Grounds Technician (5093)

HES Facilities; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Optional daily pay

Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Job summary

HES is seeking a Grounds Technician at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, IL. You will perform turf mowing, pruning, planting, and general grounds maintenance to meet client standards.

Your duties include operating mowers and power tools, preparing trucks, snow removal when needed, and coordinating with facilities staff. A high school diploma and basic lawn care experience are preferred; excellent communication and reliability are essential.

Qualifications

• Education: High school degree preferred.
• Experience: Some lawn care experience helpful.
• Must be able to operate various lawn care machinery including mowers, edgers, backpack blowers.
• Good communication and organizational skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Mow turf and perform line trimming and edging.
• Load gas cans, mowers and other equipment onto company trucks/trailers and secure all equipment.
• Perform groundskeeping on properties and maintain equipment.
• Snow removal: available nights, weekends and holidays.
• Maintain and repair tools and equipment; provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, drives and planters.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Self-motivation

Teamwork

Education

High school degree

Job description

Grounds Technician (5093)(Vernon Hills High School)

Vernon Hills, IL, United States of America

HES is a premier national provider of facilities management services focused 100% on educational institutions. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, HES builds best-in-class programs for custodial, maintenance, grounds, and landscaping services. With hundreds of years of combined facilities experience, the HES leadership team is comprised of results-oriented, hands-on executives and facilities experts who give school facilities their full attention. Whether for a grounds and landscaping program, custodial services, or maintenance solutions, HES will change the way you look at facilities management.

Founded in 1972, HES has a proven track record of working successfully and exclusively in the educational environment, maintaining a singular focus on facilities management, undistracted by competing priorities. HES has earned the trust of over 150 education partners across 29 states. We employ 13,000 dedicated team members and maintain more than 200 million square feet daily.

Job Skills / Requirements

• Groundskeepers are responsible for efficiently producing quality landscape service that meets or exceeds the standards of clients and management.
• Groundskeepers typically perform a variety of tasks which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, and sprinkler installation and repair.
• Essential Functions
• This job description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of the position. Other job related responsibilities and tasks may be assigned. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
• Prepare Trucks for The Day
• Load gas cans, mowers and other equipment onto Company trucks/trailers
• Secure all equipment
• Perform Groundskeeping On Properties
• Mow turf using various mowers
• Line trimming and edging
• Sweeping and blowing leaves and clippings
• Prune shrubs and trees as needed and clear debris
• Pull weeds as needed
• Clean site and watch for trash, limbs, and rocks
• Operate powered equipment such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters and pruning saws
• Shovel snow from walks, driveways and parking lots and spread salt in those areas
• Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, removing thatch, trimming, edging around flower beds, walks, and walls
• Prune and trim trees, shrubs and hedges using hand tools such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, hedge/brush trimmers, axes, shears, pruners or chain saws
• Seeding, including the preparation and application of erosion control blanket, application of fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, fungicide; aquatic applications, raking, watering of trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, bulbs, seeds and sod; grooming; dividing plants
• Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, and other grounds features
• Plantings and Flower Installation
• Prep soil uniformly for flower or groundcover installation, cultivating beds; mulch application; bed preparation using soil amendments; core aeration
• Pruning, planting, removal or replacement of shrubs, plants, and flowers; pruning of trees and replacement of trees that are planted as a replacement due to the removal of diseased or damaged trees, or trees that constitute a hazard; non-substantive replacement of sod
• Plant material properly considering depth, size, placement, and spacing
• Apply mulch appropriately for type of material
• Water material correctly
• Edge beds or establish new bed edges
• Perform Maintenance On Equipment
• Wash equipment and truck
• Maintain and repair tools, equipment, and structures such as, but not limited to, fences, benches, and minor out building maintenance using hand and power tools
• Other Duties
• Snow removal: must be available nights, weekends and holidays
• Minimum Qualifications
• Education: High school degree preferred.
• Certifications: N/A
• Experience: Some experience in lawn care helpful. Must be able to operate various lawn care machinery including mowers, edgers, backpack blowers
• Skills: Good communication skills
• Organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks are essential
• Must be a problem solver with the ability to find resolutions
• Self-starting individual who follows directions, adheres to a work schedule, and can focus on details
• Must be self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision
• Must be flexible and able to work effectively in a team environment and consistently maintain a professional and respectful demeanor/attitude with co-workers, clients and vendors
• Physical and Working ConditionsPerform heavy lifting/pushing/pulling of various landscaping equipment and materials, including, but not limited to backpack blowers, large containers of mulch/plant material, various sizes of lawnmowers, etc.Leverage 80 lbs. of a walk behind mower over curbsLift and carry up to 50 lbs.Lift shovels full of snowLift branches and limbsPush, pull, grip and squeeze various tools, products and/or items (e.g., pruning)Walk up to 10 miles a day, sometimes uphill and on uneven terrain, often with equipment

Education Requirements (All)

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Additional Information / Benefits

• Optional daily pay
• Medical Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance

HES is an equal opportunity employer. HES does not discriminate in employment with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service or any other characteristic protected by law.