USC's Facilities Planning & Management (FPM) division is seeking a Landscape & Grounds Team Leader to join its team.

About USC FPM

FPM (formerly named Capital Construction & Development / Facilities Management Services) is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining the breadth of the facilities at USC, and is also dedicated to creating a safe environment for our USC community. Woven into every service, safety is of upmost importance. As FPM, this group of innovative and talented professionals provide high quality facilities construction, operations and maintenance services at USC and serve as dedicated stewards of USC and FPM core values. FPM values employee recognition, accountability, collaboration, respect, and trust.

Come and join the FPM team - a team that works as trusted partners shaping an environment of innovation and excellence. Apply today!

The Landscape and Grounds Team Leader:

Serves as a Team Leader of a work group responsible for the cleanliness, public safety, and aesthetics of a university landscape area. Plans and schedules daily seasonal tasks, and works with team members to ensure completion. Ensures team is in compliance with university and departmental policies and procedures. Performs a variety of landscaping maintenance tasks. Collaborates with other FPM staff as needed. Communicates directly with stakeholders (e.g., building managers) to ensure information is effectively exchanged and issues or concerns are addressed promptly. Provides feedback to supervisors regarding work-related issues. Facilitates the training, documentation and progression of team members in the Pay for Skills program. Leads by example by living the FPM values.

Job Accountabilities:

• Leads a crew in a variety of landscaping maintenance tasks, cleaning, trimming, mowing, fertilizing, cultivating, watering, edging, hedging, and using and maintaining manual and powered landscaping equipment. Makes minor irrigation repair. Prunes trees and shrubs.
• Provides management input regarding disciplinary actions, pay raises, promotions and other staff management tasks as needed. Interprets rules, regulations, policy and procedures. Schedules, assigns staff to work locations, and coordinates work for special events. Trains and ensures crew members are inputting time on electronics (e.g., handheld devices) to complete orders. Provides information and assistance to customers while delivering a high level of customer service.
• Conducts maintenance inspections to assess the condition of sub-zones, with a focus on public safety and the health and vitality of vegetation. Plans, designs, and oversees the execution of landscape projects.
• Provides customer service information and assistance to customers. Identifies and reports landscape problems to supervisor. Prepares written correspondence, reports and/or maintenance inspection records.
• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.
• Assists supervisor in the administration of the Pay for Skills Program. Coordinates landscape needs, objectives and Pay for Skills Training with various departments. Maintains condition and appearance of campus cards.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years minimum experience in landscaping.
• Valid CA driver's license required with a minimum of 2 years’ driving experience. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information, please visit the policy website.
• Familiar with safe operation of hand tools and power equipment used in the landscape maintenance industry.
• Knowledge of horticultural practices in the design and implementation of climate-adaptive and California-native plants.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, principles and regulations.
• Basic computer literacy with ability to use handheld devices to complete reports.
• Experience operating and training crew members in the operation of various landscape power equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7 years of experience in landscaping and waste management or disposal
• 1 years of experience in a leadership role
• ISA Certified Arborist, Qualified Applicator Certification, California Native Plant Landscaper.
• Proficient with the cultivation of native plants (preferred).
• Conversational fluency in one or more languages (e.g., Spanish) in addition to English (preferred).
• Experience at a higher education institution (preferred).
• Familiarity with university grounds (preferred).
• High school diploma, or equivalent

Hourly Range:

The hourly rate for this position is $25.50/hr. - $27.00/hr. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: High school or equivalent
Minimum Experience: 3 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Demonstrated supervisory experience of landscape personnel. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with all levels of landscape personnel. Extensive landscape experience. Knowledge of gardening and grounds maintenance, including gardening techniques, tree pruning, cultivation, and common plant species. Thorough knowledge of landscape tools and equipment (including power tools). Familiarity with irrigation systems and installation. Thorough knowledge of standard safety practices and equipment and other requirements for workplace safety.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

