Working Title: Landscape Assistant Supervisor

State Role Title: Trades Technician III

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Business Services

Department: 300130 - Landscape AUX

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $39,000 - $44,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 04/09/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

James Madison University’s Facilities Management is accepting applications for a Landscape Assistant Supervisor. The regular schedule is Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., with an altered summer schedule and overtime as required to cover special events and inclement weather.

JMU offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include:

• Paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave.
• 19 paid holidays a year including one week off for Thanksgiving Break and almost two weeks off for Winter Break.
• Affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System.
• A work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.
• A Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the Supervisor of off campus properties in the effective supervision of employees and scheduling of activities, including snow removal, related to the University Park and both on and off-campus properties.
• Fill in for the supervisor when absent.
• Staff have clear understanding of tasks, parameters of the job, equipment needed, etc.
• Oversee and perform routine maintenance and repairs, to include but not limited to mowing; weed eating; edging; mulching; applying fertilizer and roundup; maintenance of flowers, trees and shrubs; installation of mailboxes and fences; repairs to outdoor structures; and any other landscape renovations.
• Provide on-site training as needed.
• Assist supervisor with planning and timely completion of projects by work order completion date.
• Assist in purchasing, maintaining, and receiving materials required for ground maintenance.
• Coordinate with other landscape crews during special events, sporting events, graduation, and snow and ice removal.
• Perform other duties as assigned relative to other ground projects on university properties.
• Employee is required to work all home football games.
• The employee in this position will be considered designated, meaning the work performed is essential to university operations and the employee will be required to work during periods of authorized closings.

Qualifications:

Required:
• Knowledge of grounds maintenance techniques, including familiarity with various grass seeds, fertilizers, sod, plant diseases, pesticides, insecticides, and other ground care chemicals; as well as expertise in grading, aeration, and the installation and maintenance of flowers, trees, and shrubs.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of supervision, along with groundskeeper safety procedures and techniques.
• Ability to operate and supervise the use of equipment specific to university park maintenance and off-campus properties, including complex reel and rotary mowers, large spray equipment, hand tools, weed eaters, edgers, and tractors with related attachments.
• Supervisory skills for groundskeepers, such as planning and scheduling work, prioritizing assignments, adjusting to changing workloads, maintaining records, performing basic mathematical calculations, inspecting landscapes for deficiencies, and evaluating the performance of team members.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to perform physical labor for extended periods.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must obtain a Certified Fertilizer Applicator license and Pesticide Certification within one year of hire.
• Applicants must be at least 19 years old, possess a valid driver’s license for a minimum of 24 consecutive months and an acceptable motor vehicle report.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.