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Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 3
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Position Number: 5805893
Location: Cheney, WA
Position Type: Facilities Management

Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 3

About Eastern Washington University:

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. EWUs 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washingtons second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelors and masters degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a 24-25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place-the knowledge that comes from the land.

Job Summary:

Are you passionate about horticulture and landscape management? Eastern Washington University is seeking a Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 3 to join our dedicated team. In this role, you will be integral to the care and maintenance of our beautiful 300 acre campus grounds, ensuring they thrive for students, staff, and the community to enjoy.
Key Responsibilities:

Manage and maintain a comprehensive grounds maintenance program, including mowing, trimming, and seasonal plant care.
Oversee and implement sprinkler irrigation systems to ensure optimal water usage across the campus.
Propagate and nurture trees, shrubs, and forage plants, contributing to our campus biodiversity.
Conduct soil analyses to assess and improve soil health, and maintain detailed growth records for all propagations.
Collaborate with other departments to enhance the campus landscape and support sustainability initiatives.
This position works year round (12 months per year).

The salary for this position is $38,784 - $50,112. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 13 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/ .

Required Qualifications:

Physical ability to do required work.
One year of experience or training involving grounds maintenance, plant care, cultivation and landscape installation.
High school diploma or GED
Valid drivers license
Must acquire and maintain a Washington State Department of Agriculture Public Applicators License with the following categories: Laws & Safety, Ornamental Weeds, Insect & Disease within six months of hire (EWU pays for this).
Candidate must demonstrate interest, ability and/or experience promoting cultural competency, universal accessibility and/or diversity.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prefer applicant to already possess a WSDA Applicators License and/or a Commercial Drivers

License (CDL).

Other Skills and Abilities:

Qualified tree pruner, skilled in plant propagation in a greenhouse.
Detail oriented in landscape skills.

Job Duties:
Plans, prepares, plants, feeds, waters, prunes and maintains flower beds and landscaped areas; Includes preparation of ground for lawn, plants, trees and planting shrubs; plant trees, grass, flowers, shrubs, seeds, bulbs, and other types of foliage.
Seed, mow, fertilize and maintain lawns.
Use a variety of powered and non-powered tools and implements in the performance of the functions listed.
Operate power equipment such as light tractors, trucks, lawn mowers, sweepers, sprayers, trimmers, rototillers, aerators, sod cutters, trenchers, chain saws and aerial lifts in support of gardening functionsPercent of Time: 25

Diagnoses and treats plant diseases.
Control insect pests where needed; applies pesticides when deemed necessary for control of pests with the appropriate license.
Prepares bedding areas by sterilizing and mixing soils, cleaning bedding tables and sterilizing pots and containers used in nursery culture.
Propagates plants by cutting, seeding, grafting, layering and budding.
Analyze soil for PH content; takes tissue samples for analysis.
Formulates and presents recommendations for layout or improvements of grounds.
Converts quotas of seedlings and potted plants to square footage of greenhouse and cold frame planting and to species and quantities of seeds.
Submits requests for all necessary supplies and equipment.
May participate in formulating annual operating plans for large greenhouse and takes principal responsibility for executing plans schedules planning dates and other work to coincide with seasons and plant life cycles.Percent of Time: 22

Remove debris, snow and ice from walks, stairways, roads and parking areas.
Operate power equipment such as light tractors, trucks, sweepers, sprayers, and leaf and snow blowers in support of maintenance functions
Installs, maintains, repairs, and adjusts various sprinkler systems and control devicesPercent of Time: 20

Installs, maintains, repairs, and adjusts various sprinkler systems and control devicesPercent of Time: 20

Operates and maintains assigned vehicle.
May repair, maintain and operate a variety of grounds mechanical equipment, systems, and apparatus; including grease, oil, service and make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment.
Keep equipment in good working orderPercent of Time: 10

May supervise, direct, or lead other employees and helpersPercent of Time: 3
Conditions of Employment:

This position requires continuous walking and maintaining of stamina during workday. Frequent sitting, standing, bending over, reaching overhead, pushing or pulling, repetitive use of hands/arms, repetitive use of legs, lifting of up to 50 pounds, carrying of up to 50 pounds, eye/hand coordination. Successful candidate must be able to pass a pre-placement physical.
This position works continuously outside. The work environment varies in temperature between very hot, and very cold. This position works in high places in an environment that can be dry, wet, dirty and/or dusty.
Must have essential physical and mental capabilities in the following: Interpersonal skills, memory, attention to detail, follow directions, comprehension, calculating, reading, writing, speaking, evaluating, mathematics, organizing and innovation.
This position will be required to secure a Washington State Department of Agriculture Public Pesticide Operators license in the following categories: Laws & Safety, Ornamental Insects & Diseases, Ornamental Weeds within six months of hire.
This position requires a valid drivers license.
This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. Successful applicant will be required to pass a background check prior to beginning employment.
All new employees will comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
All new faculty and staff are required to complete DEI/Title IX/Hazing Training after their hire date. This should be completed no later than the first few weeks after hire. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on Human Resources site https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training-resources/ under the required heading.
This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement:
https://in.ewu.edu/hr/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2023/06/WFSE-EWU-CBA-Barg.-Units-1-and-2-FINAL-2023-2025.pdf

Salary Information:

$38,784 - $50,112. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date: 11/14/2024
Open Until Further Notice: No
Closing Date: 12/1/2024
Screening to Begin: After review

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu/postings/13088

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.