Groundskeeper

Haverford College; Haverford (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 33,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Automatic 10% retirement contribution

50% tuition benefit for dependents

14 paid holidays

Health Savings Account contribution

Affordable medical plans

Job summary

Haverford College invites applications for our full-time Groundskeeper position. This on-site, 40-hour-per-week, non-exempt role is benefits-eligible and supports the arboretum campus.

The Groundskeeper performs grounds maintenance, seasonal operations, snow and ice response, event support, landscape care, and exterior upkeep to sustain a safe, attractive campus. Reporting to the Grounds Manager, you will work with Groundskeepers, Horticulturists, and Facilities Management staff to keep pathways

Responsibilities

• Perform routine grounds maintenance across campus, including mowing, trimming, edging, blowing, raking, debris removal, litter pickup, pathway cleaning, and general exterior care
• Maintain lawns, open spaces, pathways, roadsides, entrances, courtyards, outdoor gathering areas, and other exterior spaces
• Assist with mulching, soil preparation, planting, watering, pruning support, weeding, turf repair, seeding, and landscape bed maintenance
• Apply fertilizers and turfgrass products in accordance with regulations and procedures
• Assist with irrigation system operation, inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs
• Assist with athletic field maintenance and preparation, including mowing and field setup
• Report damaged landscape areas, unsafe conditions, drainage issues, pests, vandalism, or other exterior concerns
• Complete assigned work safely and efficiently, consistent with the arboretum campus character
• Participate in snow and ice response operations, salting, and storm cleanup
• Operate snow removal equipment and handle weather-related tasks safely
• Support campus events and outdoor space setup before and after events
• Coordinate with team members to keep spaces safe, accessible, and ready for use
• Receive, complete, and document work orders; communicate status and supply needs

Job description

Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (40 hoursper week), non-exempt, benefits-eligible Groundskeeperopportunity.

Total Compensation

• Hourly rate : $18.50
• Benefits : The College offers a comprehensivebenefits program that includes automatic 10% retirementcontribution to your retirement account upon eligibility (no matchrequired), a 50% tuition benefit for dependent children uponeligibility, 14 paid holidays (including the week before New Year'sDay), affordable medical plans, Health Savings Account contributionof $700 for individuals and$1400 for families (no match required,available to employees enrolled in the High Deductible HealthPlan), and a beautiful arboretum campus with walking trail and easypublic transportation access. Please visit the Benefits page (https://www.haverford.edu/human-resources/benefits) for more information.

Work Location

On-site

About Facilities Management

Facilities Management is organized around four core functions:Operations and Maintenance, Campus Stewardship, Planning andConstruction, and Budget and Administrative Operations. Thisstructure supports clear accountability, effective servicedelivery, long-term asset stewardship, and alignment of facilitiesresources with the College's academic mission.

Operations and Maintenance is responsible for the reliableday-to-day operation of campus buildings and building systems,including skilled trades, housekeeping, preventive maintenance,utilities, and customer service response. Campus Stewardship isresponsible for the care, preservation, and enhancement of theCollege's arboretum campus, including grounds, horticulture,sustainability-related landscape practices, and grounds equipmentmaintenance. Planning and Construction leads capital planning,design, renovation, and construction projects. Budget andAdministrative Operations supports financial management, work orderadministration, project coordination, asset management, data, andreporting.

Together, these functions position Facilities Management as both anessential service organization and a strategic partner in advancingthe College's mission, stewarding institutional resources, andsupporting a safe, welcoming, sustainable, and well-maintainedcampus environment.

About the Position

The Groundskeeper performs grounds maintenance, seasonaloperations, snow and ice response, event support, landscape care,and general exterior maintenance to support a safe, attractive,accessible, and well-maintained campus environment. This positioncontributes directly to the daily appearance, function, andstewardship of Haverford College's arboretum campus.

Reporting to the Grounds Manager, the Groundskeeper performsroutine and special grounds work across campus, including mowing,trimming, planting support, leaf removal, snow removal, pathwaycare, debris cleanup, event preparation, storm response, equipmentoperation, and related exterior maintenance tasks. The positionworks closely with other Campus Stewardship staff, includingGroundskeepers, Horticulturists, the Equipment Mechanic, the PlantCurator, and other Facilities Management colleagues.

