Experienced Grounds Keeper - Full Time (Reid Park Zoo)

Job Description

Job Description

Are you an experienced landscaping professional who loves the outdoors and takes pride in a job well done? Do you enjoy working in a vibrant environment where your work directly impacts thousands of families and visitors every day?

Reid Park Zoo is looking for an experienced, high-caliber Groundskeeper to join our team! In this role, you will maintain our beautiful, immersive botanical displays and animal habitats while serving as a key ambassador for our zoo.

If you have a strong work ethic, a high level of professionalism, excellent guest service and interpersonal skills, along with a passion for creating beautiful spaces, we want to hear from you!

A minimum of three years of landscaping or groundskeeping experience in a commercial environment is required. Experience in a public park or attraction is preferred. Ability to identify plants and advanced knowledge of proper plant and lawn care are required. A degree in landscape design, botany, horticulture or arborist certification is strongly preferred.  This position requires manual groundskeeping skills (raking, trimming, pulling weeds, etc.), along with use of power tools. 

Reid Park Zoo’s mission is to connect people with animals, inspiring the protection of wild animals and wild places. Be a part of a vibrant, growing organization as Reid Park Zoo continues to support local and global conservation and the highest standards in animal care while providing educational opportunities and family fun.  

No phone calls or visits, please .  We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.  We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff by creating an inclusive environment .

Pay Range : $17.65 to $20.30 per hour (DOE) / FLSA Non-Exempt 

Benefits: This is a fully benefited position, including group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; paid holiday, vacation, and sick time; retirement plan; zoo membership; employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, and discounts on concession and gift shop purchases. 

Overview :

This position is responsible for performing specialized and general grounds duties to maintain zoo grounds and keep them clean and attractive to the Zoo’s high standards of excellence by performing a variety of landscaping, plant care, irrigation, and other general duties, to include light custodial cleaning, restocking, and restroom cleaning support as needed during Zoo operations. This is a hands-on position in a fast-paced environment of a growing organization.  

Reports To: Grounds Supervisor

Responsibilities:

General duties:

• Demonstrates and models the core values of the Reid Park Zoological Society (RPZS or the Zoo)
• Perform duties in accordance with RPZS policies and procedures
• Provides excellent customer service as a component of all job duties
• Follows Zoo safety protocols and procedures
• Safely uses and maintains hand tools & various gas-powered equipment such as mowers, blowers, power-washers, trimmers, loppers, weed-eaters, rakes, shovels, sod cutters and chainsaws.  
• May be required to perform tree trimming and safely operate power equipment from ladders.
• De-litters and weeds zoo grounds and around buildings, removes trash, leaf litter and brush, paying special attention to detail.
• Safely operates golf carts, dumping utility vehicles, riding mowers, skid steers, forklifts, tractors, and transports equipment by pulling trailers.
• Conducts preventative maintenance, equipment inspections, and ensures safety.
• Conducts irrigation head replacement, minor irrigation repairs and adjusts controller programs for turf conditions and overseeding.
• Plants and maintains landscape with an emphasis on edible browse for the animal collection.
• Cleans and restocks bathrooms, and cleans protein spills as required.
• Completes all trainings as required, including but not limited to job-specific training, OSHA 10-hour training, general safety, active shooter, DEAI, radio protocol, other safety and weather drills, CPR/ First Aid, hand and power tool usage and heavy equipment operation such as skid steer/ fork lift truck. 

Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

• High School Diploma, GED, trades certificate
• Three years of paid groundskeeping or landscaping experience in a commercial environment
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Valid and unrestricted driver’s license
• Pre-employment drug screen (we do not test for THC)
• Pre-employment criminal history background check
• Proof of negative TB test within the immediate past 12 months OR complete pre-employment (company-paid) TB test and renew annually
• Proof of current (2025 or newer) COVID-19 Booster
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Adheres to the standards of behavior and professional conduct of the Zoo
• Provides excellent customer service to guests and internal customers (employees, vendors, volunteers)
• Ability to foster and maintain positive, constructive relationships with all levels of the organization
• Ability to take direction and be quick to act or change direction as needed
• Reliable and able to work to a schedule including weekends, holidays and evenings (for special events)
• Regular physical attendance at work

Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

• College degree (Landscape Design, Botany, Horticulture, Arborist, etc.)
• Additional years of experience strongly preferred
• Botany or horticulture experience strongly preferred 
• Ability to identify plants that are suitable for animal browse
• Pruning experience
• Experience working in a zoo, park, or public attraction environment
• Experience working in an AZA-accredited zoo strongly preferred
• Bilingual (Any language, including ASL)

Physical requirements: 

• Job requires working outside in either cold or hot weather conditions the majority of the time
• Able to lift and carry heavy objects (up to 50+ lbs. on occasion)
• Comfortable walking and standing for long periods of time
• Ability to comfortably stand, squat, kneel, bend, stoop, and reach often
• Use hands to operate power tools and machinery often
• Ability to work at heights and safely use ladders

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Reid Park Zoological Society to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Dept.