Foreperson of Gardens and Grounds

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Job Summary:

The Garden and Grounds Foreperson is a non-supervisory leadership position that works closely with the Director to coordinate and oversee departmental programs, gardening activities, and contracted support. The foreperson works closely with all crew leaders and gardeners across all garden crews, advising on and facilitating the adoption and use of best practices in areas of horticulture, integrated pest management, irrigation, arboriculture, historic preservation, and soil diagnostics and remediation. The foreperson coordinates and oversees programs and operational activities for the department, including vehicle and equipment safety, integrated pest management, tree management, turf management, irrigation, and inclement weather response. The foreperson coordinates and oversees contracted work in the areas of irrigation, masonry, arboriculture, mechanical, and other skilled trades.

• This is a critical, essential employee position, which will require the employee to work during emergencies.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversees/conducts Integrated Pest Management activities. Monitors plant health, including pathology, entomology, fertility needs, and irrigation regimens. Responds accordingly in compliance with accepted IPM practices and DC and Federal laws. Qualifies as a DC Licensed Pesticide Applicator within one year of hire.
• Assists the Garden Director in coordinating and overseeing campus emergency and storm or sever weather response. May be required to work additional time on short notice. Works occasionally on weekends, as needed.
• Purchases and maintains all equipment, selects and purchases tools and staff supplies, including personal protective equipment.
• Coordinates and oversees boxwood blight remediation activities, including spraying, pruning, and other cultural control methods. Assists in training staff in best management practices for boxwood culture; ensures best practices are followed when working in areas of the garden containing boxwood.
• Oversees tree and woody plant pruning to ensure best ISA practices, proper timing, and safety.

• Coordinates the scheduling of preventive maintenance on vehicles, the compliance with all DC inspections, registrations, licensing, and permits. Ensures up-to-date proof-of-insurance cards in all garden vehicles.
• Oversees the IPM program, including pesticide applications, pesticide inventory management, pesticide disposal, and leads compliance program for pesticide applicators and operators through the DC Department of Environment (DOEE). Maintains and submits pesticide use records in compliance with DOEE.
• Assists in overseeing the tree management program, including inventory updates, annual walk-throughs to assess work needed, quality control for in-house and contracted pruning, IPM for trees, risk/hazard assessments, and tree succession planning and planting oversight.
• Coordinates and oversees turf maintenance and renovations, including aeration, seeding, fertilizer application, herbicide application, and disease management and treatment.
• Provides technical support to all crews in identifying and correcting irrigation issues. Leads small in-house repair efforts. Oversees irrigation programming to ensure adequate coverage and proper timing and quantity of irrigated water.

• Trains, coordinates, and supervises volunteers in collaboration with Crew Leaders.
• Ensures proper functioning of irrigation system across garden crew areas, coordinates repairs, spring start-up, fall winterization, and augmentation of existing systems.
• Coordinates and oversees masonry work, assisting with planning, signage for closed areas, and quality control as work progresses.
• Monitors tree health including maintenance of inventory records within ArborScope. Supervises all tree work including pesticide applications, pruning, and removals. Coordinates tree work with the DC Urban Forestry Administration to receive appropriate permits for tree work and removals and with the National Park Service for permissions to access the property’s periphery.
• Assists with contracted support for mechanical systems, including the swimming pool, to ensure quality control as work progresses. Works on the maintenance of the swimming pool and its filtration systems including coordination with the DC Department of Health and the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for health inspections and licensing requirements. Monitors pool chemical and mechanical systems on-site and remotely. Coordinates and oversees pool mechanical system repairs with swimming pool contractors. Provides technical guidance to crews needing assistance with water feature maintenance and repair.
• Coordinates and oversees skilled trade work in the gardens, including blacksmithing, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry to ensure quality control and safety.
• Assists with other areas of the garden and special projects as needed and performs other duties as required.
• Assumes responsibility for garden and grounds operations in an acting capacity during absence of the Director.

 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to communicate in English both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions
• Endurance to walk, stand, kneel, bend, stoop, and climb
• Strength to push, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds

Basic Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree, preferably in a field related to horticulture, or an equivalent of education plus relevant experience
• Five or more years of experience in the maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment
• Five or more years of experience in horticulture, preferably in public and/or historic gardens

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with vehicle and equipment operation and maintenance
• Ability to oversee contractors and projects
• DC DOH Certified Pool Operator license preferred
• ISA arborist certification preferred
• Conversational fluency in Spanish preferred

Certificates and Licenses:

• DC Pesticide applicators license required (within one year of hire)
• Valid driver’s license

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.