Grounds and General Maintenance Worker (Main)

Wheaton College of Massachusetts; Norton (MA); On-site; USD 55,104,000 - 60,614,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

Job summary

Wheaton College in Norton, MA is seeking a hands-on Facilities Groundskeeper to provide broad in-house groundskeeping, athletic field maintenance, seasonal landscaping, and campus-wide snow and ice management. You will support events, waste removal, and general facility upkeep across trades, contributing to a safe and attractive campus environment.

The role requires working overtime for emergencies and weekends; a valid driver’s license is essential.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 1-3 Years of Grounds and General Maintenance Experience.
• Valid Driver’s License and safe driving record.
• Working knowledge of grounds maintenance, landscaping, and general facility operations.
• Basic understanding of carpentry and the proper use of trade tools.
• Familiarity with plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems sufficient to support minor repairs or assist trade staff.
• Ability to safely operate light and heavy equipment, including mowers, trucks, tractors, and grounds machinery.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high aesthetic and safety standards.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
• Physical ability to lift, bend, shovel, and perform outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
• Commitment to safety protocols and proper use of tools, machinery, and chemicals.
• Flexibility to work overtime, weekends, and during emergencies such as snow removal or storm response.

Responsibilities

• Landscaping & Grounds: Perform all primary campus landscaping duties, including planting, cultivation, and care of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers.
• Execute regular mowing, edging, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, aerating, slice seeding, dethatching, brush clearing, and seasonal clean-ups to maintain an attractive, safe campus environment.
• Athletic Field Care: Prepare and line natural/turf fields for play, position field equipment, perform field maintenance, and groom artificial turf.
• Hardscapes & Campus Grounds: Inspect exterior hardscapes, outdoor furniture, benches, umbrellas, retaining walls, catch basins, stormwater components, and jogging paths for damage or debris.
• Snow and Ice Removal: Assist with campus-wide snow and ice removal; operate plow trucks, loaders, snow blowers, and salt spreaders.
• Trades Assistance: Support Carpentry, Painting, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Locks with general work orders, repairs, lamp changes, filter replacements, and furniture moves.
• Waste & Events: Collect and dispose of campus solid waste and recycling; assist event setups, breakdowns, furniture moves, and logistics for major events.

Skills

Driver's license

Grounds maintenance

Carpentry basics

Plumbing basics

Electrical basics

HVAC familiarity

Operate light/heavy equipment

Teamwork

Communication

Safety awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Hand and power tools

Mowers

Tractors

Commercial-grade electric power equipment

Job description

Job Summary

Provide broad in-house groundskeeping, athletic field maintenance, seasonal landscaping, campus-wide snow and ice management, event support, waste/recycling removal, and general facility maintenance across all trades to support campus operations.

Perform the following as directed:

• Landscaping & Grounds: Perform all primary campus landscaping duties, including planting, cultivation, and care of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers. Execute regular mowing, edging, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, aerating, slice seeding, dethatching, brush clearing, and seasonal spring/fall clean-ups to maintain an attractive, safe campus environment.
• Athletic Field Care: Prepare and line natural/turf fields for play, position field equipment, perform field maintenance, and groom artificial turf.
• Hardscapes & Campus Grounds: Police all campus grounds, walkways, stairwells, window wells, and storm drains for trash, litter, leaves, and debris. Inspect, clean, repair, and maintain exterior hardscapes, outdoor furniture, benches, umbrellas, retaining walls, catch basins, stormwater components, and jogging paths. Assist in maintaining the overall health and visual appeal of the campus pond.
• Snow and Ice Removal: Assist with comprehensive, campus-wide snow and ice removal across all roadways, parking lots, walkways, steps, entrances, and athletic fields. Safely operate winter equipment—including plow trucks, loaders, snow blowers and salt/sand spreaders—for pre-treatment, plowing, salting, and ice mitigation during regular shifts and mandatory emergency overtime.
• Trades Assistance: Support skilled trades (Carpentry, Painting, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Locks) with general work order tasks, minor repairs, lamp changes, filter replacements, and furniture moves.
• Waste & Events: Collect and properly dispose of campus solid waste and recycling. Support campus event setups, breakdowns, furniture moves, and logistics for major events such as Commencement and student move-in/move-out.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• 1-3 Years of Grounds and General Maintenance Experience
• Valid Driver’s License and safe driving record
• Working knowledge of grounds maintenance, landscaping, and general facility operations.
• Basic understanding of carpentry and the proper use of trade tools, including hand and power tools.
• Familiarity with plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems sufficient to support minor repairs or assist trade staff.
• Ability to safely operate light and heavy equipment, including mowers, trucks, tractors, and grounds machinery.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high aesthetic and safety standards.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
• Physical ability to lift, bend, shovel, and perform outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
• Commitment to safety protocols and proper use of tools, machinery, and chemicals.
• Flexibility to work overtime, weekends, and during emergencies such as snow removal or storm response.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or training in organic turf management.
• Experience operating commercial-grade electric power equipment.
• Proficiency in Integrated Pest Management practices.
• Completion of a Sustainable Landscaping Certificate Program.
• Knowledge of native plant selection for New England.
• Experience with large-scale facility composting programs.

Compensation and Benefits

To attract and retain the most talented individuals, Wheaton College maintains a flexible and competitive staff compensation and benefits program.

The starting hourly rate for this position is $20/hr.

Physical Demands

Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods. Ability to lift, move and operate bulky equipment or materials weighing fifty to eighty pounds.

ADA Statement

Individuals must possess these knowledges, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Eeo Statement

Wheaton College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich an intellectually diverse learning environment, the Department and the College actively encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

Wheaton’s core belief is that valuing diversity is pivotal to personal development, intellectual expansion, and societal equity. Our community is united by a shared dedication to equity and access that is essential to providing a transformative education in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Contact

Office of Human Resources

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]