Grounds Worker III, Lansdowne

Baltimore County Public Schools; Lansdowne (MD); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Baltimore County Public Schools is seeking a Groundworker to lead and perform maintenance of school and office grounds, athletic fields, and related facilities. You will operate trucks and heavy equipment, set up grounds for events, and coordinate with the foreperson and crews.

The role requires a high school diploma and at least two years of grounds/landscaping experience, plus a valid Class A MD CDL and a DOT medical certification. Pesticide certification within one year is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of grounds/landscaping experience (additional experience substituted year-for-year).
• Valid commercial class A Maryland driver’s license or equivalent and maintained throughout employment.
• Federal Motor Carrier Medical Certification (DOT Physical Card) maintained throughout employment.
• Maryland pesticide application certificate obtained within one year.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate grounds crew; ensure timely completion per procedures and standards.
• Coordinate work with foreperson and other crews; instruct in equipment use and safety; resolve field issues.
• Estimate time and materials; order and plan deliveries; keep records and prepare reports.
• Lead and participate in athletic field prep, maintenance of ball diamond fields, and grounds landscaping; prune trees/shrubbery.
• Inspect play areas to ensure debris-free and equipment in order.
• Operate grass mowing equipment and various tools; maintain grounds using power and hand tools.
• Operate loaders, skid steer loaders, and backhoes; transport supplies with trucks; move equipment at job sites.
• Set up grounds for events; assist in other grounds areas as needed.
• Participate in snow removal; operate snowplow; support other departments as needed.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Field operations

Equipment operation

Record keeping

Leadership

Education

High school diploma

Two years grounds experience

Tools

Front-end loaders

Backhoes

Skid steer loaders

Commercial vehicles

Mowers

Job description

Job Description

Leads, coordinates, and participates in the maintenance and repair of school and office grounds, athletic fields, and related facilities. Operates trucks, trailers, and heavy construction equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Leads, coordinates, and participates in the work of a grounds crew. Leads crew members in assigned duties. Ensures that projects are completed in a timely manner and in accordance with established procedures and standards.
• Coordinates work with grounds foreperson and other crews. Instructs crew members in the use and care of materials and equipment. Resolves issues as they occur in the field. Confers with the supervisor regarding unusual problems or situations.
• Estimates time and materials required for projects. Orders and plans for the delivery of materials. Keeps records of crew activities. Prepares reports. In the absence of the foreperson, the Groundworker III may be required to track labor hours, material, etc. and enter data utilizing the work order system.
• Leads and participates in the preparation of athletic fields for sporting events. Leads and participates in the maintenance of ball diamond fields. Leads and participates in grounds repair and landscaping activities. Prunes trees and shrubbery.
• Inspects tot lots and play areas. Ensures that areas are free of debris and that play equipment is in order.
• Cuts grass using commercial front cut mowers, push mowers, and other equipment. Maintains grounds using a variety of power and hand tools such as blowers, gas powered edgers, hedge trimmers, weed trimmers, tillers, shovels, rakes, and brooms.
• Operates front-end loaders, skid steer loaders, and backhoes with implements. Operates pickup trucks, dump trucks, and rollbacks to pickup and deliver supplies and materials. Tows equipment to job sites.
• Lifts, carries, and moves furniture and equipment. Sets up school grounds and facilities for special events. Paints signposts, railings, and fences.
• Participates in the snow removal program. Shovels and removes snow from sidewalks, parking lots, and grounds. Operates a snowplow.
• May assist other departments within Baltimore County Public Schools such as Maintenance and Operations, Transportation, Warehouse, Food Warehouse, etc.
• Lifts, carries, and moves furniture and equipment. Sets up school grounds and facilities for special events. May be required to assist in other grounds areas and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, And Experience

• Possession of a high school diploma or an appropriate equivalent.
• Two years of grounds/landscaping experience (Additional experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.)

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of a valid commercial, class A Maryland driver's license or an equivalent is required and must be maintained throughout employment. (The class A license may require endorsements and/or the absence of certain restrictions.)
• Possession of a valid Federal Motor Carrier Medical Certification (DOT Physical Card) is required and must be maintained throughout employment in this position.
• A Maryland registered technician certificate for pesticide applications must be obtained within one year.
• Required licenses must be maintained throughout employment in this position or any other positions that require them.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of grounds maintenance and repair. Knowledge of the care and maintenance of athletic fields. Knowledge of the operation and care of tools and equipment used in grounds operations. Knowledge of the care and planting of grass, shrubs, trees, and plants. Knowledge of the operation of commercial vehicles.
• Skill in performing manual, semi-skilled, and skilled labor in the maintenance and repair of school and office grounds, athletic fields, and related facilities. Skill in cutting grass using commercial front cut mowers, push mowers, and other equipment. Skill in operating front-end loaders, skid steer loaders, and backhoes with implements. Skill in the operation of commercial vehicles.
• Ability to lead others. Ability to maintain up to date records. Ability to prepare reports.

Physical And Environmental Conditions

• The work of this class entails the performance of heavy physical labor. Work requires frequent walking, standing, crawling, climbing, kneeling, and lifting and carrying of moderate to heavy objects. Duties require travel to sites throughout the county and the operation of vehicles, tools, and equipment. Work is performed in an outside environment and includes exposure to adverse weather conditions.

Conditions Of Employment

Persons appointed to this class are designated as Essential personnel and as such are required to work when schools are/or offices are closed during adverse weather conditions or any other emergency. They are subject to be called to duty and may be required to work beyond their normally scheduled hours with little or no advance notice. They may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays to get schools/offices open for the next business day

Requires independent travel to worksites throughout Baltimore County, including inclement weather days or other emergency situations when schools and/or offices are closed, weekends and holidays.

Persons appointed to this class must be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations and must remain physically qualified to operate such vehicles throughout their employment. Persons holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are subject to alcohol and drug testing in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations and Board of Education policy.

This class specification defines the types of duties and level of difficulty of work required of positions in this title. It shall not be held to exclude duties not mentioned nor limit the right of management to assign work to employees.

SALARY

Grade 05 on the AFSCME pay scale. Hourly rates range from $19.17 to 28.90.

Visit the BCPS Office of Payroll website for additional information on pay scales, other compensation and leave accruals at https://www.bcps.org/fiscalservices/payroll.

OTHER COMPENSATION

This position may also be eligible for shift differential and longevity as per the AFSCME Master Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding.Visit the BCPS website for additional information at https://www.bcps.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2828&pageId=69996497.

FLSA

Non-Exempt

RETIREMENT

This position is eligible for the Baltimore County Employees’ Retirement System.

BENEFITS

BCPS offers a comprehensive benefits program for eligible employees including options for medical plans, dental plans, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability coverage, and 403(b)/457 plans. Other benefits include paid holidays, sick, personal business, and bereavement days, and flexible leave options such as FMLA, sick bank, and board approved leaves. All new hires will attend a benefits meeting upon hire.

Visit the BCPS website for additional information about benefit plans for BCPS employees at https://www.bcps.org/hr/compliance/benefits_and_retirement.

TiErra Johnson, HR Analyst

Baltimore County Public Schools

443-809-7872