Grounds and Nursery Specialist 3 - Temporary

Olympic College; Bremerton (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Olympic College is seeking a Temporary Grounds Nursery Specialist 3 to maintain and care for college grounds across Bremerton, Poulsbo, and Shelton campuses. The role involves skilled gardening tasks, soil testing, pruning, transplanting, and applying chemicals under supervision.

The position starts at Step A with a salary range of $41,820–$55,596 annually, and includes a six-month probation after which salary steps increase.

Qualifications

• Six months of full-time grounds maintenance experience.
• Valid WA State Driver's License is required.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather with equipment.

Responsibilities

• Clearing walkways, stairs, ramps, lots, and drains using tools and debris removal.
• Mowing, edging, and line-trimming to maintain turf at target height.
• Watering plants using irrigation and hoses; monitor and repair leaks.
• Pruning, weeding, and removing unwanted vegetation to maintain health.
• Cleaning outdoor fixtures; graffiti removal and pressure washing as needed.
• Pest control tasks including traps and preventative measures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Lifting 50 lbs

Outdoor work

Operate mowing equipment

Education

Valid WA State Driver's License

Tools

Mowers

Edgers

Blowers

Pressure washers

Job description

Grounds Nursery Specialist 3 - Temporary

Salary: $41,820- $55,596* annually

Classification: Classified Staff

Department: Facilities Services

Reports to: Grounds Supervisor

This temporary position will conclude on December 31, 2026.

This position will remain open for a minimum of seven (7) days. The College reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time after the minimum posting period once a sufficient applicant pool has been established. All classified positions will start their salary at Step A.

Olympic College is seeking a Temporary Grounds Nursery Specialist 3. This position performs multiple duties related to the care and maintenance of the Olympic College grounds. The Grounds and Nursery Specialist 3 requires skilled gardening tasks and knowledge of cultivation and maintenance of trees, lawns, and ornamental plants. Responsibilities include testing soils, pruning, transplanting plant materials, and applying chemicals. Propagates and cares for trees, shrubs, and forage plants. This position maintains the grounds on the Bremerton, Poulsbo, and Shelton campuses. This position reports to the Building and Grounds supervisor.

Clearing walkways, stairs, ramps, lots, and drains

• Using a blower, rake, or broom to remove debris. Pick up the piles and limbs, and place them in a bin or add them to compost. Using shovels, blowers, or a plow to remove snow and spreading ice melt by hand.

Mowing, edging, and line-trimming to keep grass at the desired height

• Using a push mower, rider, line trimmers, and edgers on turf

Keeping grounds free of trash

• Using pickers and hands to pick up trash and empty outdoor trash cans, putting them in dumpsters or a trash compactor. Picking up recyclables, emptying the bags into recycling bins, and putting the plastic bags into the trash bin. Working in pairs to move cans as needed to clean

Watering plants

• Keeping desirable plants watered by using irrigation and hand watering with hoses. Using controllers to turn irrigation on or off as needed, assisting in programming, cleaning, and repairing leaks

Pruning/Weeding

• Removing undesirable plants for the health and appeal of desired ones. Using hand tools and shovels to remove the weeds and put them into yard waste bin. Weeds on the Kitsap noxious weed list are bagged and put into the trash bin. Using pruners, loppers, and saws to prune vegetation from blocking signs, off buildings, walkways, curbs, and parking spaces.

Cleaning outdoor fixtures

• Using graffiti remover to clean graffiti using a hand brush, towel, or by painting over it; cleaning signs, tables, benches, trash cans, walkways, and lots by hand or using pressure washers

Pest Control

• Removing dead rodents by hand using PPE, double bagging, and placing in compactor. Setting traps as needed. Placing ant bait stations and fly traps as needed. Cone off areas with bees, hang yellow jacket traps, using PPE, spray and remove nests as needed. Using a hose to wash aphids off. Cleaning out under shrubs to control root weevils and other pests, removing infected leaves, fertilizing and spraying with Neem if necessary. Removing mushrooms and fungus by hand at the playground as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Six (6) months of full-time equivalent (FTE) experience in a related field of grounds maintenance, gardening, plant care, or landscaping.
• Valid WA State Driver's License
• Ability to lift 50lbs.
• Ability to work in inclement weather using mowers, edgers, blowers, pressure washers, and other equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hardscape maintenance, plant care, and irrigation install and repair

Working Setting, including Hazards

• Outdoors, work in inclement weather near traffic, insects, and animals

Terms of Employment

Please note that we are unable to sponsor visas for this position. Only candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States will be considered.

This is a temporary full-time classified position scheduled to work XX hours a week, with a salary range of $41,820- $55,596* annually. All classified positions will start their salary at Step A. After completing the six-month probation, your salary will increase by 2 steps.

A collective bargaining agreement exists, and this position is covered by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) Union. This position is not initially eligible for benefits upon hire but could qualify if the employee works 480 hours in a rolling six-month period to become eligible for health benefits. If the position becomes eligible, they will qualify for the following benefits: Medical/vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental dismemberment, Flexible Spending Arrangement, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Wellness Programs, Department of Retirement Systems Plan 2 or Plan 3, Deferred Compensation Program (DRS) retirement savings plan; TIAA supplemental retirement savings plan, Aflac, 11 paid holidays, leave - vacation/sick/personal holiday/personal leave, auto/home insurance, space available tuition waiver, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), fitness center, reduced rate and priority consideration for on-site childcare based on space availability.

For more information regarding benefits, please visit our website here.

Conditions of Employment

• Prior to hiring, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. In addition to the background check, candidates will be required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form as required WB HB 2327.
• The employee must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of the campus to respond to workplace reporting requirements at the time of hiring. Frequent travel to Olympic College campuses or other sites may occur.

EEO Statement

Olympic College values equity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. Olympic College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual conduct. Provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Erin Pohl, Title VII and Title IX, Building 5, room 528A, 360-475-7303. Olympic College is a smoke-free/ drug-free environment. This recruitment announcement does not reflect the entire job description and can be changed or modified without notice.

Olympic College

Human Resources

1600 Chester Ave Bldg. 5 - 5th Floor

Bremerton, WA 98337

https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/olympic