The successful candidate will be reliable, safety-conscious,service-oriented, and able to perform physically active workoutdoors in a variety of weather conditions while supporting theCollege's academic, residential, athletic, and communityactivities. The position is considered essential personnel and willbe required to work during periods of inclement weather or weatheremergencies when the College is closed or operating on a modifiedschedule.

Primary Responsibilities

Grounds Maintenance and Campus Appearance - 40%

• Perform routine grounds maintenance across campus, includingmowing, trimming, edging, blowing, raking, debris removal, litterpickup, pathway cleaning, and general exterior care
• Maintain lawns, open spaces, pathways, roadsides, entrances,courtyards, outdoor gathering areas, and other assigned exteriorspaces
• Assist with mulching, soil preparation, planting, watering,pruning support, weeding, turf repair, seeding, and landscape bedmaintenance
• Apply fertilizers by hand, push spreader, or other appropriateapplication equipment, and assist with application of turfgrassproducts in accordance with applicable regulations and Collegeprocedures
• Assist with irrigation system operation, inspection,maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs
• Assist with athletic field maintenance and preparation,including mowing, field setup, turf repair, and other seasonalmaintenance activities
• Assist with routine grounds service requests and minor repairsto campus outdoor infrastructure, including walks, curbs, stormdrains, roadways, minor hardscape, and other secondary exteriorareas
• Remove leaves, branches, trash, and debris from campus grounds,walkways, roads, parking areas, and outdoor spaces
• Help maintain campus appearance standards, particularly inhigh-visibility areas used by students, faculty, staff, visitors,alumni, and prospective families
• Report damaged landscape areas, unsafe conditions, drainageissues, pests, vandalism, broken site furnishings, or otherexterior concerns to the Grounds Manager
• Complete assigned work safely, efficiently, and in a mannerconsistent with the character of the College's arboretumcampus

Seasonal Operations, Snow and Ice Response, and Storm Cleanup -25%

• Participate in snow and ice response operations, includingshoveling, plowing support, salting, sanding, clearing steps,pathways, ramps, entrances, roads, and other priority areas
• Operate snow removal equipment and use ice-control materialssafely and responsibly as assigned
• Assist with storm cleanup, fallen limb removal, floodingresponse, drainage support, weather-related hazards, and emergencyexterior conditions
• Support seasonal work such as spring cleanup, summer readiness,fall leaf removal, winter preparation, residence hall openings andclosings, and commencement preparation
• Work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, or extendedshifts during snow events, severe weather, major campus events, orurgent operational needs
• Coordinate with the Grounds Manager and other team members toensure campus spaces remain safe, accessible, and ready foruse

Equipment, Tools, Materials, and Safe Work Practices - 15%

• Operate and care for grounds equipment such as mowers,trimmers, blowers, utility vehicles, tractors, snow equipment, handtools, power tools, carts, and related equipment as assigned
• Inspect equipment before use and report maintenance needs,damage, unsafe conditions, or performance problems
• Clean, store, and maintain tools, equipment, vehicles, workareas, storage areas, and grounds shops in a safe and orderlycondition
• Use fuel, ice-control materials, soil, mulch, plants, tools,supplies, and other materials responsibly
• Follow College safety practices, equipment instructions,personal protective equipment requirements, and supervisordirection
• Participate in safety training related to equipment operation,lifting, weather exposure, traffic safety, chemicals, noise, tools,and other grounds-related hazards

Campus Events, Projects, and Operational Support - 10%

• Assist with grounds support for commencement, alumni events,admissions programs, student activities, athletic events, move-in,and other campus activities
• Help set up, prepare, clean, and restore outdoor spaces beforeand after events
• Move, place, or remove outdoor furniture, signs, barriers,planters, materials, supplies, and related items as assigned
• Support landscape projects, site restoration, contractor work,construction impacts, and campus improvements as directed
• Coordinate with Housekeeping, Operations and Maintenance,Public Safety, Athletics, Student Life, Conferences and Events, andother departments as needed

Work Orders, Communication, and Teamwork - 10%

• Receive, complete, and document assigned work through theCollege's work-order system or other communication methods
• Communicate work status, supply needs, equipment