Grounds Technician

Ground Technician I

The Grounds Technician I will serve as a part of the grounds crew for a large campus environment. This position will play a key role in helping ensure the campus grounds are maintained in accordance with the high standards of the client and will be required to be a team player that conducts him/herself with a high degree of professionalism.

Essential Functions

• Maintaining & installing campus beds (planting, weeding, pruning, mulching, etc.)
• Maintaining athletic fields (mowing, striping, grooming infields, etc.)
• Installing, maintaining, and repairing irrigation systems.
• Applying fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides
• Pruning trees and shrubbery
• Overseeding, sod installation, and occasionally sod removal.
• Assisting with campus grounds projects:
• Mowing, trimming, and edging
• Clearing storm drains & ditch lines
• Blowing sidewalks, roadways, and parking lots; leaf removal
• Picking up litter (trash, dead wood, etc.)
• Event set-up and support
• Assisting with campus moves
• Other maintenance, housekeeping and grounds duties as assigned.

Other Functions

• Complete corrective/preventative maintenance work orders in a timely and professional manner
• Maintaining/ inspecting/ refueling tools & equipment
• Assisting with irrigation repairs
• Maintaining a clean shop space

Competencies

• Knowledge of athletic field maintenance (mowing, striping, grooming, etc.)
• Working knowledge of common regional plant materials & their care and application
• Good eye for landscape bed layout; strong attention to detail when it comes to bed maintenance.
• Extensive experience mixing and applying herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, overseeding, etc.
• Experience operating heavy equipment: tractors, skid steers, lulls, excavators, etc.
• Able to competent & safely use a wide variety of landscaping equipment: zero-turn mowers, walk behind mowers, push mowers, chainsaws, edgers, trimmers, blowers, and basic hand tools
• Able to follow direction; work with a high degree of autonomy; and perform tasks to full completion with a high level of detail.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• 5+ years of experience in grounds care, to include athletic field and landscape bed care.
• Strong working knowledge of common regional plant materials (as normally found in landscape beds) to include their application & care.
• Working knowledge of irrigation systems and their installation, maintenance, and repair.
• Valid driver's license
• Able to effectively communicate in the English language (speaking, reading, and writing).
• Knowledge of general grounds keeping practices
• Prior experience mixing & applying pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Able to operate mowers, trimmer, and basic grounds care tools
• Familiarity with heavy equipment operation (able to operate a tractor and skid steer and capable of learning to operate excavators and lulls).
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team as required.
• Ability to resolve problems using independent judgment and decision-making when required.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, other departmental staff, students, and the public.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, non-exempt position with normal working hours Monday through Friday, working 40 hours per week. However, as business needs become necessary, after-hours, holidays, or weekends may be required.

Travel

There is no travel required for this position.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors with exposure to various weather conditions. Must be able to work in hazardous conditions while maintaining safety standards, work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, industrial settings, and construction sites, and work in loud environments and temperature extremes.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Essential functions of this position require: manual dexterity, large motor skills, ability to communicate, lifting, kneeling, squatting, standing, walking, climbing (including but not limited to ladders), crawling, stooping, turning/twisting, balancing, reaching with varying frequencies.

Heavy work: Occasional lifting and carrying objects up to 75 pounds, Frequent lifting and carrying, pushing, or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds; and/or continuous lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling 10-20 pounds.

Mental Application: Utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, critical thinking, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills are important.

The employee is regularly required to talk or listen effectively.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

TKC Management Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, TKC Management Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

TKC Management Services expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of TKC Management Services' employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.