Gardener I/II

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods. Swarthmore College was recently ranked number 3 in the 2021 US News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings - https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/swarthmore-college-3370.

Who We Are:

The Grounds Department of Swarthmore College is responsible for maintaining the collections of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, as well as maintaining a safe outdoor environment for all College students, staff, faculty and guests. The department consists of a Director of Grounds, Assistant Director of Grounds, two horticulture crews, each consisting of a Garden Supervisor, an Assistant Garden Supervisor and 4 gardeners. In addition, there is a Grounds mechanic and an athletic fields crew that oversees the care and maintenance of the outdoor athletic fields.

The opportunity:

The Grounds Department of Swarthmore College is seeking one Gardener who based on qualifications will be hired into either a level I or level II position. The Gardner (I/II) provides timely and reliable support for the maintenance of the Scott Arboretum’s plant collections and landscaped areas, and performs other campus grounds keeping duties to maintain and keep safe the paths, roads, turf areas, fields, and additional properties of the College. Tasks performed include: maintaining plant collections and garden areas by performing timely planting, weeding, mulching, and other horticultural duties; maintaining safety and aesthetic aspects of the campus, including trash, leaf and snow removal, and other grounds keeping duties; operating hand and power gardening tools and equipment safely and proficiently.

HORTICULTURAL TASKS

Gardener Level I

• Assists in maintaining the plant collections by performing timely planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, leaf raking, and other plant cultural practices in order to maintain campus aesthetics and provide proper horticultural care.
• Assists in maintaining specialty garden areas consisting of Bond Rose Garden, Cosby Courtyard, Lang Fragrance Garden, cherry border, peony collection, gravel culture, various courtyard gardens and major horticultural collections as the most intensively-maintained gardens on campus.
• Demonstrates some familiarity with the identification and maintenance of a broad range of trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, annuals, and turf grass; has the basic knowledge to provide proper horticultural care in a timely and efficient manner. Demonstrates ability to decide a course of action relative to soils and fertilization. Is up-to-date on accepted practices relative to soil care, pruning and planting in order to implement best management practices.
• Demonstrates some familiarity with the common diseases, insects, weeds, and cultural problems of landscapes and turf in the mid-Atlantic region in order to make proper decisions for daily maintenance.
• Demonstrates some familiarity with sustainable landscape/gardening practices relating to soil and plant health.
• Possesses basic knowledge of restoration processes and maintenance of natural areas such as Crum Woods.
• Is willing to acquire and maintain a Pennsylvania pesticide applicator certification for ornamentals and turf in order to legally and safely apply pesticides or organic control materials.

Gardener Level II

• Maintains the plant collections by performing timely planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, leaf raking, and other plant cultural practices with minimal supervision in order to maintain campus aesthetics and provide proper horticultural care.
• Maintains specialty garden areas consisting of Bond Rose Garden, Cosby Courtyard, Lang Fragrance Garden, cherry border, peony collection, gravel culture, various courtyard gardens and major horticultural collections as the most intensively-maintained gardens on campus.
• Demonstrates familiarity with the identification and maintenance of a broad range of trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, annuals, and turf grass; has the basic knowledge to provide proper horticultural care in a timely and efficient manner. Demonstrates ability to decide a course of action relative to soils and fertilization. Is up-to-date on accepted practices relative to soil care, pruning and planting in order to implement best management practices.
• Demonstrates familiarity with the common diseases, insects, weeds, and cultural problems of landscapes and turf in the mid-Atlantic region in order to make proper decisions for daily maintenance.
• Demonstrates familiarity with sustainable landscape/gardening practices relating to soil and plant health.
• Possesses basic knowledge of restoration processes and maintenance of natural areas such as Crum Woods.
• Maintains Pennsylvania pesticide applicator certification for ornamentals and turf in order to legally and safely apply pesticides or organic control materials.

Who you are:

GROUNDSKEEPING DUTIES

• Keep campus areas, turf, roads, sidewalks, and patios maintained in an efficient way. Has the ability to prioritize these tasks in order to provide a safe and aesthetically-pleasing campus.
• Perform trash removal, irrigation, turf renovation, turf mowing, snow removal, and leaf raking in order to efficiently maintain safety and high horticultural aesthetics on campus.
• Assist with special function set-up and tear-down in order to prepare the facilities in a timely manner for College-hosted events.
• Is present for and assists in College emergencies, bad weather occurrences, and special College functions in order to maintain campus safety for students, staff, and visitors.

EQUIPMENT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

• Safely and proficiently uses all hand gardening tools consisting of: pruners, shovels, rakes, loppers, hedge shears, and other gardening tools.
• With proper training, safely and proficiently uses grounds power equipment consisting of: tractor, loader, trucks, lawn mower, chain saw, weed whip, turf aerator, turf slicer/seeder, snow plow and thrower, brush chipper, and other grounds maintenance equipment.
• With proper training becomes proficient at performing the daily maintenance of all grounds hand and power tools and equipment.

INTERACTIVE SKILLS

• Build successful working relationships with coworkers and supervisors. Projects a positive image of the grounds department and of Swarthmore College. Communicates readily and works effectively as a member of a team.
• Work successfully with coworkers, interns, students, and Arboretum volunteers in order to efficiently and effectively accomplish the workload of the department.
• Adapt to new work situations, people, ideas, procedures, and organizational structures, in order to be successful in a constantly changing work environment.
• Exhibit maturity, reliability, composure, and stability under pressure in order to handle on-the-job stresses and challenges.
• Understand and abide by a high standard of professional ethics in order to ensure the integrity of the organization.
• Work successfully with a diverse department and upholds the College’s commitment to equal opportunity.

What you bring:

• Must be familiar with the operation and maintenance of hand tools and grounds maintenance equipment.
• Ability to work under harsh weather conditions and perform emergency storm-related damage services is required. Ability to work occasional scheduled weekends. Emergency work may require time outside of the normal workday.
• Physical dexterity to perform the job and ability to work outside year-round are necessary.
• Ability to frequently lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds and possess the physical strength to perform groundskeeping/gardening operations.
• Ability to carry a 35-pound backpack sprayer for extended periods. Hand, arm, and back strength to shovel, prune, and rake for extended periods of time. Ability to manipulate vibrating, hand-held power machinery for extended times.
• Ability to perform kneeling, bending, squatting motions for extended times. Ability to read and interpret pesticide labels, machinery safety manuals, and new information related to horticultural practices. Ability to maintain written maintenance records and keep a journal of daily work.
• High level of productivity; work pace is frequently fast-paced.
• Ability to work with diverse crew, faculty, staff, and volunteers.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Gardener Level I

• Minimum of high school diploma plus formal training in horticulture or related science (two or four-year accredited program) and one year of gardening/horticulture experience, or high school diploma plus a minimum of 3 years of gardening/horticulture experience.
• Must have demonstrated basic knowledge of ornamental plants and turf including: plant identification, cultural requirements, proper pruning techniques and IPM practices.

Gardener Level II

• Minimum of high school diploma plus formal training in horticulture or related science (two or four-year accredited program) and three to five years of gardening/horticulture experience.
• Must have demonstrated knowledge of ornamental plants and turf including: plant identification, cultural requirements, proper pruning techniques and IPM practices.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. And you’ll join a team of passionate, creative, and supportive people who work hard and have fun showcasing the College’s beautiful landscape.

If you are excited about this role, we want to hear from you!

For full consideration, submit applications including resume and cover letter with pay expectations by July 25, 2022.

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Advertised: Jul 15 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: