Landscaping and Grounds Supervisor - Facilities, Planning and Management - 14810

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ATTENTION:

The Facilities, Planning and Management Department at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater seeks a Landscaping and Grounds Supervisor (Physical Plant Program Manager II).

JOB DETAILS:

This position provides leadership and technical guidance for landscaping and grounds group, equipment and fleet operations in Facilities Planning and Management. It has 24-hour responsibility and is on-call 7 days per week for emergencies. The position coordinates assigned maintenance activities with department operations teams and auxiliary services. This position serves as the supervisor for nine (9) employees including: one (1) Grounds Crew Lead, five (5) Gardeners, one (1) Automotive Equipment Technician – Master, one (1) FRW Advanced, and one (1) FRW as well as various limited term and student employees. This position reports to the Director of Facilities Planning and Management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma
• 2 or more years of landscape/ground maintenance supervisory experience or significant amount of supervisor experience in related field
• Driver’s License
• Ability to operate computer maintenance programs

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to manage large scale landscape operations
• Ability to maintain accurate personnel records
• Ability to monitor budgets
• Ability to train and instruct on operation of tractors, skid loaders, dump trucks, front end loaders
• Ability to train and instruct on operation of all heavy equipment attachments and snow plows
• Ability to manage large snow removal operations
• Knowledge of greenhouse operations and plant propagation
• Knowledge of safe use and distribution of pesticides and herbicides
• Knowledge of tree, shrub and flower planting, maintenance and removals
• Knowledge of all plant species needs and requirements
• Knowledge of garden and landscape design
• Knowledge of turf maintenance and turf restoration
• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills.
• Ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

25% A. Provide administrative functions for the assigned Landscape and Grounds maintenance employees.

1. Communicate state and campus policies, procedures and instructions to employees.
2. Receive, review, prioritize, assign and schedule repair and maintenance work orders for preventative, corrective and chargeable work. Delegate the oversight responsibilities and authority as necessary and appropriate.
3. Coordinate the activities of assigned employees to assure that they can work as an efficient and productive team.
4. Maintain effective team communication and problem solving through regular meetings with all assigned employees.
5. Coach employees in the continuous improvement of their performance.
6. Prepare formal performance evaluations and discuss with employees
7. Recognize exceptional performance and deal promptly with non-performance or misconduct when necessary
8. Review and sign all staff records, including timesheets, sick leave, vacations, comp time, etc. and maintain necessary records.
9. Participate in employment interviews and hiring recommendations for qualified candidates

25% B. Manage and represent the Landscape and Grounds operations and associated program.

1. Serve as primary Landscaped and Grounds customer contact for work requests and concerns.
2. Serve actively in campus committees for Prairie Development, Campus Landscape Development, Snow Removal and others as necessary or requested.
3. Provide leadership and guidance as necessary for Natural Areas development and maintenance, Greenhouse startup and operation, Nursery Operations, Student Involvement Spaces, etc.
4. Supervise Landscape and Grounds projects such as turf rebuilding, tree, shrubbery and flower installation and maintenance.
5. Lead in evaluation and improvement of Landscape and Grounds operation.
6. Regularly inspect lawns, walks, roads, parking lots, recreation fields, nature areas and arboretum areas to ensure campus aesthetic and industry workmanship standards are met, resources are maximized and a safe environment is provided.
7. Monitor present and forecasted winter weather conditions, as well as walk, parking lot and roadway conditions, to determine the need for snow and ice removal activities.
8. Schedule snow and ice removal activities and contact necessary employees for emergency after-hours work
9. Assure that requested moving and event set-up activities are performed efficiently, safely, accurately and on-time.
10. Identify campus Landscape and Grounds maintenance needs beyond immediate financial resources for outside project funding.
11. Actively participate in the development of uniform campus landscaping and grounds maintenance and aesthetic standards.
12. Maintain and further develop technical competency in the grounds field.

15% C. Manage Service Fleet maintenance and repair operations.

1. Develop, administer, review and evaluate the Equipment Maintenance Program, including proper diagnosis, troubleshooting and repair of all mechanical, electronic and hydraulic systems on fleet vehicles.
2. Evaluate repair requirements, determine in-house or contracted repairs, and coordinate repairs for completion.
3. Maintain and update appropriate technical manuals, reference information and related materials as necessary.
4. Maintain parts inventory and material support for operations.
5. Assist FP&M and Auxiliary Services users with the acquisition of appropriate capital and non-capital equipment to insure standardization.
6. Locate, inspect and select appropriate used vehicles for intergovernmental purchase.
7. Assist with vehicle and equipment preventative maintenance services program and insure proper completion.
8. Direct corrective maintenance and repair of FP&M and Auxiliary Services vehicles.
9. Periodically inspect assigned vehicles.
10. Direct fabrication of specialized equipment to user specifications.

