Groundskeeper IV

Date: Nov 4, 2026 Location: AUSTIN, TX Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Functional Title: Groundskeeper IV Job Title: Groundskeeper IV Agency: Health & Human Services Comm Department: Plant Maintenance Posting Number: 23043 Closing Date: 11/18/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Salary Range: $3,649.83 - $4,594.50 Pay Frequency: Monthly Salary Group: TEXAS-A-14 Shift: Day Additional Shift Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Travel: Up to 5% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt Facility Location: Austin State Supported Living Center Job Location City: AUSTIN Job Location Address: 2203 W 35TH ST Other Locations: MOS Codes: 8000 Brief Job Description Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Lead Groundskeeper performs advanced groundskeeping work at a State Supported Living Center or State Hospital. Designs, oversees and leads the implementation of a facility plan to improve and maintain the appearance of grounds and flower beds for the facility. Collaborates with maintenance staff on landscaping designs. Presents proposals to management. Oversees the work of weeding, fertilizing, and ensuring the effective operations of sprinkler systems and the removal, planting and trimming of trees and shrubs. Assigns and prioritizes the work of other groundskeeping staff to accomplish daily and weekly tasks most effectively. Projects and maintains the schedules for routine work. Safely and efficiently operates advanced level power- and gas-operated equipment to complete duties and trains others to use the equipment. Oversees the inventory of groundskeeping tools, supplies, and equipment and ensures equipment is well maintained and accounted for. Performs minor repairs on equipment in accordance with training and skill level. Ensures parking lots, roads, fences and sidewalks are free from obstructions and in good repair. Develops and implements a proactive plan to minimize the presence and impact of nuisance animals at the facility, including snakes, rodents and feral cats. Collaborates with maintenance staff on projects and performs some maintenance duties as needed. Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the overall safe operations of the facility. Ensures there is a plan in place for response to situations impacting safe facility operations and plans in advance for potential weather-related needs. Works some weekend and/or after-hours callouts, to respond to situations impacting safe facility operations and ensure coverage by other groundskeeping staff. Works under minimal supervision of the Maintenance Technician Supervisor or other appropriate staff depending on facility structure, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions (EJFs) Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. Collaboratively develops landscaping plans that include lighting, design items such as fountains, furniture, and appropriate fencing. Works with maintenance staff to ensure designs are feasible. Provides landscape designs for management including selecting plants and flowers appropriate to the climate, estimating budget, features such as furniture, lighting, fountains, sprinkler systems, and fencing. Presents to management and implements the plan selected. Plans for, acquires and maintains outdoor furniture and equipment. Oversees and ensures the quality of work performed by the groundskeeping staff including mowing, trimming, fertilizing, removing and planting trees and shrubs. Ensures the safe and effective use of gas- and power-operated tool to complete work efficiently. Trains other staff to use tools commensurate with skill and ability. Performs groundskeeping work as needed to ensure facility needs are met. Reports any significant issues to the supervisor for handling. Oversees the inventory of groundskeeping tools, supplies, and equipment to ensure safety and accountability. Ensures equipment is well maintained and accounted for, making repairs commensurate with ability and experience or contacting the appropriate person to complete the repairs. Oversees the daily, weekly and monthly scheduling of work in the grounds section/department such as schedules for treating insects around buildings, trimming of hedges, litter control, and mowing. Assigns and prioritizes the work of other groundskeepers to ensure all tasks are completed as required on a daily, weekly and monthly basis in accordance with the groundskeeping schedule. Designates and assigns mowing and weed eating areas (zones of the campus) to other groundskeepers. Assists with work details as necessary. Oversees the safe operation of, and operates, tractors with implements such as front-end loaders and backhoes for digging out tree stumps, cleaning up debris, moving large amounts of gravel, sand, mulch and other landscaping materials, and to help dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break. Constructs and implements a facility abatement plan to minimize the presence and impact of nuisance animals, including snakes, rodents and feral cats. Leads others to take action to safely and humanely trap and remove live animals, disposes appropriately of dead animals and takes proactively measures to abate future issues. Ensures roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are safe and free from debris. Conducts sidewalk surveys and documents on a plot plan as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) in an effort to reduce slips, trips and falls. Proactively plans for facility needs, such as stocking supplies, making a staff deployment plan, having a call list for potential contractors, and works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to oversee and assist in removing ice/snow from sidewalks, roadways, clear debris from catch basins during heavy rain, and other related duties. Collaborates with maintenance supervisors and dispatches staff to perform general maintenance, repairs and construction work for the facility to ensure optimal facility operations. If the facility has a cemetery, performs cemetery duties to include maintaining grounds, setting head stones, excavating graves for funerals, setting up casket devices and tents. Maintains burial logs, ensures proper lifetime retention of logs in a secure location with backup log on server. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (KSAs) Knowledge, skill and ability associated with proactive planning to minimize the presence of nuisance animals such as rodents, snakes and feral cats. Knowledge, skills and ability to safely fell and remove large trees in and around buildings and other infrastructures. Knowledge of horticulture and landscape design; and the skill and ability to apply that knowledge to landscape projects. Advanced skill in safely operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoes, and/or pruning shears, and a variety of a variety of hand and power tools used in construction/repair) and ability to teach/train others to safely use this equipment. Must be able to meet facility driver requirements. Ability to speak and read English. Ability to read, understand and apply a variety of inter-related instructions such as those found in guidelines, regulations and policies. Ability to train and lead a team. Ability to perform basic mathematical computations. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to follow written and oral instructions. Ability to stand/walk for extended period of time. Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions. Ability to work harmoniously and productively with co-workers and residents. Able to lift and carry 50 to 100 lbs. Able to withstand long periods of standing, bending and walking. Ability to maintain and care for hand and power tools and equipment. Ability to teach other groundskeepers to detect diseases in plants and grasses. Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications Must possess valid Texas driver’s license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date. Applicants with an out-of-state driver’s license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy. Chemical application (herbicide) license is preferred. Must obtain within 6 months of hire. Pesticide license is preferred. Must obtain within 6 months of hire. Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred. Initial Screening Criteria High School diploma, GED or work experience specific to groundskeeping. Experience operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoe or pruning shears. Experience As a Shift Or Team Lead Is Preferred Twelve (12) months of work experience in professional groundskeeping is preferred Additional Information Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service. All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing. Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC. Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, And Veterans Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. ADA Accommodations In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview. Pre-Employment Checks And Work Eligibility Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks. HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form Telework Disclaimer This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs. Nearest Major Market: Austin #J-18808-Ljbffr Texas Health and Human Services