Essential Activities and Job Functions – College Summer Intern

Duration: May 19 – August 11, 2020 (12 weeks)

Hours: M-F, 7am-5pm (ending time will vary). 45+ hours per week. May have an option to work some Saturdays. Time worked over 40 hours within a one week period will be paid at 150% of the hourly rate.

Pay Rate: $12.00/hour

 

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the ability to stand, reach, stoop, squat, bend, twist, and kneel for extended periods of time. Lifting requirements up to 50 lbs. For safety, intern(s) must be able to hear vehicles or equipment approaching. Age must be at least 16 years old at the start date of the internship.

 

Academic/Soft Skill Requirements:

Interns must be currently enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college program related to the horticulture/landscaping field. Preference will go to intern(s) who express a desire to work in the landscape industry after graduation. GPA should be at least 2.5.

 

Required skills:

  • Punctuality & reliability
  • Communication
  • Follow directions
  • Willingness to learn new things
  • Time management
  • Flexibility
  • Good attitude

 

Essential activities/job functions – Training will be provided for each item

Installation:

  • Maintaining a clean job site
  • Preparing turf areas and planting beds
  • Planting trees and shrubs, including staking and installing mulch or pine straw
  • Laying sod
  • Proper use of hand tools and some small power tools
  • Excavation and prep work for drainage and hardscaping

 

Maintenance:

  • Weed identification and removal
  • Edging beds and installing mulch or pine straw
  • Proper use of power equipment (string trimmer, edger, blower, push mower)
  • Introduction to hand pruning

Outcomes & Learning Objectives

The intern(s) will become proficient in:

  • Operating standard equipment
  • Plant identification, training topics, and safety topics presented in #TeachingTuesday training sessions
  • Daily tasks consistent with working on a crew, such as loading and unloading materials, tool and vehicle maintenance, and following directions to reach a common goal

 

The intern(s) will gain an understanding of:

  • The standard processes of an installation or maintenance project
  • How the crew’s execution of daily tasks affects the entire company
  • Roles and opportunities within the landscape industry
  • The importance of proper grading and how it affects water flow
  • How proper installation and maintenance practices affect the health of the landscape and overall environment
  • How to read a blueprint and lay out plants and materials
  • The operations required to support a landscape installation project (scheduling, purchasing, managing subcontractors, etc.)
  • Managing profitability on a project

 

Training Provided:

  • Weekly training sessions with the crews, covering plant identification and training and safety topics
  • Ride-alongs and training sessions with different managers to learn bigger-picture aspects of the business
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

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