Grounds Maintenance

Occidental College; California; On-site; USD 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Occidental College is seeking a Grounds Maintenance staff member to support the Grounds Manager in maintaining sports fields, landscapes, and related grounds tasks at the campus. The position emphasizes safe, efficient work and moderate complexity in daily duties.

Expect a four-month assignment with potential extension; it is a non-exempt, full-time role up to 40 hours per week under the Facilities Management department.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in landscaping or grounds maintenance.
• Proficiency in Google/Microsoft Office applications applicable to position responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and thorough; skilled at anticipating and preventing potential problems and handling a wide variety of tasks with efficiency and accuracy.
• Strong commitment to a quality work product. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically.
• Effective interpersonal skills as evidenced in the ability to collaborate with a variety of constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion & diversity.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to and performing work effectively in high-volume, high accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
• Effective organizational, logistical, time management and planning skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects simultaneously, prioritize and fulfill the functions of an office in a timely manner.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and training, and to work effectively and professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Perform grounds maintenance tasks with various hand and power tools.
• Dig, rake, mow, trim, edge, water, weed, plant flowers/trees, and install turf; move soil, mulch, and debris.
• Operate large grounds equipment such as loaders, mowers, and sweepers.
• Receive direction from supervisor and track labor, materials, and supplies.

Skills

Communication

Detail oriented

Team collaboration

Leadership potential

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Google/Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Grounds Maintenance

Department: Facilities Management

Duration: 4 months - End Date: April 19, 2027 (Possible Extension)

Employment Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time, Up to 40 hours per week

Job Summary

Under direction of the Grounds Manager, Grounds Maintenance B safely performs grounds maintenance tasks of some difficulty and moderate complexity within the sports fields, grounds and landscape specialties related to the grounds maintenance functions at the College.

Job Duties

• 30% - Working independently when given sufficient direction, or works with crews, uses a variety of grounds maintenance hand tools (e.g. rake, shovel, hoe, pruning shears) and power tools, (e.g. hedge trimmer, blower, string trimmer, edger and lawn mower) to perform the basic duties required at the College in support of sports fields and grounds maintenance. - (Essential)
• 40% - Basic duties include digging, raking, mowing, trimming, edging, watering, weeding; moving sod, soil and mulch; planting flowers, hedges and trees; tree pruning, landscape and/or turf and sod installation, blowing and sweeping, changing trash bags, collecting litter, power-washing surfaces, etc. - (Essential)
• 20% - Operates the larger pieces of grounds equipment (e.g. skip loader, forklift, gang mower, lawn sweeper) - (Essential)
• 10% - Receives direct and specific direction from immediate supervisor as to work assignments and quantity and quality of work expectations. Keeps track of own labor, materials and supplies used and reports these accurately. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED. Read, write and understand directions in English.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in landscaping or grounds maintenance and/or related activities.
• Proficiency in Google/Microsoft Office applications applicable to position responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and thorough; skilled at anticipating and preventing potential problems and handling a wide variety of tasks with efficiency and accuracy.
• Strong commitment to a quality work product. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically.
• Effective interpersonal skills as evidenced in the ability to collaborate with a variety of constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion & diversity.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to and performing work effectively in high-volume, high accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
• Effective organizational, logistical, time management and planning skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects simultaneously, prioritize and fulfill the functions of an office in a timely manner.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and training, and to work effectively and professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of plant materials for drought tolerant environments.
• One year experience and landscape knowledge of plant pruning, fertilizing, mulching.

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $23.75/hr