Lead Groundskeeper

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Tuition benefits for employee and dep.

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Northwestern University in Evanston/Chicago campuses seeks a Lead Gardener to support landscape maintenance, renovations, and shop operations. The role requires supervising staff, coordinating with contractors, and ensuring safety and University standards across grounds and Auto Shop tasks.

The position involves seasonal duties, equipment operation, and potential evening/weekend coverage to address campus needs. Strong supervisory and horticultural knowledge are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of professional landscape or grounds maintenance experience.
• Minimum two years supervisory experience in planning, directing, and coordinating landscape maintenance activities.
• Valid Illinois Pesticide Operator License.
• Valid Commercial Drivers License Class B.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Member of Local 681 or eligible to join after probation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate tasks for shop personnel and contractors to meet campus missions and budgets.
• Perform seasonal landscape activities on both campuses including flower bed and turf maintenance, shrub plantings, and weed control.
• Operate landscape equipment and drive University vehicles as needed.
• Oversee shop performance and budget alignment; develop standard procedures and supervise staff.

Skills

Leadership

Landscape knowledge

Team coordination

Safety compliance

Education

Illinois Pesticide Operator License

Commercial Drivers License Class B

High School diploma

Local 681 membership requirement

Associate's or Bachelor's in horticulture

Job description

Department: Facilities Mgmt EV

Salary/Grade: 681/UA

Job Summary:

The Lead Gardener, under minimal supervision from the Groundskeeper Foreman and Groundskeeper Assistant Foreman, provides a variety of skilled tasks within the landscape trade. The role assists with all shop-related work and facilitation associated with the maintenance and upkeep of the Evanston and Chicago campuses' roads, walks, landscape, grounds, and Auto Shop. Independently works and performs quality control in the field to ensure safe and efficient operations. Coordinates and implements various landscape maintenance and construction-related projects which may include supervising crews and contractors. Provides direction to staff and assists with limited supervisory responsibilities. Ensures timely completion of all shop-related paperwork and electronic approvals, which may include service requests and timesheets. Cultivates good customer relations.

The role will support the department's mission and values by exhibiting the following: inclusiveness, respect, initiative, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. The incumbent will strive to provide excellent service when performing job responsibilities and will practice safe work procedures, and follow safety rules at all times.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Coordinates necessary tasks and work to the shop personnel and supplemental contractors or vendors to effectively meet the unit's mission and budget on the campuses. Ensures tasks and assignments are implemented and performed at the highest order of excellence, completed in the most cost-effective manner, and completed to University standards and unit requirements.
• Performs and manages seasonal landscape activities on both campuses, including:
  • Flower bed maintenance: plant material, weeding beds, and watering.
  • Turf maintenance: mowing, seeding, sodding, and watering. May include pesticide application.
  • Landscape construction: tree and shrub plantings, site preparation, and plant removals.
  • General landscape maintenance: lawn mowing, watering, weeding, and cultivating. Instructs and assists with detailed trimming and pruning.
  • General landscape clean-up and leaf removal.
  • Snow and ice removal: includes the use of shovels, small snow brooms, and snowplows.
  • Refuse removal: carrying garbage cans and picking up trash from campus areas.
  • Small equipment operation: lawn mowing equipment, snow blowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, bulb drills, walk-behind aerators. Drives University vehicles. May drive University vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license - Class B.
  • Special event setups for University departments.
• Manages the shop's performance to budget and other unit objectives
• Develops and maintains standard operating and reporting procedures for shop staff.
• Participates in the hiring, training, and performance evaluation of staff.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, ordinances, and codes as well as University and departmental programs and policies including safety, labor management, and conflict of interest.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Must be available and capable of responding to irregularities during evenings and weekends, ensuring 24-hour, 7-day-per-week coverage.

Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five or more years of professional landscape or grounds maintenance experience.
• Minimum two years supervisory experience in planning, directing, and coordinating landscape maintenance activities;
• Obtain and maintain a valid Illinois Pesticide Operator License
• Obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Drivers License Class "B"
• High School diploma or equivalent combination of educational training and experience.
• Must be a member of Local 681 or join after a satisfactory completion of a 90-day probationary period.

Minimum Competencies:

• Thorough knowledge of landscape maintenance and construction.
• Proficiency in plant identification, disease prevention and treatment, and pesticide application.
• Ability to read and understand landscape drawings as well as the operation of all landscape-related equipment.
• Physical ability to work in cramped quarters, climb ladders, and work from equipment high off the ground.
• Physical ability to lift and maneuver weight of up to 50 pounds.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Exceptional customer relationship skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment;
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to effectively motivate work groups toward defined and agreed-upon common goals;
• Comprehensive knowledge of the tools, instruments, methods and standard trade/safety practices pertaining to all aspects of landscape maintenance.
• Receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement.
• Helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented. Ability to build strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Seeks to build collaboration by encouraging trust, mutual respect, and shared purpose.
• Balances listening and talking, speaks and writes clearly and accurately, and keeps others informed.
• Integrates health and safety precautions into daily activities.
• Works effectively in an environment in which the parameters may change daily; adjusts behavior to meet the needs of different people and situations.
• Successfully uses multiple software programs independently. Software may include Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, CMMS Systems, and PeopleSoft;
• Proficiency with mobile devices including iOS.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related field

Preferred Competencies:

• Facilitates open and effective communication, cooperation, and teamwork within and outside of one's own team
• Plans ahead, manages time well, and arrives on time
• Familiarity with zone maintenance models
• Recommends improvements and opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce costs
• Analytical skills including critical thinking, decision-making, troubleshooting and problem solving, reading and interpreting technical drawings
• Achieves a standard of excellence with work processes and outcomes, honoring University and Department policies and all regulatory requirements.

Target hiring pay for this position will be $46.92 per hour as determined by the Local 681 CBA. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances, whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.