Title: Gardener
Reports to: Director of Horticulture 
Employment Status: Overtime eligible (Non-Exempt)

Work Schedule:
Generally comprises ten 8-hour days in a two-week period. This position is designated as an essential staff member and the incumbent is required to report to work as directed or remain on post in response to extreme weather or emergency situations including but not limited to emergency/storm preparedness and snow/debris removal.   

Primary Functions:
Responsible for routine gardens and grounds maintenance tasks such as mowing, blowing, mulching, weeding, pruning, watering, snow-removal, etc.      

Work Performed:

• Plant and prune trees & shrubs; plant annuals and bulbs.
• Perform routine grounds maintenance in assigned garden areas such as mowing and trimming lawns, blowing roads & walks, weeding and mulching, leaf removal, pruning, fertilizing, and watering.
• Respond to priority emergency status during storms or natural disasters that require gardens and grounds to be cleared of debris or snow/ice. 
• Safe operation of power equipment (lawnmowers, blowers, string trimmers) and hand tools commonly used in the garden.
• Haul compost, and drive a small tractor.
• Operate snow removal equipment:  blowers, shovels, and a plow truck.   

Skills Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge of equipment operation.
• Experience performing common lawn, garden, and grounds maintenance tasks.
• In addition, they must demonstrate the use of sound diplomatic and interpersonal skills in dealing with personnel at various levels as well as outside.  

Work Environment:
The physical requirements and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or may be encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions to the extent the Company may do so without undue hardship. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual who with or without reasonable accommodation can perform the essential functions of the position.    

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear, stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arm and reach above shoulder height. The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required lift and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted. The employee is required to visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. Special vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is required to move about their work area, between buildings and the campus grounds, climb up and down ladders, handle various types of power and manual equipment, and operate machinery. The employee will work near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and will experience extremes of outdoor weather conditions and temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally requires the use of hearing protection equipment.     

Notice:
The preceding job description indicates the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.