Grounds Landscaping Technician

Shenandoah University's Physical Plant department is accepting applications for a Grounds Landscaping Technician.  This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with benefits, located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia.  

Position Overview:

This position plays a vital role in shaping the daily campus experience at Shenandoah University. As a key member of our facilities team, you will ensure our buildings, grounds, and athletic fields are safe, vibrant, and welcoming. By maintaining a pristine environment, you directly support the academic mission and student life, creating a campus pride that everyone can feel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Landscape & Plant Care: Perform routine campus upkeep, including weed eating, precision pruning of trees, trimming undergrowth, and occasional mowing.
• Turf & Plant Health: Apply essential treatments -including fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides-to ensure the health and beauty of flower beds, bushes, and ornamental trees. 
• Campus Aesthetics: Maintain high standards of cleanliness. through regular litter control and removal, and address grounds issues like erosion repair. 
• Athletic Field Support: Assist in maintaining premier athletic fields in accordance with university standards. 

Essential Safety Response: This position is a critical member of the Snow Removal Response Team, responsible for keeping the campus safe and accessible by clearing snow and ice from roads, walkways, and steps during inclement weather. 

Qualifications & Skills:

• Horticulture Knowledge: A basic understanding of elemental horticulture and landscape material. 
• Technical Skill: Ability to safely operate standard landscaping and groundskeeping equipment. 
• Dependability: Ready and willing to support seasonal weather emergencies (snow/ice removal).
• Pride in Work: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from High School, or GED, and related flower gardening and grounds experience.
• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. 
• Heavy Lifting is required; the candidate must be able to lift a minimum of 50lbs.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening and background check
• Meet the physical requirements of the essential job functions, including working in adverse weather conditions and performing manual labor.
• Must be able to take direction and work independently to complete assigned tasks.
• Being a self-starter is a must, with the ability to see an assigned task to completion with a high degree of quality.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience in grounds/landscaping maintenance. 
• Experience in operating equipment associated with grounds, i.e., tractors, mowers, leaf blowers, edgers, weed eaters, and other gardening and bed care equipment. 
• Experience in transplanting trees and flowers, mulching, watering plants, trees, and grass is desirable. 
• The ability to communicate effectively in English (reading, writing, interpretation, and comprehension) is required. 
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills are required.  Computer literate, knowledgeable, and skilled with Google Chrome, Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or willing to learn new programs.  
• Ability to effectively work/interact with persons from different backgrounds and cultures.