Landscape Manager
The Landscape Manager, under the supervision of the Director of Landscapes, is responsible for planning, supervising, and leading the landscape team and contractors engaged in landscape preservation, restoration, construction, maintenance, and management. The Landscape Manager will support the restoration and maintenance of the property as well as other departments leading educational opportunities, working with Visitor Services, and coordinating with the Facilities & Maintenance team.
The Landscape Manager is responsible for overseeing the year-round daily operations of the landscape department, under the supervision of the Director of Landscapes. The Landscape Manager provides hands-on leadership with special projects, installation, and maintenance of the landscape collections.
Job Duties
– Manage landscape staff (full-time, hourly and seasonal), contractors and volunteers to ensure the proper, efficient and timely completion of department responsibilities.
– Work in the field and sometimes in the office, providing hands-on completion of work as a mentor and an example for the rest of the team.
– Daily inspection of landscape to ensure overall presentation and condition of grounds and gardens meets standards and quality expectations of Ford House.
– Prioritize horticultural tasks and coordinate implementation of work assignments with the team.
– Assist in the preparation of work schedules and job assignments.
– Lead snow and ice removal operations, creating on-call lists and being available to work some evenings and weekends.
– Be responsible for the health of the landscape.
– Examine potential unsafe working conditions and order corrective action.
– Identify staff training needs and assist with the development of training programs, including plant care and maintenance, proper use of tools and equipment, safety, etc.
– Supervise contracted services and assist with the identification of need for contracted services.
– As a manager, attend meetings as necessary, including but not limited to managers’ meetings, committee meetings and planning sessions.
Job Requirements
– Successful completion of background and credit check
– Degree in horticulture, floriculture, landscape preservation or related field.
– A minimum of five years of related work experience, including at least three years supervisory experience.
– Considerable knowledge of horticulture and grounds maintenance procedures.
– Understanding of proper pruning techniques, rose care, turf management, planting, perennial and annual care as well as native plants and ecosystems.
– Understanding of irrigation systems’ operation and repair.
– Ability to lift 55 pounds on a regular basis; work outside for long periods of time in unfavorable conditions; perform strenuous manual labor requiring considerable walking, lifting, reaching, climbing, stooping, pushing, pulling and carrying; work weekends, evenings and holidays.
– Preferred to be a certified pesticide applicator.
– Preferred to be trained to use a chainsaw.
– Ability to operate small power and hand tools, and large equipment including mowers, tractors, loaders, wood chippers, chainsaws, plows, and other snow removal equipment, among others.
– Perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
– Familiarity with and comfortable using the Microsoft Office suite.
– Demonstrate natural leadership, and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to establish and maintain effective relationships with coworkers, visitors, vendors, and others in the workplace.