Lead Arborist (Landscape/Nursery Service Sup)

Capital Planning and Facilities (CPF) works to ensure that IU campuses are beautiful, functional, and sustainable, supporting excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement across the entire university. A unit within CPF, Facility Operations maintains our physical campus to support research, teaching, and learning at Indiana University Bloomington.

Responsibilities

• Maintains woody, perennial, and annual plants to ensure their healthy, safe, and attractive condition including weeding, mulching, pruning, transplanting, fertilizing, and removal of any dead, diseased, or declining plant stock.
• Inspects campus landscapes for issues, hazards, and risks and works with supervisor to determine solutions.
• Plans work schedules and organizes daily activities of nursery/greenhouse workers while monitoring project completion.
• Approves time sheets and time off requests of Nursery personnel; provides appropriate counseling and discipline if necessary.
• Provides training to employees on proper tree, shrub, and annual installation methods, including modern planting protocols, staking, watering, mulching, and weed prevention.
• Propagates, maintains, and nurtures young plant stock; monitors nursery and greenhouse stock for pests and diseases and applies appropriate treatments and chemicals as necessary.
• Coordinates training for staff related to modern greenhouse production standards.
• Installs mulches and planting schemes in accordance with blueprints, drawings, sketches, or design specifications in collaboration with Horticulture Supervisor and University Landscape Architect.
• Assists Arborists in maintaining tree inventory database and donor tree database.
• Prunes and shapes trees, shrubs, and other plants for most desirable appearance and health; waters, fertilizes, and mulches plants.
• Performs grounds maintenance work including weeding, seeding, mowing, snow removal, and other seasonal tasks.
• Operates standard nursery and grounds keeping equipment, including trucks, tractors, skid-steers, rototillers, edgers, pruners, sheers, and mowers.
• Monitors and maintains nursery equipment and supplies inventory; assists Horticulture Supervisor with sourcing and ordering of plant materials.
• Provides emergency response for grounds-related campus emergencies, including weather emergencies.
• Performs preventative maintenance on nursery care equipment such as shovels, rakes, trucks, tractors, and rototillers.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (such as HSED or GED).
• 3 years of nursery, greenhouse, and/or landscape work.
• Possesses a valid driver's license and ability to be insured by Indiana University upon date of hire.

Qualifications

• Preferred Associate's degree in landscape horticulture or landscape design.
• Preferred experience in leadership.

Skills

• Ability to work safely and efficiently.
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills.
• Ability to lead, plan, and organize the work of nursery/greenhouse workers.
• Ability to stay current with Best Management Practices (BMPs) regarding integrated pest management practices.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of plant identification and pest control.
• Demonstrated nursery/greenhouse grower skills and ability to train nursery personnel on all aspects of greenhouse production.
• Knowledge of maintaining and planting ornamental trees, flowers, and shrubs.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings and blueprints and provide estimates.
• Ability to determine the appropriate tools and equipment needed and use them safely.
• Ability to operate technology including electronic work orders, emails, and GIS-based tree inventory.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, including heat and freezing temperatures.
• Ability to build and maintain a team environment between Groundskeeping teams.
• Knowledge and experience in landscape design.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position as well as move about the workplace for long durations.
• Ability to operate machinery, tools, and controls.
• Ability to ascend/descend ladders/stairs and position oneself in low-level positions.
• Ability to detect a variety of chemicals and/or gases.
• Ability to ascend to rooftops and move in tight spaces to perform and complete inspections.

Pay

$26.08 per hour

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance.
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU.
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting.
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options.
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses.
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year.
• Generous paid time off plans.
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.