Groundskeeper

Summary & Qualifications:

Summary

Performs daily and routine operations in the maintenance and upkeep of the Campus athletic fields, buildings and grounds as assigned by the Director of Facilities or designee. Operates and maintains all related equipment as assigned. Informs the Director of Facilities or designee on the immediate condition of all assigned areas and maintains good relations with the public and staff. Must have the ability to work well on his/her own; ability to be trustworthy and maintain confidentiality; ability to read and follow written and oral directions and to plan and work well independently or in a large group. Must be able to operate equipment while maintaining a safe environment for the public, students and staff.

Qualifications

Required:

High School diploma or GED
Must possess a valid Michigan driver’s license with no restrictions
Must be able to obtain forklift and bucket lift certification
Must pass a D.O.T. physical if you operate a motor vehicle with a gross weight over 10,000 pounds

Preferred

Familiarity with basic landscaping techniques like lawn care, excavation, and snow removal.
Experience using common groundskeeping equipment like lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, and hand tools.
Working knowledge of heavy, medium and light equipment with the ability to operate equipment while maintaining a safe environment for the public, students and staff
Athletic field maintenance, parking lot and road maintenance, snow removal
Knowledge of turf care, trees, shrubs and ground cover

Essential Responsibilities

Grounds Maintenance

• Performs lawn mowing, trimming and flower bed maintenance.
• Performs tree, shrub and ground cover processes to include watering, pruning, shrub bed maintenance, planting and supporting trees, flower selection and planting and tree and shrub identification.
• Performs athletic field care processes to include, mowing, aeration, watering, general repair, turf grass identification, soil analysis and lining requirements for interscholastic and inter-mural athletic events.
• Performs turf care processes to include, mowing, aeration, watering, general repair, turf grass identification and soil analysis.
• Uses hand and power tools related to the maintenance and upkeep of lawn care, excavation, snow removal and material handling equipment. Operates light, medium and heavy duty equipment related to lawn care, excavation, snow removal and material handling. Specifically able to operate: hedge trimmer, leaf blower, push mower, riding zero turn mower, weed whacker, edge trimmer and chain saw properly and safely.
• Maintain trees with the use of a chainsaw both on the ground and in a 40 foot lift.

Snow Removal

• Provides snow blowing, plowing, removal, shoveling, sanding and salting processes for all parking lots, roads, sidewalks and building access ways to maintain a safe environment during the snow removal season.
• Operation of the following equipment: large tractor with front snow blower and back blade, skid steer with push bucket, lift bucket and sweeper broom.
• Properly use pick-up truck, dump truck with salt spreader and front snow plow blade.
• Performs preventative maintenance to include adjustments, calibration, lubrication and operational checks on gasoline and diesel engines, hydraulic and electrical systems and drive trains related to lawn care, excavation, snow removal, and material handling equipment.
• Performs welding, fabrication, cutting, brazing and grinding related to the maintenance and upkeep of lawn care, excavation, snow removal, and material handling equipment.

Other Duties

• Performs material handling processes to include loading and hauling of materials and supplies, pick up and delivery of books, furniture, etc., assembly of furniture, arrangement and set up for athletic events, clubs, special events and departmental moves.
• Assists in the Campus wide Recycling Program.
• Load and tow a double axle trailer loaded with a large tractor or skid steer safely.
• Safely use ladders of all sizes.

Work Environment

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and landscape layouts/blueprints. Must have the ability to write routine reports and the ability to speak effectively to customers or employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. The ability to define and solve practical problems.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear; and smell. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance on ladders and scaffolding, cherry picker lift and work in confined spaces. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 60 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

In driving/operating trucks, front end loader, mowers and related grounds equipment; employee is required to distinguish and recognize warning decals/labels, indicator lights; and to make repairs to grounds-related equipment. Groundskeepers must wear all personal protection equipment as required.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, outside weather conditions, and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; bees, snakes, poison plants such as poison ivy, oak and sumac and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Must work with and operate equipment that by their nature generate moderate to very loud noise and/or vibrations such as, but not limited to, power mowers, blowers, tractors, weed whips, power vacuums, trucks and compressors.