Irrigation Specialist

Aims Community College; Evans (CO); On-site; USD 51,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Summer schedule: 4-day work week

Tuition waiver for employees

Free parking

Job summary

Aims Community College seeks an experienced grounds and irrigation specialist to manage the campus irrigation system and oversee landscape maintenance on 100 acres across multiple campus sites.

The role requires an Associate’s in landscape architecture, horticulture or related field and at least three years of irrigation experience, plus ability to operate heavy grounds equipment and use AutoCAD for project design.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in landscape architecture, horticulture or related field, plus three years of knowledge/experience installing, maintaining and repairing irrigation systems.
• Safety Certifications for forklift and skid loader or ability to obtain within 12 months.
• Ability to interpret plans and sketches and operate tractors and other grounds equipment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all phases of campus irrigation systems, including scheduling via controllers.
• Maintain and repair sprinklers, drip systems, pumps, backflows and related equipment.
• Biannual winterization and spring activation of irrigation lines.
• Install and maintain landscape projects using AutoCAD and field work.
• Operate grounds equipment and ensure safety and efficiency.

Education

Associate's degree in landscape architecture, Horticulture or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Minimum Hiring Annual Salary: $50,622.00 Maximum Hiring Annual Salary: $54,672.00

To attain the maximum annual salary, employee must meet all minimum qualifications plus:

• 5 (five) years of additional applicable work experience and/or degrees higher than minimum qualification degree. Degrees higher than the minimum qualification degree can be used in combination with additional work experience.


• A combination of related education, on-the-job work experience, certifications and/or licenses that results in a candidate successfully meeting the minimum qualifications of the position, may be considered.

The stated salary amounts are not guaranteed in the event employment ends with Aims during any fiscal year.

Benefits Package

• Benefits are effective immediately


• 100% employer provided medical & dental coverage employees (employee only option)


• 85% employer provided medical & dental coverage for employee's spouse and/or family


• Voluntary vision insurance


• Staff Annual Leave (minimum accrual of 15 days) & Sick (minimum accrual of 12 days)


• 17 paid holidays and 3 personal days each year


• Summer schedule: 4-day work week - Fridays Off


• Employer paid long-term disability and life insurance premiums


• Tuition waiver & reimbursement for employees


• Tuition waiver for dependents


• PERA employer (see www.copera.org for comprehensive benefits)


• Additional supplemental benefits & retirement programs available


• Access to the PERC (Aims gym) for employee & one guest


• Free parking on all campuses

Job Description

Aims Community College actively supports an environment that embraces the College's Mission, Vision, Values and a culture of innovation and care. The College embraces and seeks to hire individuals who want to be a part of this environment and have the skill sets necessary to be successful in this position.

Aims Community College has six campuses in Greeley, Fort Lupton, Windsor, and Flight Training Center in Loveland. This position is responsible for 100 acres of irrigated landscape on the Greeley campus, which includes various types of sprinkler heads, miles of underground piping, miles of underground wire, electric valves, SIC backflows, and two raw water pump stations.

Irrigation Systems

• Responsible for all phases of the campus irrigation system. Including round-the-clock scheduling of sprinkler operation via linked commercial irrigation controllers (a.k.a. timers, clocks) acting in tandem.


• Monitor functioning and consequent adjustment, repair, or replacement of commercial, large-volume sprinklers, spray heads, and drip systems across acres of turf grass, trees, flowers, and shrubs.


• Preventative maintenance (lubrication and monitoring, regulation of outflow) of pumps, backflows, and related irrigation clocks and equipment. Biannual closing (for winter to prevent freezing) and opening (in spring at onset of sprinkler season) of sprinkler line drains and blowing out of lines for winter with commercial air compressor.


• Repair of underground, high-pressure-rated sprinkler lines (encompassing all turf areas) up to 8" diameter. Commercial sprinkler head repair, including electrical diagnostic procedures, and subsequent repair of commercial irrigation electric valves throughout the system.


• Inventory and replacement of complete irrigation parts supply.

General Grounds Work

• Tree, shrub removal, trimming, and pruning.


