Lead Arborist (Landscape/Nursery Service Sup)

Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition subsidy

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Indiana University Bloomington is seeking a Groundskeeper/Facilities role within Facility Operations to maintain campus landscapes, supervise nursery staff, and implement planting plans. The position emphasizes plant health, safety, and collaboration with the Horticulture team on design and care standards.

Responsibilities include leading daily activities, coordinating schedules, training staff, and maintaining inventory and equipment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED/HSED).
• 3 years of nursery, greenhouse, and/or landscape work.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to be insured by IU.
• Preferred: Associate’s degree in landscape horticulture or landscape design.
• Experience in leadership.

Responsibilities

• Maintain woody, perennial, and annual plants: weeding, mulching, pruning, transplanting, fertilizing, removing dead or diseased stock.
• Plan schedules and supervise nursery/greenhouse workers; approve time sheets and time off.
• Provide training on planting methods and BMPs; propagate stock.
• Install planting schemes per designs; assist with tree/shrub inventory.
• Operate nursery and grounds equipment; monitor inventory; respond to emergencies.

Skills

Team leadership

Plant identification

Pest management

Blueprint reading

Safety awareness

Verbal communication

Equipment operation

BMP knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree in landscape horticulture

Tools

GIS tree inventory

Job description

Department

FACILITY OPERATIONS-IUB (BL-PHYP-IUBLA)

Department Information

Capital Planning and Facilities (CPF) works to ensure that IU campuses are beautiful, functional, and sustainable supporting excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement across the entire university. Aunit within CPF, Facility Operations, maintains our physical campus to support research, teaching, and learning at Indiana University Bloomington.As a unit of Capital Planning and Facilities, Facility Operations provides wide-ranging services all with the goal of creating a beautiful, well-functioning campus.

Job Summary

• Maintains woody, perennial, and annual plants to ensure theirhealthy, safe, and attractive condition including weeding,mulching, pruning, transplanting, fertilizing, and removal of anydead, diseased, or declining plant stock. Inspects campuslandscapes for issues, hazards, and risks and works with supervisorto determine solutions.
• Plans work schedules. Organizes daily activities ofnursery/greenhouse workers and monitors project completion.Approves time sheets and time off requests of Nursery personnel.Provides appropriate counseling and discipline if necessary.
• Provides training to employees on proper tree, shrub, andannual installation methods, including modern planting protocols,staking, watering, mulching, weed prevention, etc.
• Propagates, maintains and nurtures young plant stock. Monitorsnursery and greenhouse stock for pests and diseases. Appliesappropriate treatments and chemicals as necessary. Coordinatestraining for staff related to modern greenhouse productionstandards.
• Installs mulches and planting schemes in accordance withblueprints, drawings, sketches, or design specifications incollaboration with Horticulture Supervisor and University LandscapeArchitect. Assists Arborists in maintaining tree inventory databaseand donor tree database.
• Prunes and shapes trees, shrubs and other plants for mostdesirable appearance and health. Waters, fertilizes, and mulchesplants. Performs grounds maintenance work including weeding,seeding, mowing, snow removal and other seasonal tasks.
• Operates standard nursery and grounds keeping equipment,including trucks, tractors, skid-steers, rototillers, edgers,pruners, sheers, and mowers.
• Monitors and maintains nursery equipment and suppliesinventory. Assists Horticulture Supervisor with sourcing andordering of plant materials.
• Provides emergency response for grounds related campusemergencies, including weather emergencies. Performs preventativemaintenance on nursery care equipment such as shovels, rakes,trucks, tractors, rototillers.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent (such as HSED or GED).

Preferred

• Associate's degree in landscape horticulture or landscapedesign.

Work Experience

Required

• 3 years of nursery, greenhouse, and/or landscape work

Preferred

• Experience in leadership.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

Required

• Possesses a valid driver's license and ability to be insured by Indiana University upon date of hire.

SKILLS

Required

• Ability to work safely and efficiently.
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills.
• Ability to lead, plan, and organize the work of nursery/greenhouse workers.
• Ability to stay current with Best Management Practices (BMPs) regarding integrated pest management practices.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of plant identification andpest control.
• Demonstrated nursery/greenhouse grower skills and ability to train nursery personnel on all aspects of greenhouse production.
• Knowledge of maintaining and planting ornamental trees,flowers, and shrubs.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings and blueprints and provide estimates.
• Ability to determine the appropriate tools and equipment neededand use them safely.
• Ability to operate technology including electronic work orders,emails, and GIS based tree inventory.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, including heat andfreezing temperatures.
• Ability to build and maintain a team environment between Groundskeeping teams.
• Knowledge and experience in landscape design.

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to remain in a stationary positionas well as the ability to move about the workplace for longdurations. It requires effective communication, the ability tooperate machinery, tools, and controls. The role requires theability to ascend/descend ladders/stairs, and to position oneselfin low level positions, detect a variety of chemicals and/or gases.The role requires the ability to ascend to rooftops and move intight spaces to perform and complete inspections. The person inthis role must be able to perform the essential functions with orwithout an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

Advertised Salary

$26.08 per hour

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, criticalillness, and supplemental accidental death & dismembermentinsurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject tovesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IUcourses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteerevents
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job Classification

Career Level: Mastery

FLSA: Nonexempt

Job Function: Engineering, Trades & Facility

Job Family: Groundskeeping

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Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the PostedDate.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider ofADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [e-mail] or by visiting IUPD.

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