Grounds and Nursery Services Specialist 3

Eastern Washington University, United States

Updated: about 7 hours ago
Location: Cheney, WASHINGTON
Deadline: 06 May 2025

Posting Details
Posting Details


Working Title Grounds and Nursery Services Specialist 3
Posting Number 2025016CP

Position Information


Classification Title Grounds Nursery Srvs Spec 3
Classification Code 591K
RCW Exemption Criteria No Exemption
EWU Position Number C99137
CUPA Code N-819000 - Grounds/Landscape Worker
FLSA Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit BU 1
% Full Time 100
Salary / Wage Range CS - 36
Salary Information
$38,784 – $51,360. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.
Anticipated Start Date
Term of Appointment 12 months per year
Location Cheney campus
County Spokane
Project Description
Project Duration
Background Check Yes - Both
Responsible HR User Kenlyn Mackey
Responsible HR User Email address kmackey2@ewu.edu

Position Details


Job Summary
  • Are you passionate about horticulture and landscape management? Eastern Washington University is seeking a Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 3 to join our dedicated team. In this role, you will be integral to the care and maintenance of our beautiful 300+ acre campus grounds, ensuring they thrive for students, staff, and the community to enjoy.
    Key Responsibilities:
    • Manage and maintain a comprehensive grounds maintenance program, including mowing, trimming, and seasonal plant care.
    • Oversee and implement sprinkler irrigation systems to ensure optimal water usage across the campus.
    • Propagate and nurture trees, shrubs, and forage plants, contributing to our campus biodiversity.
    • Conduct soil analyses to assess and improve soil health, and maintain detailed growth records for all propagations.
    • Collaborate with other departments to enhance the campus landscape and support sustainability initiatives.
    • This position works full time year round (12 months per year).

  • The salary range for this position is $38,784 – $51,360. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 13 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/ .
About Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region’s polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction , a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).
Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024 .
Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.
Equal Opportunity Statement
EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.
Conditions of Employment
  • During the course of university employment this position will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.
  • All new employees will comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
  • All new faculty and staff are required to complete training after their hire date. This should be completed no later than the first few weeks after hire. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on Human Resources’ site https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training-resources/ under the required heading.
  • This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees’ Collective Bargaining Agreement:
    https://in.ewu.edu/hr/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2023/06/WFSE-EWU-CBA-Barg.-Units-1-and-2-FINAL-2023-2025.pdf
Physical Demands
  • This position requires continuous walking and maintaining of stamina during workday. Frequent sitting, standing, bending over, reaching overhead, pushing or pulling, repetitive use of hands/arms, repetitive use of legs, lifting of up to 50 pounds, carrying of up to 50 pounds, eye/hand coordination. Successful candidate must be able to pass a pre-placement physical. This position works continuously outside. The work environment varies in temperature between very hot, and very cold. This position works in high places in an environment that can be dry, wet, dirty and/or dusty.
  • If you would like to obtain a copy of the Essential Functions Analysis form, which describes the physical and mental demands of the position, please contact Kenlyn Mackey at kmackey2@ewu.edu.
Pre-Placement Physical Yes
Hearing Test Yes
Medical Monitoring Post Hire Yes
Protective Equipment
Protective apron, dust mask, eye wear, face shield, hearing, helmet, inclement weather gear, Tyvek suit, gloves, chaps, and footwear. University, local, regional and state mandates for public and personal protection should be followed as needed.
Required Qualifications
  • Physical ability to do required work
  • One year of experience or training involving grounds maintenance, plant care, cultivation and landscape installation
  • High school diploma or GED
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Must acquire and maintain a Washington State Department of Agriculture Public Applicators License with the following categories: Laws & Safety, Ornamental Weeds, Insect & Disease within six months of hire
  • Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive to the needs, including universal access, of our students, faculty, staff and public.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Prefer applicant to already possess a WSDA Applicators License.
Other Skills and Abilities
  • Qualified tree pruner, skilled in plant propagation in a greenhouse.
  • Detail oriented in landscape skills.
  • Understanding of safe work practices.
  • Professional and courteous demeanor.
Work Schedule Type Regular
Work Schedule
Typically, 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday – Friday
Posting Date 04/22/2025
Open Until Further Notice No
Closing Date 05/06/2025
Screening to Begin Immediately
Special Instructions to Applicants
1. Attach a chronological resume including work history and major duties, education, and any specialized training or skills related to the position. List at least 3 professional references including: names, titles, organization name, phone numbers, email addresses, and connection to you (these can be identical to the references listed on the application).
2. Complete the online application form and respond to the online questions, if applicable.
3. Mission Statement Response - EWU’s mission is to provide an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence. We are committed to serving first-generation, Pell-eligible students. How would you contribute to this mission?
Application Types Accepted Application

Job Duties


% of Time 25
Responsibility / Duty
Plans, prepares, plants, feeds, waters, prunes and maintains flower beds and landscaped areas; Includes preparation of ground for lawn, plants, trees and planting shrubs; plant trees, grass, flowers, shrubs, seeds, bulbs, and other types of foliage.
Seed, mow, fertilize and maintain lawns.
Use a variety of powered and non-powered tools and implements in the performance of the functions listed.
Operate power equipment such as light tractors, trucks, lawn mowers, sweepers, sprayers, trimmers, rototillers, aerators, sod cutters, trenchers, chain saws and aerial lifts in support of gardening functions
Essential Function Indicator Yes
% of Time 22
Responsibility / Duty
Diagnoses and treats plant diseases.
Control insect pests where needed; applies pesticides when deemed necessary for control of pests with the appropriate license.
Prepares bedding areas by sterilizing and mixing soils, cleaning bedding tables and sterilizing pots and containers used in nursery culture.
Propagates plants by cutting, seeding, grafting, layering and budding.
Analyze soil for PH content; takes tissue samples for analysis.
Formulates and presents recommendations for layout or improvements of grounds.
Converts quotas of seedlings and potted plants to square footage of greenhouse and cold frame planting and to species and quantities of seeds.
Submits requests for all necessary supplies and equipment.
May participate in formulating annual operating plans for large greenhouse and takes principal responsibility for executing plans schedules planning dates and other work to coincide with seasons and plant life cycles.
Essential Function Indicator Yes
% of Time 20
Responsibility / Duty
Remove debris, snow and ice from walks, stairways, roads and parking areas.
Operate power equipment such as light tractors, trucks, sweepers, sprayers, and leaf and snow blowers in support of maintenance functions
Installs, maintains, repairs, and adjusts various sprinkler systems and control devices
Essential Function Indicator Yes
% of Time 20
Responsibility / Duty
Installs, maintains, repairs, and adjusts various sprinkler systems and control devices
Essential Function Indicator Yes
% of Time 10
Responsibility / Duty
Operates and maintains assigned vehicle.
May repair, maintain and operate a variety of grounds mechanical equipment, systems, and apparatus; including grease, oil, service and make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment.
Keep equipment in good working order
Essential Function Indicator Yes
% of Time 3
Responsibility / Duty
May supervise, direct, or lead other employees and helpers
Essential Function Indicator No

Similar Positions