TES Grounds/Facilities Assistant

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Grounds/Facilities Assistant

The TES part-time Kreher Preserve & Nature Center (KPNC) Grounds/Facilities Assistant is responsible for maintaining the grounds and facilities at the KPNC. The caretaker ensures the facilities and grounds of the KPNC are clean, safe, and ready for use by day-use visitors as well as the many programs and rentals hosted by the KPNC.

Temporary Employment Services (TES), a unit of the Auburn University Department of Human Resources, is an in-house support center established to meet the temporary employment needs of the university. TES provides qualified and dedicated temporary employees in a wide variety of occupations to meet the staffing needs throughout the campus. Temporary employees are hired for a variety of reasons with the most common being:

• Assistance in the place of a regular employee who is absent for a specified period of time
• Additional assistance during periods of abnormal or peak workloads
• Assistance with special projects
• Seasonal work
• Emergencies

If you are looking for an employment opportunity, TES is a great way to showcase your professional skills and assist Auburn University while gaining valuable work experience within higher education.

Responsibilities

• Evaluation and inspection of grounds and facilities for needed maintenance and repairs
• Communicating with all KPNC educators and program staff to ensure all required resources are available, clean, safe, and ready for use
• Making small-scale maintenance repairs to facility systems, including plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, roofing, flooring, furniture repair, fencing, groundwork, signage, etc.
• Planning, organization, and implementation of new and deferred maintenance projects
• Cleaning and organizing front- and back-of-house facilities; cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash, etc.
• Maintaining inventory of tools and maintenance equipment; operating and maintaining utility vehicles
• Maintaining grounds and landscaping including mowing grass, planting, watering, weeding, pruning, raking, chemical application, trash pickup, etc.
• Performing forestry and natural resources tasks including wildlife monitoring, felling trees, prescribed fire, planting trees, installing and maintaining wildlife feeders, removing invasive plants, etc.
• Maintaining trails and natural features including pond and waterway management, trail blazing and clearing, water bar installation, etc.
• Construction and repair of improved facilities including pavilions, kiosks, signs, bathrooms, bridges, playground equipment, benches, outdoor classrooms, boardwalks, dock, etc.
• Assists animal care technician with the husbandry of KPNC education animal collection
• Leads volunteers and trains new staff

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent plus 3 years of experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, facilities maintenance and or operations.
• Experience with small engine repair and vehicle and equipment maintenance
• Experience with carpentry and woodworking; construction
• Experience with natural resources management, chainsaw use, and prescribed fire

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of landscaping, groundskeeping, and facility maintenance. Knowledge of related fields and areas of operation, which affect, or are affected by, own area.
• Must be a self-starter, data and deadline driven, and ability to multi-task with solid organizational and time-management skills
• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, maturity, professionalism, self-discipline, and attention to detail in their work
• Must possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and enjoy meeting new people
• Ability to work collaboratively with the KPNC Manager as well as with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and volunteers at the KPNC and from the CFWE and other Auburn University units
• Some travel within the region and occasional travel out-of-state
• Must be comfortable handling and caring for a wide variety of domestic and wild animals kept as KPNC education animals; as well as recognizing, approaching, and mitigating encounters and experiences with animals and plants in the wild
• Ability to operate landscape equipment and power tools including, but not limited to, a mower, weed trimmer, chainsaw, power drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, etc.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Must be proficient with social media applications

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact : Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence : We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We're Here for You : Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama : The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone : Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.