Groundskeeper

Landscape Maintenance Position

The purpose of this position is to maintain landscape and grounds of town facilities, right of ways, parks, playgrounds, greenways, trails, athletic fields, and cemeteries. It may work with athletic facility and greenway maintenance, right of Way Maintenance or regular parks maintenance. Positions that are Specialist Certified are a progression after employee attains special certification(s).

What you can expect to be doing (Essential Functions):

• Works with their respective crew to include but not limited to mowing, edging, string trimming, blowing, debris removal, pruning of trees and vegetation and the maintenance of Town rights of way, Downtown, and all Parks & Recreation facilities.
• Sets up, monitors, adjusts, and makes minor repairs to irrigation systems.
• Completes other duties include assisting in setting up special events, cleaning up after storm damage, clear snow and ice, removing leaves, and spreading mulch.
• Maintains turf and plantings on all the Towns facilities; mows; string trims; edges; waters; fertilizes; aerates; prunes; blows leaves; mulches.
• Operates equipment and performs maintenance on equipment; operates equipment according to the operator's manual; checks fluids; greases moving parts; checks pressure; sharpens blades; and cleans equipment.
• Operates/drives vehicles such as trucks, utility vehicles, tractors, and mowers.

• Completes all other duties as assigned.

This position has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others. The work is typically performed while sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, or stooping. The employee frequently lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, lift 50 lbs and distinguish between shades of color. The employee regularly works outside in all weather conditions and will be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, irritating chemical, machinery with moving parts, and heavy traffic. The work requires the use of protective devices such as chaps, hard hats, eye wear, masks, gloves and or goggles.

Knowledge of:

• Current landscaping practices and procedures.
• Trends and practices of grounds maintenance techniques.
• Relevant town ordinances, policies, and procedures.
• Management and supervisory principles and practices.
• Methods of proper use and maintenance of landscape equipment.
• Department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to personnel processes.
• Safe application of pesticides and fertilizer.
• Safe Work Zone and Rights of Way practices.
• In use of ropes, pulleys and lowering equipment.
• In use and maintenance of woodchippers and winch lines.
• In use and maintenance of chainsaws, trimmers and landscape tools in compliance with OSHA, ANSI and ISA rules and regulations.

Ability to:

• Operate such equipment and machinery as riding and push mowers, line trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and leaf vacuums.
• Use such tools as shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, hedge trimmers, and pruning shears.
• Best Management Practices in pruning, mulching and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
• Basic map reading and computer operation skills.
• Use web-based software systems.
• Use Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or similar tools.
• Solve problems and make sound decisions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and customers.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Model behavior that is consistent with our values of RESPECT.

Education High school diploma or equivalent required. Experience A minimum 1 year of experience preferred.

You may be randomly drug tested while on the job. You will be subject to the Safe Driving and Accident Policy . A valid NC driver's license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required. Certifications for Specialist (Certified): Pesticide License, Playground Inspector. Chosen candidate may be required to have an NC pesticide license within 6 months of hire.

The Town of Chapel Hill has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment. The Town of Chapel Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit.

Last modified on April 28, 2026.

Benefits

The Town of Chapel Hill offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to regular full time and part time employees. Health and Dental Insurance are effective the first day of employment. The town will provide full-time employees group medical and dental insurance including family coverage. Employees and the town will share equally in the additional cost of the medical plan for dependent coverage if employees desire to purchase such coverage for family members. Employees are responsible for the full cost of dependent dental insurance.

Retirement Health Savings Plan Employees hired after June 30, 2010, in a regular full-time or regular part- time position are required to participate in the Retirement Health Savings Plan. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 1%.

Paid Time Off

• Vacation/Annual Leave: Employees in regular full or part time positions earn between 12 and 26 days per year depending upon length of Town service.
• Sick Leave: Employees in full or part time regular positions earn 12 days per year.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees receive 6 weeks of Paid Parental Leave after birth or placement of a child in the home for adoption or foster care. This leave does not come from Employee's leave bank.
• Paid Holidays: There are 12 official Town holidays. Employees in full or part time regular positions are eligible for paid holiday time.
• Personal Leave: All employees in full or part time regular positions are granted 3 days of personal leave per year. This leave is non-cumulative

Local Government Retirement System All employees in regular full or part time position are required to contribute to the retirement system. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 6%.

Supplemental Retirement Plans

• NC 401(k)-The Town makes a contribution of 5% to the 401(k) for all regular full and part time employees. There is no employee match required. Employees have the option of making contributions on a pre or post tax basis. The plan is administered by Empower.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan-Town of Chapel Hill employees have the option of making contributions to a 457. The Town does not make contributions to this plan. The plan is administered by MissionSquare.

Disability Insurance

• Town Provided: The Town provides both short term and long term disability insurance to all regular full or part time employees. The plan will pay up to 50% of the employee's base income up to $462 per week for non-job related injuries.
• Voluntary Short Term Disability: Employees have the option of purchasing supplemental disability insurance. This plan will pay employees a maximum of 25% of their base weekly earnings up to $400.

Life Insurance The Town provides full and part time regular employees with an individual term life insurance policy. Employees have the option of purchasing additional life insurance for a small fee. Dependent life insurance is also available.

Direct Deposit All employees hired after July 1, 2007 are required to have direct deposit.

Other Benefits

• Credit Union: Employees of the Town of Chapel Hill are eligible to open accounts at Civic Federal Credit Union.
• Parking is provided free of charge at or near worksites
• Annual longevity payment beginning with the 5th year of full or part time regular employment
• Tuition assistance is available upon completion of the initial probationary period