Position Summary Employee Details Employee First Name: Employee Last Name: Open Position Employee ID: Classification Payroll Title: GROUNDSKEEPER GARDENER Payroll Title Code: 8153 Job Group: Overtime Eligible: (FLSA) Employee Relations Unit: (Bargaining Unit) Representation: F03 Non-Exempt SX Covered Salary Grade: 0 Position Description Position Number: (Assigned when added to Library) 02004048 Dept: FM: GROUNDS SERVICES - 064040 Position: ARBORETUM GARDENING SPECIALIST HEERA/Union Representation: This position is covered by a collective bargaining unit IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Supervisor Name: Cary Avery Supervisor Payroll Title: Phys Plt Supt Sr Supervisor Phone Number: 530 752 4206
POSITION DETAILS Job Summary: This position is supervised by the Director of Grounds & Landscape Services and is part of a team that provides outdoor maintenance support to the campus. This position's primary assignment is to perform landscape maintenance within the UC Davis Arboretum. Daily assignments are provided under the direction of the Director of GATEways Horticulture and Teaching Gardens. This position performs all functions necessary to maintain Arboretum plant collection health and visitor safety, including path clearing, weed control, watering, pruning, planting, maintenance of signage, irrigation systems and other infrastructure, and equipment maintenance. The position supervises and trains student interns and teams of volunteer gardeners to assist with landscape maintenance. Campus Job Scope: Department Specific Job Scope: The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is visitor-centered organization. Through the UC Davis GATEways Project (Gardens, Arts and The Environment), the Arboretum and Public Garden envisions the entire campus landscape as a resource for lifelong education and community engagement. Visitor safety and comfort are essential for a positive, educational visitor experience in the garden. This position serves as an ambassador for the organization and friendly, helpful presence to support the visitor experience. As a living museum, all plants in the Arboretum's gardens and collections are museum specimens with value for education, research, conservation, historic preservation, and aesthetics. The Arboretum gardening specialist position plays a key role in the care and conservation of the plant collection. Positions Supervised: Essential Responsibilities: N/A 70% LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE -Provide care and maintenance of plants, shrubs, trees, hedges, flowers, lawns, fields, outdoor art installations, exhibits, and hard surfaced areas. -Ensure a safe and clean environment for campus visitors. Edge, clear, rake, and blow paths and lawns, perform landscape safety inspections, and pick up litter. Clean up graffiti and vandalism. Perform storm cleanup. Report hazards to supervisor. -Control weeds using cultural, chemical, and mechanical techniques. Identify weeds and determine the best means of control. Apply mulch, alter irrigation, spray herbicide, hoe, or mow as necessary. -Provide and monitor landscape irrigation. Hand water areas as needed to maintain plant health while following best practices for water conservation. Provide establishment irrigation for new plantings. Monitor automated irrigation systems; maintain, adjust, and repair heads; recommend improvements to irrigation programming. -Care for a diversity of plants. Prune trees, shrubs, and vines for clearance, health, beauty, and structure. Deadhead and cut back flowering plants and grasses to remove dead or dormant growth, and improve health and flowering. Apply mulch and other soil amendments as needed to improve plant health.
