Groundskeeper

County of Northampton; Easton (MD); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton County is seeking a Groundskeeper to perform semiskilled grounds maintenance across county parks. The role involves operating mowers and power equipment, basic repairs, and keeping grounds clean and safe for visitors.

Responsibilities include snow removal, garden care, and assisting with minor carpentry, plumbing, and electrical tasks. Valid driver’s license and ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions are required.

Qualifications

• Completion of a high school diploma or GED is required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Post-offer motor vehicle driving record check may be required.

Responsibilities

• Operates and maintains lawn mowing, trimming, and landscaping equipment.
• Performs maintenance and repairs on power equipment and tools.
• Cleans grounds, routes, and facilities; removes litter and maintains tidy surroundings.
• Clears ditches, trims vegetation, and prepares areas for development or use in the park system.
• Performs snow/ice removal with trucks and snowplows; applies melting agents.
• Tills, fertilizes, and maintains garden plots and landscapes; applies pesticides when needed.
• Repairs structures, fencing, and small facilities; performs carpentry, plumbing, and electrical tasks.
• Assists with general grounds maintenance and may supervise seasonal staff.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Lawn equipment operation

Carpentry basics

Plumbing basics

Earth-moving equipment

Instruction following

Outdoor work

Heavy manual labor

English communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Pickup truck

Dump truck

Backhoe

Loader

Forklift

Snow blower

Lawn mower

Tractor

Aerator

Chain saw

Edger

Weed trimmer

Sprinkler system

Irrigation

Power tools

Job description

Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at [e-mail] or 610-829-6382.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Groundskeeper position performs semiskilled grounds maintenance work via the operation and routine maintenance of light and heavy power equipment, and maintenance repairs for recreational and related facilities and equipment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to the Lead Groundskeeper, Parks Foreman, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, and/or the Director of Public Works.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position exercises no supervision, but may oversee the work of temporary and seasonal employees, and volunteer staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

• Operates hand power, riding and/or rotary mowers to cut lawns and open areas, and trim grass around trees, fences, and structures. Uses hand and power equipment to trim and prune trees and shrubs.
• Services power equipment by changing oil, lubricating, and adjusting as necessary, maintains and sharpens blades, troubleshoots and repairs.
• Cleans grounds, ponds, paths, equipment, and walks. Rakes leaves, picks up litter, and keeps areas tidy and in good appearance. Clears ditches and removes brush from trails and pathways.
• Excavates and readies spaces for further development by clearing, grading, and otherwise preparing large tracts of land for use in park system.
• Removes snow, ice and other hazards from all County facilities. Uses trucks with snowplow attachments, smaller snowplows for walkways, snow blowers, and shovels. Spreads a variety of melting agents and/or materials to improve traction.
• Tills, aerates, and prepares garden plots, including measuring and marking plots, for use by County residents. Applies fertilizer, pesticides, and other chemical solutions with spray rigs to grass, shrubs, trees, and other plantings to prevent and/or control weeds, disease, and pests or to stimulate growth. Waters, fertilizes, cultivates, and trims lawns, shrubs, flowers, trees, and other plantings. Plants trees, shrubs, and flowers. May perform hand mulching and hand weeding.
• Traps and disposes of wildlife posing threats to garden plots and County property.
• Performs repair work in recreation and similar structures, including, but not limited to carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work such as: unstopping sinks and basins; mending broken fencing, doors, windows or partitions; painting signs; exterior and interior painting; and recreational facility markings. Builds and repairs birdhouses, duck blinds, and similar items. Removes trash, litter, and other debris from grounds. Cleans, sanitizes, and maintains facilities, including restrooms, and equipment associated with assigned area, such as tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, etc.
• Repairs storm damage. Performs roofing repairs and installation.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Completion of a high school, or general equivalency diploma; AND

Employees assigned to this title are required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION – As a post-offer, prerequisite for appointment, appointees must pass a motor vehicle driving record check.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Basic knowledge of methods, techniques, materials, and equipment used in grounds maintenance work.
• Basic knowledge of methods and techniques used in power lawn equipment operation and maintenance.
• Basic knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, and electric.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques used in earth-moving equipment operation and maintenance.
• Ability to learn to make minor maintenance repairs on tools, playground and related structures, and recreational equipment and facilities.
• Ability to understand, follow, and give verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to work outdoors in differing climatic conditions for several hours at a time.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Pick up truck, dump truck, back hoe, loader, forklift, snow blower, lawn and landscaping equipment, including tractors, mowers, aerator, chain saw, edgers, weed trimmers, electric motors, pumps, sprinklers, irrigation systems; miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance, carpentry, roofing, painting, plumbing, electrical, and cement finishing work, boiler, telephone or cell phone, mobile or portable radio.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands and finger controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to eighty (80) pounds, and occasionally lift weight up to one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts or in adverse weather conditions, including flood conditions. The employee may encounter wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee may deal with high volume of vehicular traffic. The County will provide proper safety equipment and safety training. The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME) DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE PAY GRADE: RU-15 UNION STATUS: AFSCME RESIDUAL UNIT

Updated September 2023