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Job Category:
University Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Groundskeeper Lead
Job Summary:
The Division of University Housing is looking for an experienced Farm Manager to lead the planning and daily operations of our sustainability‑driven, educational farm. Responsibilities include farm design and yield planning; coordinating sustainable purchasing; supervising field and greenhouse operations; and ensuring compliance with food safety and GAP standards. The role emphasizes regenerative farming practices, student and volunteer leadership, collaborative research, and strategic planning to support long‑term environmental, educational, and operational growth of the farm.
Work Schedule:
- The primary schedule for this position is:
- 8:00am - 4:30pm Mondays and Thursdays
- 8:00am – 12:00pm Fridays
- For a total of 20 hrs/week.
- Some flexibility is possible for scheduled days, work hours, and shift lengths based on operational need. Some weekend or evening work required for special events.
- Work schedule will be set with selected finalist(s) at time of offer. Schedule alterations as operations and position expectations demand.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Plans and directs the day-to-day operational activities of various lawn and landscape projects and staff
- Assists with organizing the layout of planting sites, plant and material selection, research and evaluate new materials and equipment
- Installs, propagates, and maintains the health of new and existing plants and landscape using a variety of vehicles and equipment
- Identifies and acts to remedy plant diseases and insect damage
- Schedules and monitors staff and assists with basic training
Department:
Division of University Housing, Dining & Culinary Services
University Housing Dining and Culinary Services provides affordable meals made from locally sourced ingredients and innovative dining options to residents, guests, and staff. We have market-place style locations in six buildings throughout campus. These marketplaces offer a new variety of selections each day, as well as made-to-order stations. Additionally, there are convenience stores, coffeehouses, and two franchises throughout campus, as well as a Catering, and Central Production and Bakery operation.
Dining and Culinary Services operates a 3-acre campus farm split between two locations: on campus within the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and nearby at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station. The Farm produces vegetables that are used on menus in marketplaces as well as in Grab & Go items, Catering, and the Electric Eats Food Truck.
Compensation:
The starting hourly wage is $18.36 or higher based on qualifications with a competitive retirement and benefits package, including vacation, holidays, and paid time off. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)
Required Qualifications:
- 2–4 years of hands on farm management or sustainable agriculture experience, including crop planning, planting, harvesting, and post harvest handling
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience with sustainable or regenerative farming practices
- Working knowledge of Food Safety and GAP standards, or the ability to obtain certification
- Experience supervising, training, and mentoring staff, students, or volunteers
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture, Agroecology, Environmental Science, Horticulture, or a related field, is required; or equivalent professional experience
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume and cover letter within the online application system. There will be only one attachment field; you must upload all your documents in the attachment field. We are only able to consider completed application materials submitted by the deadline date.
Candidates who apply for this position may be considered for other or future vacancies within this title, including those which may have a different work schedule and/or requirements from this vacancy.
Additional Information:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
University Housing may communicate with you about your application status using a text messaging service. To opt-out please reply "STOP" to text messages received or contact University Housing HR at hr@housing.wisc.edu or 608-262-2766. Message and data rates may apply.
Contact Information:
University Housing Human Resources, hr@housing.wisc.edu, 608-262-2766
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.