-Control pests, including insects and animals, using Integrated Pest Management. Apply insecticides or rodenticides as needed, use traps, dispose of dead animals. -Operate trucks, power mowers, power edgers, blowers, spray rigs, and a variety of attachments and hand-operated grounds equipment or tools. Service and make adjustments to equipment. -Participate in the design, selection, and installation of landscape plantings in garden areas. -Install, maintain, monitor, and clean signage and plant labels. Maintain and clean art installations. -Perform other duties as needed. 20% VOLUNTEER AND STUDENT SUPERVISION AND TRAINING -In partnership with Arboretum horticulturists, lead, train, and supervise student interns and groups of up to 15 weekly volunteer gardeners in the performance of landscape maintenance duties. -Identify and prioritize work appropriate for students and interns, coordinate weekly projects, mobilize materials and resources as necessary, and supervise work. -Provide training in horticultural technique best practices, including but not limited to: pruning of trees and shrubs, planting techniques, mulching, weeding, deadheading, and trimming ornamental grasses. -Provide safety training for volunteers and student interns, including orientation for operation of all tools as well as for proper physical exertion techniques, such as proper lifting. Document training, and provide documentation to safety coordinator. 10% MISCELLANEOUS -Serve as an ambassador for UC Davis and the Arboretum and Public Garden. Provide on-the-ground logistical support for researchers, instructors, and visitors. -Participate in work coordination, planning, and safety training meetings. -Assist as needed with special projects, including new landscape construction and installation, waterway maintenance, and more. -Record new plantings and plant removals in the Arboretum plant records system. Use respirator and protective clothing. Walk, lift, stoop, bend, crawl, push, and work in tight, confined areas. Physical Demands: Agility and strength to traverse steep banks carrying materials weighing up to 50 lbs. Climb ladders, climb on top of machinery and equipment. Carry a pack sprayer weighing up to 75 lb. on back. Work outdoors year-round in summer heat, winter rain, and other extreme weather conditions. Work Environment: Work in areas of noise, odors, vibration, dirt, and dust. Possession of a valid Pesticide Applicators Certificate or ability to obtain one within 6 months of employment.
Possession of a valid CA driver's license. Participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. Subject to Medical Surveillance procedures and review in accordance with Federal and State Laws and Regulations and University Policy. Subject to completion of a Pre-Placement Medical Exam provided by Employee Health Services, at no charge to the applicant. May, at times, require the individual to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials and/or infectious diseases are present. Specific hazards include but are not limited to: cleaning materials, pesticides, fuels, solvents, infectious materials and wastes, biological hazards, and other materials labeled hazardous. May be required to work a non-standard work schedule that may include nights, weekends, or alternative schedules such as 80 hours in 8 or 9 shifts instead of 10. Vacation usage by the employee may be restricted during peak workload periods as required to meet the needs of the campus. Background Check Required: This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks. UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space. Yes QUALIFICATIONS A minimum of one year of experience in grounds maintenance or gardening; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in the identification, cultivation, and care of a broad diversity of ornamental and native landscape plants. Minimum Qualifications: Experience and skill to safely operate a variety of landscape tools, tools used in machine maintenance, gasoline and electrical power equipment. Experience in the operation and maintenance of spray equipment for weed and pest control. Experience in recognizing, diagnosing and researching plant health problems, including abiotic disorders, diseases, and pests, and developing solutions to horticulture problems.
Experience in irrigation maintenance and minor repairs. Knowledge of pruning standards and best practices. Knowledge of weed identification and control methods used. Knowledge of pest control laws and regulations regarding safe chemical application and pesticides used. Skill to learn new techniques and methods for using new tools. Skill to follow, apply, and execute simple and complex technical instructions delivered orally or in writing. Interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to clearly and effectively interact with a diverse group of individuals to secure and/or provide information to clarify situations, resolve problems, and negotiate services and/or agreements. Organizational and time management skills to manage, track, and work on multiple and simultaneous complex tasks, following through on each as new ones are added, and meet multiple deadlines. Skill to instruct others in standard safety techniques. Skill to handle emergency situations and think clearly and prioritize under stress. Computer skills to utilize various programs and software for word processing, spreadsheets, website applications, and email programs. Skill to use a smart phone including text, email, camera, map, calculator, and other apps. Skill to organize facilities, tools, and materials to assure convenient access and usefulness for a variety of user groups. Degree or certification in Horticulture, Plant Science, or related field. Knowledge of best practices in the design and maintenance of sustainable landscapes. Knowledge of landscape construction techniques including grading, path construction, retaining walls, irrigation, and basic carpentry. Preferred Qualifications: Skill in the design of new plantings for visual appeal and collection quality. Knowledge of public garden management practices, including living museum records. Skill in the use of a variety of management practices to control ground squirrels, gophers, voles, and other rodents. Skill in the management of volunteers and/or student interns.
Knowledge of basic first-aid training. SIGNATURES Employee I have read this position description and understand its contents. Supervisor Department Head
Expectations Read and follow the UC Davis Principles of Community Job Expectations Work in collaboration with others in a cooperative and professional manner. SIGNATURES Employee I have read this position description and understand its contents. Supervisor Department Head