Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO) .
Facilities Services (FS), the division that provides college-wide support of equitable student success. As stewards of Whitman College’s built and natural environment our services range from planning, design, construction projects, and agency interaction to maintenance, custodial, surplus, grounds and landscaping, trust - rental property maintenance, sustainability, recycling, conferences, scheduling, environmental management, occupational safety, and utility/energy efficiency. Serving 1,500 students, with 1.3 million gross square feet comprising of 54 facilities, 80 rental units and 112 acres of grounds, we service two campuses – Main and Johnston Wilderness, as well as two observatory locations.
Facilities Services includes several key departments: Administration, Conference, Events and Scheduling, Custodial, Energy Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Grounds, Maintenance, Planning, Design, and Construction, Rental Property Maintenance and Sustainability. The FS team includes more than 70 talented and engaged individuals who are dedicated to providing the most effective, safe, and customer-oriented service to the College community maintaining an educational environment in support of recruitment, retention, and Whitman’s strategic priorities. Our staff includes a culturally diverse team of technical professionals, administrative support, skilled trades, management, and students that ensures the best learning environment on one of the most beautifully-built and operated nationally ranked liberal arts colleges.
POSITION PURPOSE
Perform advanced-level work in the maintenance and care of Whitman College landscapes. Make repairs to landscape associated systems and operate all landscape and grounds equipment as required. This specialist regularly consults with the Grounds Supervisor on all matters involving the operation and maintenance of related equipment and work scheduling. Evening and weekend work may be required on occasion.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Mow, edge, aerate, renovate, overseed, fertilize, top dress, and maintain turf areas.
- Inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, repair, and adjust all irrigation systems.
- Possess knowledge of proper pruning of all plant material, as needed, following current industry standards.
- Perform weed, insect, and disease control using chemical, cultural, mechanical, or biological means when necessary.
- Be willing to train and work with student workers and assist in the guidance of their duties.
- Pick up trash, garbage and recycle material as directed.
- Clean and upkeep sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc.
- Report damages and maintenance repairs.
- Utilize Facility Services work order system correctly and regularly, as well as computers (e.g. email, creating reports).
- Work within the safety regulations for federal, state, and Whitman College. Actively participate in the accident prevention program, including attending safety program.
- Observe safety precautions and procedures at all times, being alert for unsafe conditions and report them to supervisor.
- Must be able to respond to campus emergencies throughout the year.
- Operate various types of equipment including power mowers, saws, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, sprayers, etc.
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Ensure grounds are free of weeds and dead plants.
Seasonal fluctuation will periodically require the following duties:
- Prepare soil for seeding, sodding, planting, and transplanting of plant materials.
- Seed, mow, irrigate, fertilize, and maintain landscape areas as directed.
- Rake leaves, pull, hoe, cut or remove weeds as directed.
- Remove debris, snow, and ice from steps, walks, and ramps, and parking lots.
- Plant seeds, flowers, bulbs, shrubs, trees, and transplant as directed.
- Assist mechanic with rental fleet and other duties as directed.
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Assist with recycling duties as needed. Picking up cardboard from around campus.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to perform physical labor in all types of weather.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to positively and actively contribute to the college’s core values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Possess good judgment, an eye for detail, and a desire to achieve perfection for maximum landscape maintenance.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- High School graduation, two (2) years' experience in grounds keeping related to landscaping, park, golf course, arborist etc.
- Knowledge of landscape principles, tools and related equipment
- May substitute one-year industry experience with either residential, repair, and installation of irrigation systems
- Must possess a Washington valid driver’s license, pass background check and employment physical
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Trade school training
- Past experience in standard groundskeeping practices and procedures in an organization with extended hours of operation and multiple high-traffic grounds/landscape areas such as, higher education, K-12 schools, healthcare
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS
Work environment is primarily outdoors including inclement weather conditions, which may include working in high places. This position may be exposed to dirt, dust and equipment solutions. Work may require periodic use of personal protective equipment (e.g. respirators, fall protection). Physical skill and sustained physical effort may be required for some of the ground’s responsibilities. Job requires moderate strength and agility and typically requires balancing, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling,
reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping and repetitive motions. Lifting and carrying materials weighing up to 50 pounds occurs with varied frequency.
BENEFITS
Whitman offers competitive employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision and life insurances, a generous 10% matching contribution to the Whitman College 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, and paid time off including 13 paid holidays for full-time staff vacation and sick leave. Learn more about benefits eligibility here.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
At Whitman College, we take seriously the safety of our community. Whitman is a fully vaccinated campus, requiring all employees and students to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations or have an approved exemption. More information can be found here.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES
Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.
APPLICATION REVIEW
Application review will begin on April 1 and continue until the position is filled.
START DATE
April 21, 2022