Groundskeeper- full time

Purpose of Position and Scope of Responsibility:  The Groundskeeper is responsible for maintaining the appearance, safety, and functionality of all university grounds and outdoor facilities. This position supports the University's mission by providing a clean, attractive, and well-maintained campus environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Groundskeeper performs a variety of landscaping, maintenance, and grounds care duties to ensure campus grounds are aesthetically pleasing, safe, and conducive to learning and community engagement.

Under the administrative direction of Director of Grounds

Responsible for 1 shifts, 8 hours/day, 5 days/week.   Incumbents are subject to overtime as deemed necessary

Principal Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

1.  Maintain lawns, landscaped areas, athletic field surroundings, parking lots, sidewalks, roadways, and other outdoor campus areas. 

2.  Mow, edge, trim, weed, mulch, fertilize, and water lawns, trees, shrubs, flower beds, and other landscaped areas. 

3.  Plant and maintain trees, shrubs, flowers, and seasonal landscaping materials. 

4.  Operate and maintain groundskeeping equipment, including mowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, tractors, and other landscaping tools. 

5.  Remove leaves, debris, litter, and other materials from campus grounds to maintain a clean and professional appearance. 

6.  Assist with snow and ice removal, including salting and clearing walkways, parking lots, and building entrances as needed. 

7.  Inspect campus grounds regularly and report hazards, maintenance concerns, damaged equipment, or unsafe conditions. 

8. Perform minor repairs to outdoor fixtures, fencing, signage, irrigation systems, and landscaping features. 

9.  Assist with the setup and breakdown of outdoor events, ceremonies, athletic activities, and special campus functions. 

10.  Follow established safety procedures and properly use personal protective equipment (PPE). 

11.  Maintain inventory of grounds supplies and notify supervisors of equipment or material needs. 

12.  Respond to emergency situations and weather-related events as directed. 

13.  Work collaboratively with Facilities Management staff and other departments to support campus operations. 

14. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Facilities Management or designated supervisor.

           This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of groundskeeping, landscaping, and lawn care practices.  
• Ability to safely operate grounds maintenance equipment and tools.  
• Ability to perform physically demanding work outdoors in varying weather conditions. 
• Knowledge of basic safety practices and equipment maintenance. 
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining a professional campus appearance. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, students, and visitors. 
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 50 pounds or more with assistance as needed. 

Working Conditions

• Frequent outdoor work in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and humidity. 
• Exposure to dust, noise, chemicals, pollen, and equipment-related hazards. 
• Regular standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, lifting, and operating equipment. 
• Occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or emergency response work may be required. 

This position plays a vital role in ensuring the university campus remains safe, welcoming, and visually appealing for the entire campus community. 

Physical Requirements:

Work requires light physical exertion (up to 30 pounds) on a continuous basis (over 50% of time); or moderate physical exertion (up to 50 pounds) on a frequent basis (up to 50% of time); or heavy physical exertion on an occasional basis (up to 15% of time).

Environmental Conditions:

Work involves frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions or undesirable elements, may involve exposure to a variety of elements which are potentially hazardous or harmful which require exercise of well defined precautions for protection from injury or illness.