Grounds Technician

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is seeking a Grounds Technician to maintain elephant and rhinoceros exhibits and surrounding habitats. You will collaborate with animal care, horticulture, and grounds teams to ensure safety, cleanliness, and aesthetic appeal of the zoo spaces.

The role supports flexible scheduling, with responsibilities across indoors and outdoors, and requires experience in grounds maintenance and pesticide-related tasks while adhering to safety guidelines.

Qualifications

• Experience in landscape/grounds maintenance or equivalent
• Must be at least 18 to handle and apply regulated pesticides and fertilizers
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid Oklahoma driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire and pass driver’s history check; obtain Oklahoma Service Technician Identification Card by passing state exam

Responsibilities

• Maintain assigned animal exhibits and adjacent service areas, including basic repairs and landscape work
• Perform routine grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, pruning, mulching, snow removal, and pathway cleaning
• Work near animal habitats and follow biosecurity and PPE protocols

Skills

Computer systems usage

Written communication

Organization and time management

Interpersonal communication

Hand and power tools

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Driver's license (Oklahoma)

Tools

Hand and power tools

Job description

Ready to take your skills to the wild side? Join our team as a Grounds Technician, where you'll help maintain the habitats of some of our biggest residents, including elephants and rhinos. You'll work alongside our animal care, horticulture, and grounds teams to keep their spaces safe, functional, and looking their best.

Employment Status: Full-Time/ Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $14.48/hr - $18.10/hr

Department: Buildings and Gardens

Reports to : Manager of Grounds

Supervisory Responsibility : None

Primary Work Location : Zoo setting both indoors and outdoors.

Job Summary

Job Summary – The Grounds Technician primarily maintains the elephant and rhinoceros exhibits and their environments. This position works closely with the elephant, rhino, horticulture and grounds teams to maintain the overall safety and appearance of the Zoo and exhibits.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience : Some experience working in formal landscape/grounds maintenance work or equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Must be at least 18 years of age to handle and apply regulated pesticides and fertilizers.

Education : High school diploma or equivalent

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license or ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days of hire and pass driver’s history check; as well as, obtain an Oklahoma Service Technician Identification Card by passing the state Service Technician Examination to legally apply chemicals under a licensed manager’s credentials.

Knowledge:

• General exhibits, building, and grounds maintenance tasks and repairs
• General computer operation and writing methods
• Oklahoma City Zoo and assigned department policies, practices, and procedures
• Recordkeeping, report preparation, and technical correspondence
• Interpersonal communication principles
• Organization and time management principles
• Sensory requirements including vision, hearing, and manual dexterity

Skills:

• Use of computer systems for documentation and communication
• Written communication for reports and correspondence
• Organization and time management
• Interpersonal communication
• Operation of hand and power tools

Abilities:

• Work safely around potentially dangerous animals
• Follow safe work practices, identify workplace hazards, and use safety equipment
• Build and maintain working relationships with staff, volunteers, colleagues, and the public
• Work in environments with interruptions and changing priorities
• Work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations
• Drive within the Oklahoma City area in varying conditions

Physical Demands

• Walk, sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Independently push, lift, and carry up to 25 lbs, with assistance.
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and move intermittently throughout the day.
• Exposure to fumes, odors, dust, moving mechanical parts, and vehicles.
• Exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as heat, cold, rain, snow and ice.
• Exposure to potentially dangerous animals.
• Ability to safely perform the hands-on application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in strict accordance with provided training, supervisory instructions, SOPs and safety protocols.

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities (Essential Functions)

• Maintain assigned animal exhibits and adjacent service areas, including basic repairs, landscape work, and exhibit upkeep
• Perform routine grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, pruning, mulching, snow removal, and pathway cleaning
• Work in proximity to animal habitats and follow biosecurity and personal protective equipment protocols

Accountability and Reliability

• Performs assigned duties in alignment with the Zoo’s mission of conservation and core values of wildlife and wild places, people, leadership, and conservation.

Communication and Collaboration

• Support animal care, horticulture, and maintenance teams, including participation in exhibit changes, events, and Zoo initiatives
• Interact with guests in public-facing areas and provide general assistance when approached

Initiative and Problem Solving

• Operate hand and power tools and machinery to support maintenance and landscape projects

Adaptability and Flexibility

• Incorporate sustainability practices into daily work and support Zoo-wide sustainability efforts

**This position description is a general guideline for work behavior and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all job duties. Therefore, it is also not, nor can it be implied to be, a contract of employment. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks. Must be able to successfully complete an intense background investigation.