Sr. Supervisor, Grounds Maintenance

Occupational Summary

Plan and supervise the work required to maintain, preserve, and care for all university and medical center landscapes.

Work Performed

• Supervise activities involved in grounds maintenance, landscaping, cleaning of university streets, walks, and parking areas including the removal of snow and ice.
• Review and evaluate procedures and recommend methods for increased efficiency and cost reduction.
• Plan and schedule work for Landscape Services Personnel to ensure proper distribution of the maintenance effort to meet expected schedules.
• Monitor quality of work performed by Landscape Services employees.
• Provide advanced technical guidance and training to grounds personnel in the proper maintenance and care of shrubs, trees, flowers and groundcovers; instruct workers in cultivation requirements for decorative plantings and ornamental beds.
• Evaluate equipment and tools and determine maintenance and replacement schedules.
• Arrange meetings with subordinates to ensure compliance with established practices, to implement new policies and procedures and to keep employees abreast of current changes and standards.
• Manage personnel functions including, but not limited to, hiring, performance appraisals, promotions, transfers and vacation schedules.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Skills

• Must be able to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions and meet deadlines
• Requires accurate use and precise perception and judgement for: safe use of measuring devices; operation of machinery and equipment; operation of motor vehicles; and the general observation of surroundings and activities for the safety of individuals, staff and the general public
• Must possess strong leadership, planning, organizational, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions is required.
• Knowledge of landscape and turfgrass maintenance requirements based on type of landscape, weather conditions, and seasonal tasks.
• Ability to identify and report common plant pests and diseases.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training

- Work requires an Associate's degree in Horticulture, Turfgrass Management or a related field to acquire technical and practical knowledge of landscape and grounds management.
- North Carolina driver's license is required.
- North Carolina Pesticide Applicators License or ability to obtain within six months of hire is required.

Experience

Work requires four years of progressively responsible experience in landscape/grounds maintenance and/or operations to include prior supervision and/or management of personnel engaged in grounds maintenance activities.
A Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Turfgrass Management or a related field may offset two years of required experience OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

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Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.