• Fertilizing turf areas, trees, and other landscaping areas.


• Apply herbicides and pesticides.


• Chip tree branches for mulch.


• Regularly check drainage areas to ensure they are clear of debris.


• Be aware of stormwater violations.


• Collect and dispose of debris and litter.

Snow & Ice Removal

• Plow parking lots with a pickup-mounted snowplow.


• Hand-shovel specific areas not accessible by motorized vehicles/equipment.


• Distribute sand, ice melt, or equivalent by means of specialized equipment.


• Follow-up.

Landscape Projects

• Design, install, and maintain new and existing landscape projects.
  
  
  
  • Includes: Utilization of AutoCAD computer program and hand-drawn prints for irrigation and landscape design.
  
  
  
  


• Installation of design projects in the field, direction and oversight of other grounds employees, use of commercial power equipment (i.e. for trenchers), technical equipment (transits, underground locators), and hands-on skills to accomplish work.

Commercial Grounds Equipment & Tools

• Operate commercial grounds equipment such as tractors and backhoes. (For example, operate a backhoe in sensitive areas to avoid compromising above-ground structures, underground items, and the wall integrity of the excavation area).


• Operate snowplow (For Example, near cars, curbs and other structures that could damage area and equipment).


• Operate commercial riding deck mowers and weed eaters (For Example, areas where students and faculty are present to prevent flying debris from causing possible injury).


• Operate commercial and residential-type power tools and shop equipment.

Structure Maintenance

• Build landscape structures in accordance with existing codes.


• Preventative maintenance and repair existing landscape structures such as benches, pump houses, playground equipment, and storage sheds.

Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualification

• Associate's degree in landscape architecture, Horticulture or another related field,: plus three (3) years of knowledge/experience installing, maintaining, and repairing irrigation systems used in various commercial and industrial settings and ensuring efficient water distribution to plants, turf, and landscapes, and promoting healthy growth and optimal resource utilization or an equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.


• Safety Certifications for the following equipment (or ability to become certified within twelve (12) months of hire): Forklift, Skid loader.


• Ability to prepare and interpret plans and sketches.


• Ability to operate tractors and other commercial grounds equipment.


• Ability to understand and execute verbal and written instruction.


• Ability to use necessary hand tools associated with the trade.


• A pre-employment post-offer physical evaluation will be required of the selected candidate.


• This position requires the use of a company vehicle for business travel. The selected candidate must successfully pass an MVR and be insurable under Aims insurance.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter


• Resume


• Safety Certifications for the following equipment (or ability to become certified within twelve (12) months of hire): Forklift, Skid loader.

All Applicants

• Compare your previous work experience to the job duties listed on the job positing under job description. Enter the job duties you have performed under the "Work Experience" section on your job application. We evaluate your experience based on this information.


• Please make sure you state whether work experience (aka work history) is part time or full time employment by listing the average number of hours worked per week. This information is used to determine your new annual salary.


• Be sure to upload all the required documents listed at the above in "Additional Job Description" section. This can be uploaded as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section. If there are missing documents, your incomplete application will not be considered. Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you may redact information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

For information on our hiring practices, please visit https://www.aims.edu/departments/human-resources/hiring-process.

Aims Community College is an equal opportunity employer. Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination based on age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or veteran's status. All application materials must be submitted by the closing date posted and become the property of Aims Community College. The screening committee will select finalists for interviews. The goal of Aims Community College is to enhance the diversity present in the district we serve. To comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, if hired, you will be required to provide documents within three (3) business days of hire date to show your identity and your authorization to work. This law applies to all persons hired.

Screening/Selection

To be considered, please provide a thorough and complete application. Initial screening will be conducted by a committee based on completed application materials. Employees in these positions may be asked to participate in temporary assignments lasting less than nine (9) months (such as curriculum development, short term projects, meetings and substitute duties) which could amount to additional temporary pay. Upon hire, all positions at Aims Community College require a criminal background check and may require industry specific screenings such as an MVR, physical and/or drug screen. Keep in mind, a conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being employed. The nature of a conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.