Gardener

About the role

Amherst College has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges in diversifying the racial, socio‑economic, and geographic profile of its student body and is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. The Gardener supports the Landscape and Grounds Department in planning and executing landscaping operations, maintaining horticultural aspects, assisting with new plant installations and renovations, and providing labor and equipment support for grounds work. The position is designated as providing essential services and may require reporting to work or remaining on duty even when the college is closed.

Responsibilities

• Provide labor support for all horticultural aspects of the diverse campus community, including pruning, trimming, weeding, fertilizing, spraying, repairing damaged areas, grading terrain, seeding, transplanting shrubs and plants, and brush, leaf, and snow removal.
• Operate department equipment, including trucks, utility vehicles, tractors, saws, lawn mowers, tools, and snow equipment as needed.
• Inspect and perform minor and basic equipment maintenance.
• Assist Special Services with the setup for special functions, including commencement, reunion, freshman orientation, etc.
• Support office moves as needed.
• Assist Design and Construction with the planning and/or preparation of landscape projects, including inspection, work planning, maintenance, plant labeling, repair operations, and purchasing of materials.

Qualifications

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• MA DOT card or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire
• Specialized training in the culture and maintenance of many types of plants
• Pesticide and hoisting licenses or ability to acquire within 6 months of hire
• A valid driver's license and successful credentialing required to operate college vehicles
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational and time‑management skills, including the ability to plan, organize, and multitask when priorities change frequently
• General knowledge in the selection and maintenance of plants
• Experience in the operation of motorized vehicles and equipment; trucks, tractors, chainsaws, and general landscaping tools
• Ability to work with garden design drawings
• Knowledge and experience in irrigation maintenance and water conservation
• Basic computer skills
• Successful completion of required reference and background checks
• An acceptable criminal offender records information (CORI) check
• Successful completion of pre‑employment physical and lift test

Preferred:

• 1 year of related vehicle operations and equipment use
• 1 year of snow plowing experience
• 1 year of experience within higher‑ed landscape and grounds
• MA 1A hoisting license