Groundskeeper

Town of Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Chapel Hill is seeking a grounds maintenance worker responsible for mowing, irrigation, and park upkeep across town facilities and green spaces. The role includes operating landscape equipment, maintaining turf, and assisting with events and winter duties.

Education requires a high school diploma; 1 year of experience is preferred. Must be able to work outdoors in all weather and maintain safety protocols.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience preferred.
• Knowledge of current landscaping practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of pesticides and fertilizer safety.
• Ability to operate landscape equipment and read simple maps.

Responsibilities

• Mows, edges, trims, removes debris, and maintains town rights of way, Downtown, and Parks & Recreation facilities.
• Sets up, monitors, and makes minor repairs to irrigation systems.
• Assists in setting up special events, storm cleanup, snow/ice removal, leaves, and mulching.
• Mantains turf and plantings; fertilizes, aerates, prunes, and cleans equipment.
• Operates/maintains equipment; drives trucks, utility vehicles, tractors, and mowers.

Skills

Lawn mowing

Irrigation systems

Equipment operation

Pesticide safety

Safety procedures

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described here. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned that are not specifically spelled out in this job description, but which may be reasonably considered to require similar knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Summary of Position:

The purpose of this position is to maintain landscape and grounds of town facilities, right of ways, parks, playgrounds, greenways, trails, athletic fields, and cemeteries. It may work with athletic facility and greenway maintenance, right of Way Maintenance or regular parks maintenance.
Positions that are Specialist Certified are a progression after employee attains special certification(s).

What you can expect to be doing (Essential Functions):

• Works with their respective crew to include but not limited to mowing, edging, string trimming, blowing, debris removal, pruning of trees and vegetation and the maintenance of Town rights of way, Downtown, and all Parks & Recreation facilities.
• Sets up, monitors, adjusts, and makes minor repairs to irrigation systems.
• Completes other duties include assisting in setting up special events, cleaning up after storm damage, clear snow and ice, removing leaves, and spreading mulch.
• Maintains turf and plantings on all the Towns facilities; mows; string trims; edges; waters; fertilizes; aerates; prunes; blows leaves; mulches.
• Operates equipment and performs maintenance on equipment; operates equipment according to the operator's manual; checks fluids; greases moving parts; checks pressure; sharpens blades; and cleans equipment.
• Operates/drives vehicles such as trucks, utility vehicles, tractors, and mowers.

• Completes all other duties as assigned.

Do you supervise or not?

This position has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others.

What are the physical demands?

The work is typically performed while sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, or stooping. The employee frequently lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, lift 50 lbs and distinguish between shades of color.

Where and how do you work?

The employee regularly works outside in all weather conditions and will be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, irritating chemical, machinery with moving parts, and heavy traffic. The work requires the use of protective devices such as chaps, hard hats, eye wear, masks, gloves and or goggles.

What do you need to know to do this job effectively?

Knowledge of:

• Current landscaping practices and procedures.
• Trends and practices of grounds maintenance techniques.
• Relevant town ordinances, policies, and procedures.
• Management and supervisory principles and practices.
• Methods of proper use and maintenance of landscape equipment.
• Department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to personnel processes.
• Safe application of pesticides and fertilizer.
• Safe Work Zone and Rights of Way practices.
• In use of ropes, pulleys and lowering equipment.
• In use and maintenance of woodchippers and winch lines.
• In use and maintenance of chainsaws, trimmers and landscape tools in compliance with OSHA, ANSI and ISA rules and regulations.

Ability to:

• Operate such equipment and machinery as riding and push mowers, line trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and leaf vacuums.
• Use such tools as shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, hedge trimmers, and pruning shears.
• Best Management Practices in pruning, mulching and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
• Basic map reading and computer operation skills.

• Use web-based software systems.
• Use Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or similar tools.
• Solve problems and make sound decisions.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and customers.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Model behavior that is consistent with our values of RESPECT.

What is education and/or experience do you need to be considered for this job?

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience: A minimum 1 year of experience preferred.

What are the safety considerations for this job?

• You may be randomly drug tested while on the job.?
• You will be subject to the Safe Driving and Accident Policy.

Here is other information you should know about the position:

• A valid NC driver's license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required.?
• Certifications for Specialist (Certified): Pesticide License, Playground Inspector.
• Chosen candidate may be required to have an NC pesticide license within 6 months of hire.

The Town of Chapel Hill has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.

The Town of Chapel Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit

Last modified on April 28, 2026.