Grounds and Nursery Specialist 3 en Grays Harbor College, WA

About the Department

Grays Harbor College invites applications for the position of Grounds and Nursery Services Specialist 3. This is a full-time position working in the College's Grounds Department.  This position will assist in providing a clean and safe learning/working environment for students and staff and maintaining our campus grounds.

Grays Harbor College has an excellent benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, primary and supplemental retirement programs and long-term disability insurance. Full-time employees will also receive 11.33 hours of vacation leave per month to start, 8 hours of sick leave per month, and 4 personal leave days a year.  Washington state also observes 11 paid holidays per year.   

Classified positions at Grays Harbor College have been designated as bargaining unit positions represented by the Washington Public Employees Association, Local 365.  The union and the college have a collective bargaining agreement (referred to as the contract) that is posted on the GHC website.  https://www.ghc.edu/hr/labor-relations

Grays Harbor is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities. We prioritize student learning, promote student and faculty success, foster an inclusive environment, manage our resources, and connect with the community. We strive to create a culturally relevant environment on campus and in the community by learning and practicing equity-mindedness and promoting faculty, staff, and student diversity.

Position Duties

• Operates and maintains power and motorized equipment such as small trucks, lawn mowers, edgers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, backpack blowers, hedgers and sweepers. 
• Assists in moving materials and supplies.
• Uses, cleans and sterilizes a variety of manual tools and equipment, such as rakes, hand edgers, loppers, shovels, wheelbarrows, weeding forks, hoes, pruning shears and pesticide sprayers.  
• Installs, maintains, repairs, and adjusts various sprinkler systems and control devices.
• Seeds, mows, irrigates, sweeps, fertilizes, top dresses, edges and maintains lawns, trees/shrubs. 
• Prepares bedding areas by sterilizing and mixing soils, cleaning bedding tables and sterilizing pots and containers used in nursery culture.
• Plans, prepares, plants, feeds, waters, prunes and maintains flower beds and landscaped areas.
• Applies pesticides and herbicides to greenery and plant material. 
• Maintains adequate supplies and materials inventory.
• Diagnoses and treats plant diseases and pests.
• Analyzes soil for PH content; takes tissue samples for analysis.
• Formulates and presents recommendations for layout or improvements of grounds.
• May participate in formulating annual operating plans for large property.
• May supervise, direct, or lead other employees and helpers.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications: 

• Two years experience gardening or in grounds maintenance.
• Previous experience working with power and hand tools. 
• Ability to perform heavy, outside work in inclement weather.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Valid driver's license

Other Qualifications

In addition to the GHC online Application you will need to submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.     

• Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position. 
• Resume 
• Contact information for 3 professional references.

Background checks - Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.  Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law.

Grays Harbor College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, marital status, veteran status, genetics, or age in its programs, activities, and employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

• Title II/Section 504 – Erin Tofte, Associate Vice President of Human Resources 
• Title IX Coordinator – Ashley Bowie-Gallegos, Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocrfor the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.