Grounds Maintenance Worker

Parks And Landscapes Maintenance

Under direct supervision, performs semi-skilled and unskilled work in the maintenance of the City's parks and landscapes. Work involves operating light machinery and using hand tools to prune trees, mow lawns, maintain park equipment and facilities; and policing public grounds. Employee must exercise some independent judgment and initiative in ensuring proper completion of assigned tasks. Reports to the Grounds Maintenance Superintendent.

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs various landscaping duties such as mowing grass, trimming hedges and shrubbery, maintaining flower beds, trimming weeds, raking leaves, etc., using power lawn mowers, string trimmers and various hand tools.
• Performs general maintenance on weed eater which includes changing string, heads, spark plugs and blades.
• Maintains City parks, cuts grass in City parks, sets-up special events all over the City, landscapes gateways of City.
• Maintains lawn machines by performing general maintenance on mowers which includes gas, oil and blade changes.
• Polices public playgrounds, picking up debris and other refuse.
• Loads and unloads equipment and materials on work truck at start and end of workday; performs minor maintenance on equipment.
• Drags and lines off athletic fields for recreational play.
• Maintains and constructs park facilities including picnic shelters; erects signs, stages, playground equipment, fences, etc.
• May perform some building maintenance and carpentry work.
• Performs other related work as required.

Required Qualifications:

Graduation from high school and 1 to 2 years of experience in labor-intensive maintenance work ; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Requires a valid driver's license.

Supplemental Information:

• Knowledge of the standard methods, materials and equipment employed in basic landscaping and grounds maintenance operations.
• Knowledge of the operation of the equipment and tools used in grounds maintenance and digging work.
• Ability to use power lawn mowers, and power and hand tools. Is able to understand and learn the occupational hazards and proper safety precautions to be taken in grounds maintenance work.
• Ability to perform strenuous work under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effect working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability to speak/signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, oral and written assignments and/or directions from superiors
• Ability to read work orders and requisition forms. Requires the ability to prepare work orders and time cards, using prescribed format.
• Ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to use and interpret auto mechanic terminology and language.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.

Benefits

Seasonal Employees- No Benefits Part-time Employees - Sick Leave (See below) Full Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits; Retirement (Virginia Retirement System employer) for employees hired on or after 1/1/14 - Hybrid Members Hybrid plan members contribute 4 percent of creditable compensation to the defined benefit plan and 1 percent to the defined contribution plan each month. Members may voluntarily contribute up to an additional 4 percent in 0.5 percent increments to the defined contribution plan each month. Members can increase or decrease their voluntary contributions on a quarterly basis. With the mandatory and voluntary contributions to the defined contribution component of the plan, members can contribute a maximum of 5 percent with a 3.5 percent match from the employer. Members invest in various investment options that best fit their needs. Vested after 5 years in the defined benefit part of the plan. Vested in phases based on years in the Defined Contribution part of the Plan. The retirement eligibility for a full or reduced retirement pension in the Hybrid Plan is very detailed. Please contact the Virginia Retirement System or the Human Resources Department for details. Paid Time Off (PTO) Yearly earnings 120 Hours (1-59 months), 144 Hours (60-119 months), 168 Hours (120- 179 months), 192 Hours (180 and over) Sick Leave Part Time employees earn 4 hours per month Sick leave accrues at the end of the month and may be accrued with no ceiling. Personal Leave All regular full time employees are granted 24 hours of personal leave each calendar year. Personal leave must be preapproved and is not cumulative. Health Insurance Coverage available for you and your eligible dependents using pre-tax payroll deductions if elected. Supplemental Insurances Employees may purchase the following supplemental insurance policies: short term and long term disability, cancer, accident, supplemental hospitalization, and group universal life insurance. Employer Sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability Provides disability coverage for employees work and non-work related disabilities. Work related disabilities are covered starting on day one (1). Non work related disabilities are covered starting on day eight (8), after you have been employed for one year. Flexible Spending Accounts Employees may participate in the Health Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement and Premium Reimbursement Accounts. All deductions are made on a pre-tax basis and will reduce your taxable income. Life Insurance The city pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage in the amount of 2 times annual salary for natural death and 4 times annual salary for accidental death. Optional Life Insurance Employees have the option of electing additional life insurance coverage in the amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times their annual salary. Employees may only purchase optional life insurance on spouses and children if they are enrolled in optional life insurance for themselves. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 12 weeks of job protected leave for leaves approved in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees receive continuation of health insurance, job protection and consideration for a comparable job when available, or an equivalent job, upon return to work. Funeral Leave 24 hours of paid leave of absence in case of death in immediate family. Holidays Suffolk follows the Virginia State holiday calendar as set by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jury Duty Time off with pay with difference between jury pay and regular pay or use annual leave and keep check. 457 Deferred Compensation, ROTH IRA, Traditional IRA Offered through ICMA Retirement Corporation as a way to shelter a portion of your salary from income taxes and save for retirement. Employee Assistance Program Offers employees and immediate family members (3) free, confidential counseling sessions related to a broad range of issues such as marital or family conflict, job or personal stress, alcohol or drug abuse, financial or legal worries, etc. Worker's Compensation Should an employee have an on the job injury, he/she could be eligible for Workmen's Compensation Benefits, except in cases of willful neglect. Pay Days Employees will be paid on the 15th and last working day of each month. Credit Union A Suffolk Credit Union is available to employees. Legal Services Employees may prepay for access to legal assistance. Notary Public Services Services available in the Human Resources Department. Alternative Work Schedule For some positions -Offers 4 Alternative Work Schedule options to provide employees with greater control over their personal and professional time, as well as reducing absences.