Make lives meaningful through making.

Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 50+. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $8.4 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Penland School of Craft welcomes everyone and believes that equity, inclusion, diversity, and antiracism are essential to our mission. We want the Penland experience to benefit from varied ideas, world views, and personal experiences. We stand against all forms of discrimination and are committed to creating an environment grounded in our equity values.

Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

Grounds Technician
Reports to: Grounds Manager
Department: Facilities & Grounds
Supervision: None
Employment Status: Full-time, 40 hours weekly
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Start date: TBD
Last Updated: July 3rd, 2024

Position Summary
Penland School of Craft owns approximately 64 structures, all of which have adjacent landscapes - be it perennial gardens, lawns/greenspace, woodlands, and/or forest edges. The Grounds Technician is responsible for maintaining the different landscape cover types on the Penland Core Campus in accordance with the Core Campus Master Plan, school needs, and budgetary requirements.

Central to this position is monitoring and addressing the health of shrubs and trees, as well as maintaining and improving Penland's hiking trails, walking paths, stairways, and landscape edges. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to, annual maintenance of lawns/greenspaces, assisting in the maintenance and improvement of landscapes throughout campus, and occasional mowing for programmatic and event needs.

Given that the nature of the work is weather and season-dependent, the grounds technician will occasionally assist the facilities department with maintenance tasks during the winter months. This is at the discretion of the grounds manager and will change from year to year, depending on weather and workload. The grounds technician generally works independently; however, they will occasionally collaborate with the gardener and other facilities and grounds staff in order to accomplish daily and long-term goals. This position reports to the grounds manager and is a full-time, benefits-eligible, hourly, year-round position.

Primary Responsibilities

Evaluating the health of shrubs, trees, and understory
Trimming, pruning, and removing trees as needed
Maintains and improves hiking trails, walking paths, and exterior stairs in accordance with the Campus Master Plan
Works collaboratively with the gardener to maintain and improve perennial gardens throughout the approximate 25-acre core campus and in the vicinity of outlying buildings with a focus on tree and shrub health
Supports the gardener with compost program as needed
Assess and repair outdoor lighting as needed
Safely operates mowers, chainsaws, basic hand and power tools
Performs routine maintenance and repairs on grounds equipment
Occasional mowing
Performs annual maintenance of lawns which includes, but is not limited to: soil testing and amending per soil test results, aerating, dethatching, edging and overseeding
Identifies, removes, and manages invasive species
Occasional support for programs and operations as it pertains to use of natural resources
Manages brush accumulated in work tasks
Promotes continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices
General attention and care to campus for safety, function, and aesthetics
Identifies land needs such as habitat improvements and species diversity
Assists with seasonal leaf removal and assist with winter snow removal from sidewalks and parking areas
Assists in the annual July 4 pyrotechnics display
Other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications

High School diploma or equivalent is required
At least two years of grounds maintenance or related experience is required
Strong working knowledge of best practices for tree and shrub pruning, lawn care, etc., or an enthusiasm/willingness to learn
Proficient with grounds equipment such as riding mowers and chainsaws
Small engine equipment maintenance experience is a plus
This position requires a self-motivated individual able to set priorities and meet deadlines while working independently
Must have good oral and written communication skills
Employees must possess a driver’s license valid in NC, a good driving record, and the ability to safely operate trucks, tractors, orv’s, golf carts, etc.
Certification in first aid and CPR preferred - We offer first aid and CPR annually to this position
Friendly and enjoys engaging with a wide range of staff, students, and campus visitors
Strong organization, communication, and problem-solving skills
Ability to work as a team and adapt to departmental needs
A love for the outdoors and plant life
A commitment to uphold and implement Penland’s mission, educational philosophy, and diversity & inclusivity statement.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be required to sit, stand, stoop, and walk over uneven terrain. The employee must frequently use their hands for delicate and complex movements and manipulate tools. The employee is required to talk fluently, to hear, and to see. The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects weighing more than 50 pounds. The position demands frequent exposure to inclement weather conditions.

Benefits
We take care of our staff through a wide range of benefits. For your wellness, we offer multiple medical plans, vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, retirement, and an EAP program. Benefits include generous vacation, sick, extended sick, floating holiday leave programs, access to studios, free classes, meals during programming, and other discounts. We have other generous benefits that we can explore more during the interview process.

Compensation
This is a full-time, year-round, benefits-eligible position. This position will work 40 hours per week, totaling 2080 hours annually. The starting wage for this non-exempt position is negotiable within the range of $16.40 - $19.66, based on the applicant’s skills and experience they bring to the position. Employees at Penland enjoy competitive pay, attractive benefits, and a lively, creative work environment.

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