GARDENING ASSISTANT

Occupational Summary

Part-time bi-weekly position – 20 hours per week

Primarily Monday-Friday.

Perform a variety of routine, non-technical duties related to the operation and maintenance of various areas including fields, lawns, pools, forests, greenhouses and formal gardens.

Work Performed

Participate in the cultivation and maintenance of trees, ornamental, teaching and research plants and a variety of botanical specimens in fields, lawns, pools, forest, greenhouses and formal garden areas to include propagation, transplanting, repotting, preparation of soil, planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning and pest control. Operate and assist in maintaining specialized horticultural mechanical and service equipment to include riding-type power mowers, tractors, chain saws, hedgers, verticuts, lawn genies, front-end loaders, trucks, fertilizer injectors, power sprayers, pressure washers, and soil sterilizers as directed.

Assist in mixing fertilizer according to instructions and calibrate sprayers to apply fertilizers as directed; calculate appropriate spacings for plant beds and plant replacements; prepare special soil mixes ensuring proper proportions of materials according to specific instructions.

Assist horticulturists with special garden plantings and seasonal projects as directed. Perform routine preventive maintenance on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems or equipment.

Perform a variety of manual and/or semi-skilled tasks involved in the care and maintenance of greenhouses, gardens and other University areas.

Maintain sanitation in and around assigned work area to include removal of weeds and debris, operation of pressure washer, sweeping, vacuuming and disinfectant application. Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training:

Work requires ability to understand and follow instructions normally acquired through a partial high school education.

Experience:

Work requires six months of gardening experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.