USC's Facilities Planning & Management (FPM) division is seeking a Landscape & Grounds Team Leader to join its team. About USC FPMFPM (formerly named Capital Construction & Development / Facilities Management Services) is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining the breadth of the facilities at USC, and is also dedicated to creating a safe environment for our USC community. Woven into every service, safety is of upmost importance. As FPM, this group of innovative and talented professionals provide high quality facilities construction, operations and maintenance services at USC and serve as dedicated stewards of USC and FPM core values. FPM values employee recognition, accountability, collaboration, respect, and trust. Come and join the FPM team - a team that works as trusted partners shaping an environment of innovation and excellence. Apply today! The Landscape and Grounds Team Leader:Serves as a Team Leader of a work group responsible for the cleanliness, public safety, and aesthetics of a university landscape area. Plans and schedules daily seasonal tasks, and works with team members to ensure completion. Ensures team is in compliance with university and departmental policies and procedures. Performs a variety of landscaping maintenance tasks. Collaborates with other FPM staff as needed. Communicates directly with stakeholders (e.g., building managers) to ensure information is effectively exchanged and issues or concerns are addressed promptly. Provides feedback to supervisors regarding work-related issues. Facilitates the training, documentation and progression of team members in the Pay for Skills program. Leads by example by living the FPM values. Job Accountabilities:Leads a crew in a variety of landscaping maintenance tasks, cleaning, trimming, mowing, fertilizing, cultivating, watering, edging, hedging, and using and maintaining manual and powered landscaping equipment. Makes minor irrigation repair. Prunes trees and shrubs. Provides management input regarding disciplinary actions, pay raises, promotions and other staff management tasks as needed. Interprets rules, regulations, policy and procedures. Schedules, assigns staff to work locations, and coordinates work for special events. Trains and ensures crew members are inputting time on electronics (e.g., handheld devices) to complete orders. Provides information and assistance to customers while delivering a high level of customer service. Conducts maintenance inspections to assess the condition of sub-zones, with a focus on public safety and the health and vitality of vegetation. Plans, designs, and oversees the execution of landscape projects. Provides customer service information and assistance to customers. Identifies and reports landscape problems to supervisor. Prepares written correspondence, reports and/or maintenance inspection records. Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics. Assists supervisor in the administration of the Pay for Skills Program. Coordinates landscape needs, objectives and Pay for Skills Training with various departments. Maintains condition and appearance of campus cards. Performs other duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. Minimum Qualifications:5 years minimum experience in landscaping. Valid CA driver's license required with a minimum of 2 years’ driving experience. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information, please visit the policy website. Familiar with safe operation of hand tools and power equipment used in the landscape maintenance industry. Knowledge of horticultural practices in the design and implementation of climate-adaptive and California-native plants. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of applicable laws, principles and regulations. Basic computer literacy with ability to use handheld devices to complete reports. Experience operating and training crew members in the operation of various landscape power equipment. Preferred Qualifications:7 years of experience in landscaping and waste management or disposal 1 years of experience in a leadership role. ISA Certified Arborist, Qualified Applicator Certification, California Native Plant Landscaper. Proficient with the cultivation of native plants (preferred). Conversational fluency in one or more languages (e.g., Spanish) in addition to English (preferred). Experience at a higher education institution (preferred). Familiarity with university grounds (preferred). High school diploma, or equivalent. Hourly Range:The hourly rate for this position is $25.50/hr. - $27.00/hr. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. Minimum Education: High school or equivalent. Minimum Experience: 3 years. Minimum Field of Expertise: Demonstrated supervisory experience of landscape personnel. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with all levels of landscape personnel. Extensive landscape experience. Knowledge of gardening and grounds maintenance, including gardening techniques, tree pruning, cultivation, and common plant species. Thorough knowledge of landscape tools and equipment (including power tools). Familiarity with irrigation systems and installation. Thorough knowledge of standard safety practices and equipment and other requirements for workplace safety. USC is an equal opportunity employer.

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