Common Ground is Seeking a Horticulturist/Groundskeeper

Job Description and Responsibilities:

Horticulturist/Groundskeeper

Common Ground — the nation’s oldest environmental charter high school, part of a community organization that also operates a community environmental education center and urban farm. Located at the base of West Rock Ridge, our site includes 20 acres of forest with hiking trails, wildlife, and diverse natural habitats. For more information about us, please visit www.commongroundct.org.  We are looking for a horticulturist/groundskeeper to assist in the maintenance of the campus. The anticipated start date for this position is March 2021.

Responsibilities of the role may include and are not limited to the following:

• Landscape Maintenance – grooming, edging, mulching, weeding, etc.
• Grounds maintenance – based on the season – snow removal, i.e snowblowing, shoveling, leaf blowing,etc. 
• Inventories, maps, and labels trees and shrubs on campus for instructional and maintenance purposes
• Assists in the preparation of maintenance programs for the control of plant diseases and insects
• Gutter cleaning
• Firewood management, must be able to operate a chainsaw and a gas powered wood splitter
• Ensure all culverts around entire site are clear of debris
• Supervise Student workers (Green Jobs Corps Members)
• Performs related duties as required

Requirements:

• A detail-oriented, self‐starter and team player that takes pride in their work
• This position is physical and requires strenuous physical activity at times, including standing, walking, bending, and lifting at least 50 pounds.
• Willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• A valid driver’s license required. Clean driving record preferred.
•  Experience driving a truck and trailer and use of landscape equipment preferred
• Familiarity with native plants and invasive management using sustainable methods in accordance with CG’s environmental justice mission
• Familiarity with supervising and mentoring young people in a job training program
• Small engine maintenance and repair preferred
• Familiarity with weed whackers, snow blowers, lawn mowers and tractor
• A minimum of two years horticultural knowledge is required, understanding seasonal changes in the garden and cultural requirements of the plants. Disease and pest identification is preferred

How to apply:

To apply, please send  your resume and cover letter to Bev Greene, bev.greene@nhep.com. Cover letters and resumes will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. In your cover letter, please describe how this position resonates with you personally and how your qualifications and experience fit with the responsibilities of this position. 

Work Schedule and Compensation:

This position is part time (Monday – Friday no more than 32 hours per week) for the first 90 days of employment. We run multiple programs on site and you will need to work around program needs, which means your work schedule will be flexible, based on the organization’s needs. The hourly rate of pay is commensurate with experience. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Common Ground is committed to the recruitment and retention of staff that is reflective of the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

It has been the policy and will continue to be the strong commitment of the Common Ground and all contractors and subcontractors who do business with Common Ground to provide equal opportunities in employment to all qualified persons solely on the basis of job-related skills, ability and merit.  Common Ground will continue to take Affirmative Action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, mental disorder (present or past history thereof) age, physical disability (but not limited to blindness), marital status, intellectual disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and criminal record.  Such action includes, but is not limited to, employment, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, professional development, attendance at conferences or other opportunities for advancement.  Common Ground, its contractors and subcontractors will continue to make good faith efforts to comply with all federal and state laws and policies which speak to equal employment opportunity.

The principles of Affirmative Action are addressed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the United States Constitution, Civil Rights Act of 1866, 1870, 1871, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the 1964 United States Civil Rights Act, Presidential Executive Order 11246, amended by 11375, (Non-discrimination under federal contracts)< Act 1, Section 1 and 20 of the Connecticut Constitution, Governor Grasso’s Executive Order Number 11, Governor O’Neill’s Executive Order 9, the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Law (Sec. 46a-60-69) of the Connecticut General Statutes, Connecticut Code of Fair Practices (46a-7081), Deprivation of Civil Rights (46a-58(a)(d)), Public Accommodations Law (46a-63-64), Discrimination against Criminal Offenders (46a-80), definition of Blind (46a-51(1)), definition of Physically Disabled (46a-51(15)), definition of Intellectual Disability (46a51(13)), cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (46a-77), Sexual Harassment (46a-60(a)-8), Connecticut Credit Discrimination Law (360436 through 439), Title I of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.

This Affirmative Action Policy Statement re-affirms Common Ground’s commitment to equity in the workplace and the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity.