Grounds Supervisor

Celebrated as the #1 Top Workplace in the D.C. region for 2023 by The Washington Post, Goodwin Living is more than a team – it's a global family of individuals who represent more than 65 countries.

Why Our Team Members Vote Us #1

Goodwin Living ranks #1 thanks to team members who respond to an annual survey conducted by a neutral, third-party resource. Here are some reasons they honor us with this ranking:

Embracing Diversity: Our strength is in our diverse team from over 65 countries, fostering an inclusive and vibrant culture that values every voice.

Growth and Opportunities: We bolster personal and professional development, offering myriad opportunities, from on-the-job training to mentorship programs and financial support, to help you reach your full potential.

Valuing Our Team Members: By prioritizing team member satisfaction, we create a fulfilling work environment with competitive benefits, work-life balance, and recognition programs, ensuring our team feels appreciated and valued.

About the Position

Primarily responsible for the supervision, budget, contract oversight and grounds maintenance of the gardens and grounds areas at Goodwin House Alexandria. The areas include green roofs, a fishpond, a wooded garden area and paths, a dog run, resident garden boxes, numerous pots, some lawn and several formal flower and shrub beds. Other duties may be assigned during inclement weather. This is a working supervisory position (hands-on) with one direct report.

The work schedule is 7am-3pm

Job Duties

• Work with the resident Grounds and Landscape Committee (GC) and, when appropriate, with contractors to plan and implement enhancements to the planted and hardscape areas, including estimating costs and developing budget requirements. Contractors include general maintenance, irrigation systems and annual pond maintenance.

  • Participate with the GC to purchase and install (or help install) shrubs and trees as well as spring/summer and fall/winter annual planting beds and pots to maintain attractive gardens and pots.

  • Assist residents and the GC with special garden projects. Purchase supplies (potting soil, mulch and hoses) for residents’ garden box use, for the exterior pots and for installing new plantings in the gardens. On a regular basis, empty the compost bins of dirt for residents’ use.

• Monitor the grounds at least every other day to identify problems with plantings and hardscape and take appropriate steps to fix them or have others fix them, e.g., other GHA team members or contractors. Monitor for diseases and pests, and take care of necessary weeding, adequate watering, and repairing damage to features of the hardscape.

• Oversee comprehensive grounds needs to ensure completion of all responsibilities, daily tasks, and assignments. Conduct annual evaluations, provide feedback, and ensure adherence to all policies and training requirements. Partner with department director and HR as appropriate to manage any disciplinary matters.

• Develop Grounds operating and capital budgets for each fiscal year and monitor operating and capital budgets monthly. Alert management to any budget overages, requirements for additional funds, delays in completing work, and/or opportunities to reallocate funds.

• Work with the GHA contracts personnel to modify existing contracts for new ones or changed requirements or to develop RFPs for new contracts. Monitor and enforce contracted services of grounds/landscaping to ensure contract requirements are fulfilled.

• Work in gardens daily as weather permits, planting, weeding, deadheading, adding mulch, watering as necessary, pruning and trimming shrubs and trees etc. as needed.

• Patrol Fillmore Avenue, visitor and employee areas of the parking lots and the grounds for trash or debris. As often as required empty exterior trash cans and ensure that dog waste bag holders are filled.

• Annually in the early spring prepare/provide hoses and water supply in various locations for residential use for the spring, summer and fall seasons and winterize the same in early October.

  • Repair leaking non-functioning hose bibs and/or report to supervisor. Follow up to ensure repairs are completed in a timely manner.

  • Operate, troubleshoot and maintain campus irrigation system and sprinkler heads, recommending contractor resources as needed.

  • Create, maintain and monitor summer watering schedule for all plants and trees.

• Monitor the property for repairs needed with any concrete, asphalt or other hardscape areas throughout the community. Notify direct manager of repair requests and progress.

• Assist Maintenance team members with snow removal operations.

  • During periods of inclement weather, work on other projects as assigned by the Director.

Job Requirements

• Three years’ minimum experience in commercial landscaping, design, layout and construction and irrigation systems.

• Degree or certification indicating knowledge, training and education in horticulture for the care, planting and maintenance of flowers, ornamental plants, shrubbery and trees.

• Two years’ minimum experience with supervising direct reports.

• Knowledge of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers and various products used in grounds maintenance through training or experience

• Must possess a customer-oriented approach to dealing tactfully with residents, team members, visitors and guests.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

• Strong written and verbal English communication skills required. Ability to also speak Spanish highly preferred.

A sampling of our many benefits!

We’ve got you covered with incredible benefits, whether you work full-time, part-time, or PRN (as needed). Here’s a glimpse of what we offer to Full-Time team members:

• Paid Time Off
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• DailyPay: Work and get paid the same day!
• Tuition Assistance for Career Development
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Financial assistance with U.S. Citizenship application or DACA Renewal
• Tutoring for ESL, Citizenship Test & GED
• Staff Emergency Grants
• Retirement Plan- 401(k)
• Free Meals, Access to a Fitness Center, Pool, and More

About Goodwin Living

At Goodwin Living, we can all find work with purpose! As a nonprofit senior living and healthcare organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, we are driven by our mission: to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and those who care for them. Our commitment to our team members is written directly into that statement. We create an enriching and supportive work environment that has inspired our team members to vote us into the Washington Post Top Workplace rankings since 2019, and they made us #2 in 2024!

Goodwin Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an AARP Employer Pledge Signer. We take pride in our inclusive work culture that values diversity and fosters talent. With us, you are more than just a team member; you are part of a community committed to excellence and continuous learning.

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