15% D. Manage, Supervise and Guide Landscaping Grounds Staff.

1. Instruct on, or oversee instruction of operation of all snow removal equipment which includes: dump trucks, front end loaders, backhoe, toolcats, bobcats and corresponding attachments.
2. Instruct on, or oversee instruction of operation of all large area mowers, aerators, seeders, tillers, sweepers and hand operated equipment.
3. Guide staff with pesticide/herbicide calibrations and applications.
4. Guide tree and shrub plantings, pruning and removals.
5. Guide the installation of block, stone and walks.
6. Supervise staff with equipment repair and fabrication.
7. Manage or oversee plant propagation, garden design, bed prep and planting.
8. Manage or guide grounds staff with campus moving and hauling operations.
9. Oversee all prairie and natural area maintenance which includes: prairie burns, prairie seeding and invasive species removal.
10. Manage the care, maintenance and harvest of the honey bee hives.

10% E. Administer Landscape and Grounds unit financial and safety training activities.

1. Research and contribute information in the development of annual budgets and continually monitor budget activity throughout the year.
2. When appropriate, purchase necessary equipment and supplies, and monitor inventory.
3. Meet regularly with other FP&M managers to maintain communications, standardize processes and progress toward department goals and objectives.
4. Review workplace health and safety expectations with employees and students and require immediate reporting of unsafe acts and conditions.
5. Maintain knowledge of institution’s health and safety policies.
6. Investigate and report on workplace accidents in a timely manner.
7. Personally follow all health and safety rules established by the institution.
8. Attend safety meetings and training sessions as required.

10% F. Direct the maintenance of workgroup vehicles, equipment, supply storage areas and both Landscape and Grounds garage facilities.

1. Maintain all grounds and vehicle related facilities.
2. Regularly inspect storage buildings and garages to insure adequate maintenance standards.
3. Insure that use of resources is maximized and a safe environment is provided.
4. Participate in all walk through safety inspections of these facilities.

CAMPUS INFORMATION:

UW-Whitewater (http://www.uww.edu) is the largest regional comprehensive university within the UW System and enjoys a reputation as a high quality residential campus located near the scenic Kettle Moraine State Forest in southeastern Wisconsin. UW-Whitewater is situated on 400 acres of land and has an annual budget of more than $219 million. UW-Whitewater is located in the community of Whitewater, which has 14,622 residents and is within convenient driving distance to the metropolitan areas of Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. The university enrolls more than 12,000 students in more than 50 majors housed within four academic colleges. UW-Whitewater also offers 16 master’s degrees and a Doctorate in Business Administration. The university’s strategic plan can be found at: www.uww.edu/strategic-plan. It has a special mission within the UW System to serve students with disabilities and, as such, embraces the principles of universal design and is one of the most accessible campuses in the state. UW-Whitewater is a Division III NCAA university and member of WIAC (http://wiacsports.com). The campus has over 200 student organizations and is a vital economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin.

UW-Whitewater is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally and ethnically diverse campus environment, building a diverse faculty and staff with expertise and interest in serving students with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities and other distinct characteristics in respectful, sensitive and understanding ways. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and actively seeks and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans.

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is part of the 26-campus University of Wisconsin System (https://www.wisconsin.edu).

Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(b) provides that applicants may indicate in writing that their identity should be kept confidential. In response to a public records request, the University will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(a).

UW-Whitewater requires criminal background checks as a contingency to employment. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater requires that all employees be active participants in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills.

For UW-Whitewater Campus safety information and crime statistics/annual Security Report, see http://www.uww.edu/asfr. If you would like a paper copy of the report please contact the UW-Whitewater Police at 262-472-4660.

To learn more about UW-Whitewater's competitive benefits packages go to our: ALEX webpage, which is our interactive benefits decision support tool.

SPECIAL NOTES:

UW-Whitewater embraces AAC&U’s LEAP principles (http://www.uww.edu/leap) and emphasizes student, staff and faculty participation in High-Impact Practices (https://www.aacu.org/resources/high-impact-practices). The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (http://www.uww.edu/orsp) provides support for faculty scholarly and creative activities as well as other opportunities to apply for reassigned time and/or other resources to support research activities. UW-Whitewater faculty and staff also have access to technology transfer and research resources provided by WiSys (https://www.wisys.org).

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION:

Applications received by 11/22/2018 are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact us at 262-472-1072 or hrstudent@uww.edu.

For questions regarding the position please contact:

Victoria Johnson
Human Resources
262 472-1024
johnsonv@uww.edu

TO APPLY:

Only complete application packages will be considered. A complete application includes online submission of the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter addressing your qualifications for the position
• Three letters of reference with contact information

This Job ID is 14810

 

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