Seasonal Groundskeeper

Job Title

Seasonal Grounds Maintenance Worker

Job Description

Employees in this class are seasonal and perform grounds maintenance to enhance the aesthetics of assigned grounds and landscaped areas.

An employee in this class performs grounds maintenance and gardening duties in the beautification of assigned grounds and landscaped areas. Work assignments may also include assisting other public works crews in mowing City properties and rights-of-ways, and other grounds facilities. This position may provide unskilled labor in support of staff assigned to maintain streets, stormwater systems, and other City properties. Work is manual labor in nature and is supervised by a Public Works supervisor or Crew Leader, and is evaluated based on work effort, successful completion of assigned work, and visual inspection.

Examples of Duties

Illustrative Examples of Work and Responsibilities

• Mow, edge, trim, and water lawns, fields, and other turf grounds; prepare and fertilize soil; water various grounds areas and potted plants by hand.
• Plant, cultivate, prune, spray, fertilize, and irrigate flowers, trees, grass, and shrubs; hoe and pull weeds and rake leaves; edge walkways; sweep and pick-up litter from walks, driveways, streets, rights-of-way, and easements.
• Perform general grounds cleanup, including picking up paper, trash, and debris on grounds areas, parking lots, playgrounds, and other assigned areas.
• Operate a variety of power-driven equipment such as mowers, edgers, blowers, hedge trimmers, and other equipment used in grounds work; utilize standard gardening hand tools.
• May apply pest control methods to eradicate weeds and other pests according to established procedures, if licensed or under the supervision of a licensed pesticide applicator.
• Maintain grounds maintenance equipment in safe operating condition; perform minor maintenance on equipment such as changing blades, greasing, adding fuel, and changing oil.
• Various other duties may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of basic grounds maintenance procedures including mowing, edging, raking, and weeding.
• General knowledge of the methods, equipment, and materials used in gardening and grounds maintenance work.
• Knowledge of cultivating, fertilizing, watering, and spraying of flowers, trees and shrubs.
• Knowledge and skill in the operation and maintenance of hand and power tools and equipment used in grounds maintenance.
• Ability to perform a variety of grounds maintenance and gardening duties in the beautification of assigned grounds and landscaped areas.
• Ability to mow, edge, water, weed, fertilize, rake, and cultivate lawns, flower beds, athletic fields and other landscaped areas.
• Ability to operate hand and power tools and other equipment used in grounds maintenance
• Ability to learn methods and materials used in controlling weeds and other pests.
• Ability to receive, understand, and successfully carry out instructions from supervisors.
• General knowledge of safe working regulations and practices.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements

Employees must have manual dexterity of hands and fingers to operate grounds maintenance equipment and plant flowers, shrubs, and pull weeds. Employees must also be able to stand and bend for long periods of time working in the gardens and grounds area. Employees lift, carry, push or pull heavy objects such as bags of fertilizers and compost. Employees must also sit to operate mowers and bend at the waist, kneel or crouch, reach overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally.

Working Conditions

Employees work primarily in outside environmental conditions which may include extreme cold and heat. Employees are subject to hazards including operating with, on, or near mechanical equipment. Atmospheric conditions due to exposure to fumes, odors, dirt, soil contamination, and dust as well as exposure to chemicals used in pest control and weed abatement. Employees are subject to noise, causing the employee to shout to be heard above the ambient noise level.

Qualifications

Some experience in grounds maintenance and/or horticulture work is desirable.

The minimum age requirement is 16 years of age.

Special Requirement

Valid North Carolina Driver's License (Class C)

Part Time employees are not eligible for full time benefits such as no cost medical, dental, vision, life, or short term disability nor do they receive paid leave, holiday pay, or employer retirement contributions. However, part time employees may still invest in their future by choosing to participate in the NC 401(k) plan through voluntary employee contributions.