unwanted weed growth. Understands the steps required to establish and maintain these increasingly prevalent styles of landscapes.
• Complies knowledge on LEED landscapes - those that are intertwined with LEED building systems, including roof stormwater retention basins, low-mow native areas, no-mow native areas, green-roofs, etc.
• Performs installation and maintenance of stormwater retention swales (bioswales, raingardens, etc.)
• Compiles intricate knowledge and expertise of all shrub and perennial species, including pruning and maintenance requirements. i.e., fine gardening skills.
• Performs pest and disease identification, including knowledge of best practices for safe eradication.
• Identifies weeds, including noxious and common weeds, as well as invasive species.
• Identifies and diagnoses problems in the landscape. Ability to develop solutions independently through research and industry expertise.
• Provides emergency response for grounds related campus emergencies, including weather emergencies, snow removal, and all other duties as assigned.

General Responsibilities

• Propagates, maintains and nurtures young plant stock. Monitors nursery and greenhouse stock for pest and disease. Applies chemicals as necessary.
• Installs landscape designs by planting a variety of materials (trees, shrubs, flowers, etc.) in accordance with blueprints, drawings, sketches, or design specifications.
• Prunes and shapes trees, shrubs and other plants for most desirable appearance using pruners, limb saws, hedge shears, and loppers. Waters, fertilizes, and mulches plants.
• Operates loader and mixer to prepare soil mixes and amendments. Operates multiple types of garden machinery and performs basic preventive maintenance.
• Assists supervisor with implementing seasonal projects by coordinating tasks of other helpers. Helps supervisor with planning work schedules.
• Monitors plant stock for pest and disease. Applies appropriate treatments when necessary, including pesticide, fungicide, miticide, etc. Maintains records of chemical usage.
• Performs grounds maintenance work including weeding, seeding, mowing, snow removal and other seasonal tasks.

Qualifications

EDUCATION
Required

• High school diploma or equivalent (such as HSED or GED)

WORK EXPERIENCE
Required

• 3-5 years in horticulture, landscape design, or a related field

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Required

• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured by Indiana University upon date of hire
• Pesticide/Herbicide applicators licensure for various plant types (3A, 3B, etc.) or ability to obtain within 3 months

Preferred

• Certified Master Gardener
• Accredited Horticulturalist

SKILLS
Required

• Ability to work in a safe and efficient manner
• Proficient in English written and verbal communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to represent the company with external constituents
• Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills
• Ability to build strong customer relationships
• Knowledge of basic plant identification
• Knowledge of maintaining and planting ornamental trees, flowers, and shrubs
• Knowledge of basic pest control
• Ability to read and interpret drawings and blueprints
• Ability to use basic gardening/horticultural tools
• Ability to operate dump truck, tree spade, skid steer loader, tractor, power auger, tiller and other garden machinery

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to remain in a stationary position as well as the ability to move about the workplace for long durations. This role requires the ability to work outside in all weather conditions. It requires effective communication, the ability to operate machinery, tools, and controls. The person in this role must be able to move 50 pounds frequently, and more than 50 pounds occasionally. The role requires the ability to ascend/descend ladders/stairs, and to position oneself in low level positions, detect a variety of chemicals and/or gases. The person in this role will be exposed to loud noises, such as from mowers, trimmers, etc. The role requires the ability to ascend to rooftops and move in tight spaces to perform and complete inspections. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure .

Job Classification

Career Level: Intermediate
FLSA: Nonexempt
Job Function: Engineering, Trades & Facility
Job Family: Groundskeeping
Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information .

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online . You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.