Ground & Garden Maintenance Technician

The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority is seeking a Ground and Garden Maintenance Technician for RBHA's North Campus and Chelsea Hill locations. RBHA North Campus is a 13-acre, 6-building residential substance use treatment facility located in the Highland Park neighborhood of the City of Richmond. Chelsea Hill is an outpatient services facility located at 2000 Mecklenburg Street.

The North Campus Greenspace consists of open spaces, a walking trail, raised beds (vegetable and flowers), a Kitchen Garden (including vegetables, herbs, and berries), a small fruit tree orchard, several rain gardens and pollinator gardens, and general landscaping. The Greenspace is continually developing to provide a therapeutic and purposeful space for both residents and staff. Much of the development of the Greenspace is done through community volunteers and events and grant funding. Through our development of the Greenspace, we make every effort to be good stewards of the land and use organic practices whenever possible.

The ideal candidate for this position has a love of horticulture and gardening; an understanding of horticulture best practices and is open to learning; and possesses the skills and abilities to perform the tasks required to make this space beautiful, therapeutic, and productive.

Essential Functions

• Perform routine grounds maintenance, including weeding, vine removal, pruning, mulching, watering, and general upkeep
• Maintain landscaped areas, garden beds, walking trails, and hard-to-reach areas (e.g., fence lines, stairwells, and building perimeters)
• Develop and carry out seasonal maintenance plans for all outdoor spaces
• Prepare and maintain soil in garden beds and planting areas
• Monitor plant health and address issues such as pests, disease, or overgrowth
• Maintain and safely operate garden tools and equipment
• Keep outdoor areas clean, safe, and free of overgrowth or debris
• Track maintenance activities through routine logs

Program Support (Secondary Responsibility)

• Facilitate three structured, one-hour gardening groups per week with residents at North Campus
• Support basic planting, harvesting, and garden-related activities tied to programming
• Work collaboratively with staff to support program goals (this is not a clinical or therapy role)

Additional Responsibilities

• Support composting and sustainable land practices
• Assist with volunteer events and grant-funded projects as needed
• Follow all safety procedures related to equipment use and chemical applications
• Coordinate with RBHA General Services on larger landscaping needs