Groundskeeper III

Job Description

This position is responsible for supervising garden and greenhouse operations and maintenance as well overseeing garden and greenhouse maintenance staff and volunteers. The incumbent is assigned day-to-day responsibility for the coordination and execution of facility activities as well as equipment maintenance, pool/fountain maintenance, and building and storage area security.

About Us

Wilmot Botanical Gardens is located in the heart of the Southeast’s largest academic health center, providing a peaceful and verdant respite for patients, faculty, staff, and the public. In addition, the gardens are dedicated to advancing patient care, research and service through its vibrant and growing therapeutic horticulture program.

Duties & Responsibilities

Managing/Training Volunteers and Garden Employee(s)
• Introduce new volunteers and FWS students to the history and purpose of the gardens.
• Oversee volunteers and FWS students of work to be performed to maintain the gardens, including weeding, fertilizing, and watering flowerbeds, and removing debris throughout the gardens.
• Oversee the use of equipment including wheelbarrows, hand tools, and power tools by volunteers and FWS students.
• Establish and oversee work assignments for volunteers and FWS students, and take corrective action when necessary.
• Serve as leadership role model for FWS students who will in turn assist in managing activities of volunteers.

Garden Design
•Design, select and locate plant materials, oversee installation of plant displays
•Make recommendations for planning of garden areas and their continued development
•Advise on the acquisition as well as disposition of plants; grow and/or procure plant material for teaching and research
•Review and supervise all accounting, purchasing, and inventory activities; recommend a total budget to a director or committee
•Set priorities on expenditures based on objectives of the operations
•Participate in long range planning of garden activities

Gardening/Grounds Work Maintenance

•Maintain and water multiple specialty gardens.
•Lawn care including mowing with zero-turn mower, edging with power equipment, raking, removing yard debris, fertilizing, and watering.
•Pruning ornamental shrubs and trees.
•Removing seasonal debris, blowing, and power-washing sidewalks.
•Maintaining plants and shrubs in garden nursery to include watering, pruning, and fertilizing.
•Applying herbicides to control weeds in planted areas.
•Applying insecticides to control pests throughout the gardens.
•Care for extensive camellia collection including spraying for pests, removing moss and debris, trimming, applying fertilizer, planting new specimens, and applying mulch.
•Periodic cleaning of outdoor storage areas.
•Insure that all plants, shrubs, and trees throughout gardens have identification markers.

Facility Maintenance:
•Supervise maintenance of facilities, machinery, painting, and utilities
•Recommend purchase of equipment and supplies
•Clean and maintain three-part water feature in Chapman Healing Garden.
•Responsible for Opening and closing facilities each workday. Ensures security of facilities and equipment.

Education and Experience

Required: Completion of ninth grade and two years of relevant experience.

Preferred: Landscaping experience of at least four years, knowledge of horticultural practices in public gardens.
Ability to design specialty garden plantings.

Application Instructions

Please apply via this link: https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539927/groundskeeper-iii
Please upload the following – CV or Resume, Cover Letter and List of Professional References.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This position is eligible for Veteran’s preference. If you are claiming Veteran’s preference, please upload a copy of your DD 214 Member Copy 4 with your application for consideration. See our Veteran’s Preference Page for more specific information.