Foreperson of Gardens and Grounds

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts & Sciences; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts & Sciences is seeking a Garden and Grounds Foreperson to lead horticulture operations across campus gardens. The role emphasizes Integrated Pest Management, irrigation oversight, and coordination with the Garden Director on emergency response and contracted trades.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in horticulture or a related field and have 5+ years’ experience in public or historic garden maintenance, IPM compliance, and vehicle/equipment management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in horticulture or related field.
• Five+ years of experience maintaining mechanical systems and equipment.
• Five+ years of experience in horticulture, preferably in public and/or historic gardens.

Responsibilities

• Oversee IPM activities, monitor plant health and irrigation, and qualify as a DC Licensed Pesticide Applicator within one year.
• Coordinate campus emergency and weather response; may require weekend work.
• Purchase and maintain equipment; select tools and staff supplies including PPE.
• Oversee tree/woody plant pruning to ISA standards; supervise IPM and pesticide use records.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance on vehicles; ensure DC inspections, licensing, and permits.
• Train and supervise volunteers; oversee contracted masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
• Ensure proper irrigation system functioning across garden areas; oversee repairs and seasonal start-up.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in horticulture or a

Job description

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community thatadvances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways,inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills andexpertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcomingenvironment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart ofHarvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduateprogram (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all ofHarvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin GraduateSchool of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athleticsand the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academicdepartments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a communityunparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest rangeof liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeksto foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and sharedcommitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from allmembers of our community and prepares the next generation ofleaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Garden and Grounds Foreperson is a non-supervisory leadershipposition that works closely with the Director to coordinate andoversee departmental programs, gardening activities, and contractedsupport. The foreperson works closely with all crew leaders andgardeners across all garden crews, advising on and facilitating theadoption and use of best practices in areas of horticulture,integrated pest management, irrigation, arboriculture, historicpreservation, and soil diagnostics and remediation. The forepersoncoordinates and oversees programs and operational activities forthe department, including vehicle and equipment safety, integratedpest management, tree management, turf management, irrigation, andinclement weather response. The foreperson coordinates and overseescontracted work in the areas of irrigation, masonry, arboriculture,mechanical, and other skilled trades.

• This is a critical, essential employee position, which willrequire the employee to work during emergencies.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Oversees/conducts Integrated Pest Management activities.Monitors plant health, including pathology, entomology, fertilityneeds, and irrigation regimens. Responds accordingly in compliancewith accepted IPM practices and DC and Federal laws. Qualifies as aDC Licensed Pesticide Applicator within one year of hire.
• Assists the Garden Director in coordinating and overseeingcampus emergency and storm or sever weather response. May berequired to work additional time on short notice. Worksoccasionally on weekends, as needed.
• Purchases and maintains all equipment, selects and purchasestools and staff supplies, including personal protectiveequipment.
• Coordinates and oversees boxwood blight remediation activities,including spraying, pruning, and other cultural control methods.Assists in training staff in best management practices for boxwoodculture; ensures best practices are followed when working in areasof the garden containing boxwood.
• Oversees tree and woody plant pruning to ensure best ISApractices, proper timing, and safety.

• Coordinates the scheduling of preventive maintenance onvehicles, the compliance with all DC inspections, registrations,licensing, and permits. Ensures up-to-date proof-of-insurance cardsin all garden vehicles.
• Oversees the IPM program, including pesticide applications,pesticide inventory management, pesticide disposal, and leadscompliance program for pesticide applicators and operators throughthe DC Department of Environment (DOEE). Maintains and submitspesticide use records in compliance with DOEE.
• Assists in overseeing the tree management program, includinginventory updates, annual walk-throughs to assess work needed,quality control for in-house and contracted pruning, IPM for trees,risk/hazard assessments, and tree succession planning and plantingoversight.
• Coordinates and oversees turf maintenance and renovations,including aeration, seeding, fertilizer application, herbicideapplication, and disease management and treatment.
• Provides technical support to all crews in identifying andcorrecting irrigation issues. Leads small in-house repair efforts.Oversees irrigation programming to ensure adequate coverage andproper timing and quantity of irrigated water.

• Trains, coordinates, and supervises volunteers in collaborationwith Crew Leaders.
• Ensures proper functioning of irrigation system across gardencrew areas, coordinates repairs, spring start-up, fallwinterization, and augmentation of existing systems.
• Coordinates and oversees masonry work, assisting with planning,signage for closed areas, and quality control as workprogresses.
• Monitors tree health including maintenance of inventory recordswithin ArborScope. Supervises all tree work including pesticideapplications, pruning, and removals. Coordinates tree work with theDC Urban Forestry Administration to receive appropriate permits fortree work and removals and with the National Park Service forpermissions to access the property’s periphery.
• Assists with contracted support for mechanical systems,including the swimming pool, to ensure quality control as workprogresses. Works on the maintenance of the swimming pool and itsfiltration systems including coordination with the DC Department ofHealth and the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs forhealth inspections and licensing requirements. Monitors poolchemical and mechanical systems on-site and remotely. Coordinatesand oversees pool mechanical system repairs with swimming poolcontractors. Provides technical guidance to crews needingassistance with water feature maintenance and repair.
• Coordinates and oversees skilled trade work in the gardens,including blacksmithing, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry toensure quality control and safety.
• Assists with other areas of the garden and special projects asneeded and performs other duties as required.
• Assumes responsibility for garden and grounds operations in anacting capacity during absence of the Director.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate in English both verbally and inwriting
• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions
• Endurance to walk, stand, kneel, bend, stoop, and climb
• Strength to push, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds

Basic Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree, preferably in a field related tohorticulture, or an equivalent of education plus relevantexperience
• Five or more years of experience in the maintenance ofmechanical systems and equipment
• Five or more years of experience in horticulture, preferably inpublic and/or historic gardens

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with vehicle and equipment operation andmaintenance
• Ability to oversee contractors and projects
• DC DOH Certified Pool Operator license preferred
• ISA arborist certification preferred
• Conversational fluency in Spanish preferred

Certificates and Licenses

• DC Pesticide applicators license required (within one year ofhire)
• Valid driver’s license

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University isunable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education,Criminal

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders thatall duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard orHarvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit worklocation. Individuals must meet work location sponsorshiprequirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view thecorresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed tosupport a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental andfinancial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Ourbenefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage startingon day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuitionassistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & WellbeingPage .

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination . We seek talent fromall parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensureeveryone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our communityadvance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on thebasis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability,or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in theuniversity's non-discrimination policy . Harvard's equal employment opportunity policyand non-discrimination policy help allcommunity members participate fully in work and campus life freefrom harassment and discrimination.