Grounds Enhancement Technician

Grounds Enhancement Technician
Department: Physical Plant
Employment Type: Full-Time, 12-Month
Hourly Range: $12.77-$14.50
Reports To: Physical Plant Operations Manager
Workweek: 40 hours per week
Employment Status: Non-Exempt

Who We Are?

Ferrum College is committed to maintaining a beautiful, safe, and welcoming campus environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the broader College community.

The Grounds Department plays an important role in maintaining and enhancing the appearance of the Ferrum College campus. Through landscape installation, grounds maintenance, seasonal beautification projects, and support for campus events and operations, the Grounds team helps create an attractive and inviting environment for the entire College community.

What We're Looking For

Ferrum College is seeking a dependable, hardworking individual to help maintain and enhance the beauty, safety, and appearance of the College campus.

This position focuses on creating and maintaining attractive campus landscapes, including flower beds, mulch beds, shrubs, trees, lawns, and other landscaped areas, while supporting the overall operations of the Grounds Department.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong work ethic, dependability, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. The position requires the ability to safely operate grounds-maintenance equipment and hand tools while working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

As an essential employee, this position may be required to work beyond normal business hours and remain on campus during emergencies or critical events, including severe weather, snowstorms, power outages, and other situations requiring continuous campus operations.

Key Responsibilities

Grounds & Landscape Maintenance

• Maintain and enhance the appearance of the College campus through the installation and maintenance of flower beds, mulch beds, shrubs, ornamental plantings, trees, and landscaped areas.
• Develop and implement seasonal landscape enhancement projects that contribute to a welcoming and attractive campus environment.
• Perform mowing, trimming, edging, pruning, weeding, watering, fertilizing, mulching, and other grounds maintenance activities.
• Assist with tree, shrub, and landscape maintenance to ensure healthy and attractive campus grounds.
• Perform routine inspections of campus grounds and report safety hazards, equipment concerns, or maintenance needs.
• Perform general Groundskeeper duties as needed to support departmental operations.

Equipment & Operations

• Operate and maintain a variety of motorized grounds equipment and hand tools, including mowers, tractors, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, utility vehicles, and other equipment.
• Maintain equipment in safe operating condition and report repair needs promptly.
• Follow all College safety procedures and applicable OSHA regulations while performing assigned duties.
• Safely operate equipment and machinery in accordance with established procedures and safety requirements.

Campus Events & Seasonal Operations

• Support campus events by assisting with grounds preparation, setup, cleanup, and restoration.
• Assist with snow and ice removal from roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, entrances, and other campus areas.
• Assist with seasonal grounds and landscape projects as needed.
• Perform other Grounds Department duties to support the safe and effective operation of the campus.

Customer Service & Campus Support

• Provide courteous, professional, and responsive customer service to students, faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the external community.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, students, faculty, and staff.
• Work cooperatively with members of the Grounds Department and other College departments.
• Participate in departmental training and professional development opportunities.

Emergency & Essential Employee Responsibilities

As an Essential Employee, this position is expected to:

• Report to work during College closures when directed.
• Remain on campus overnight, if necessary, during emergency situations such as severe weather events, snowstorms, extended power outages, or other campus emergencies.
• Assist with occasional emergency response and recovery efforts to maintain safe campus operations.
• Work overtime, evenings, weekends, holidays, or modified schedules as operational needs require.

Who You Are?

You are a dependable, hardworking, hands-on individual who takes pride in maintaining attractive and well-kept outdoor spaces.

You enjoy working outdoors and understand the importance of maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming campus environment. You are comfortable performing physically demanding work and operating a variety of landscaping equipment and tools.

You can work independently while also contributing positively as part of a team. You demonstrate a strong work ethic, take direction well, communicate effectively, and are committed to providing courteous and professional service to the Ferrum College community.

You are also willing to respond when operational needs require additional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, or emergency situations.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• One to three years of experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, or a related field preferred.
• Working knowledge of landscape maintenance techniques, plant materials, turf management, and grounds care.
• Ability to safely operate motorized equipment and hand tools.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong work ethic, dependability, and commitment to customer service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of landscaping, horticulture, and grounds maintenance practices.
• Ability to safely operate landscaping equipment and machinery.
• Ability to identify and address landscape maintenance needs.
• Ability to prioritize work and complete multiple assignments efficiently.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

The Grounds Enhancement Technician has a direct and visible impact on the Ferrum College campus every day.

This position provides an opportunity to contribute to the appearance, safety, and overall experience of the College community through hands-on landscape maintenance, seasonal beautification, campus events, and grounds operations.

The successful candidate will play an important role in keeping Ferrum's campus attractive, functional, and welcoming throughout the year.

Physical & Working Environment

This position requires the ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions throughout the year.

The successful candidate must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 75 pounds and perform physically demanding work involving bending, kneeling, climbing, walking, and standing for extended periods.

Work involves extensive outdoor activity in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, and ice. The position may involve exposure to dust, noise, landscaping chemicals, and the operation of heavy equipment. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required.

Additional Information

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications.

Ferrum College reserves the right to modify or assign additional duties as operational needs require. Employees are expected to perform other duties as assigned.

Ready to Join Our Team?

If you are a dependable, hardworking, and dedicated grounds professional who takes pride in maintaining beautiful and safe outdoor spaces and enjoys being part of a team that makes a visible difference on campus, we encourage you to apply.

Interested applicants should submit:

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Completed Employment Application

Ferrum College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.