Grounds Assistant

The groundskeeper assists with grounds, maintenance contracts, maintains, cares, and modifies University grounds and landscapes by planting, cultivating, and trimming grounds and maintaining equipment and tools while following Facilities Management standards.

Essential Duties

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  Seeds, waters, mulches, fertilizes, and applies chemicals to lawns and plants.

  
  


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  Assists with managing general grounds work contracts.

  
  


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  Works with the grounds maintenance contractor on schedules, follow ups, call backs, ect.

  
  


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  Assist with contract commitments, follow ups, and monitoring of services provided by our landscaping company, to include clear precise communication with stakeholders

  
  


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  Coordinates snow/ice removal plans and scheduling 

  
  


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  Transplants, prunes, trims, weeds, and cultivates trees, shrubs, ground cover, and flowers.

  
  


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  Walks campus and out lying area daily for trash pickup on grounds parking lots, sidewalks, trash cans, ect.

  
  


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  Does weekend trash pickups based on campus or sporting activities or events with anticipated high attendance.

  
  


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  Empties trash receptacles.

  
  


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  Rakes, sweeps, and bags leaves, debris, and dirt from sidewalks and parking lots.

  
  


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  Lays sod.

  
  


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  Removes snow and salts walkways.

  
  


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  Actively participates in snow removal from parking lots, sidewalks, steps and building entryways to assure the safety of our students and campus community while understanding that this may be a 24/7 requirement during certain weather conditions.   

  
  


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  Applies chemicals used in groundskeeping properly and safely by wearing approved protective clothing, masks, gloves, etc.

  
  


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  Safely operates light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, tractors, skidsteers, riding mowers, portable power tools, snow/leaf blowers, and other equipment.

  
  

Secondary Duties:

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  Loads and unloads truck deliveries.

  
  


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  Prepares classrooms, auditoriums, and outdoor locations for special events.

  
  




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  Moves existing furniture.

  
  


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  Sets up chairs, tables, equipment, carpet, etc.

  
  




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  Repairs sprinkler heads on sports fields and campus grounds, sets up and shuts down irrigation systems at the beginning and ending of each season. Schedules irrigation run times based on current weather conditions.

  
  


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  Acts in a courteous professional manner at all times.

  
  


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  Contributes to the overall success of the University by performing all other duties as assigned. 

  
  

Requirements:

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  Candidate must be self -motivated, have a good knowledge of landscaping, general grounds, work to include mowing weed trimming, edging, mulching, tree care, pruning, knowledge of plant care basic horticulture skills.

  
  


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  Must have general knowledge of equipment operation and maintenance of commercial zero turn mowers, UTV’s, tractors, skid steers, weed trimmers, chain saws, blowers, and other grounds related equipment. General mechanical knowledge will be important for this role.

  
  


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  Must be willing to work overtime when needed to cover things such as snow/ice clean up, grounds preparation for special events, occasional weekend trash pickup, storm damage clean up, supervision and assistance with outsourced grounds work etc.