Groundskeeper

Connecticut College; New London (CT); On-site; USD 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Connecticut College in New London, CT, is seeking skilled landscaping trades professionals under the Landscaping Services Director to perform maintenance and construction across campus, waterfront, and athletic fields.

The role requires readiness for emergency closures, on-call rotation, operation of heavy equipment, and adherence to safety and campus procedures, with opportunities to lead helpers and coordinate with teams.

Qualifications

• 4-7 years of general experience in a particular trade area.
• Knowledge of various plants and proper care for sustainment, principles, methods, materials, tools, and equipment.
• Basic knowledge of turf grass management practices.
• Basic knowledge of pesticides and application methods and techniques.
• Interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to keep shop records, interpret and read blueprints.
• Ability to utilize computer software ( CMMS ).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Prepares, installs and maintains decorative landscaping features to include flowers, plants, shrubs, ornamental grasses, trees, waterscapes, lighting and decorative and synthetic or natural materials in formal gardens, plant containers, borders and island beds.
• Clears brush, debris and leaves from lawns and catch basins
• Hauls materials, fills, grades and slopes work sites; pulls weeds, mulches, repairs drip lines, waters and fertilizes.
• Installs and maintains turf by seeding or siding, repairing, mowing and fertilizing.
• Installs and maintains recreational sports fields.
• Operates and maintains various large and small power and construction equipment including bucket/boom truck, front loader, backhoes, bulldozers, forklifts, tractors, dump trucks of five (5) ton or greater capacity, plow and pickup trucks and trailers, street sweepers, leaf vacuums, wood chippers, mowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers and chainsaws.
• Maintains and repairs small gas engine power equipment and large equipment to include, but not limited to, oil and spark plug change, blade sharpening, tire change or repair, fluid change and battery replacement.
• Uses and maintains various hand tools; assists with the setup and dismantling of, but not limited to, plantings, fences, chairs, tents, bleachers and tables for special events; installs and maintains fences, bollards and signage campus wide.
• Performs pre-treatment and snow and ice removal.
• Assists arborists with tree pruning or felling operations.
• Maintains orderliness and efficiency of landscape work sheds and surrounding areas.
• Removes trash and changes bins daily.
• Ensure all work processes comply with OSHA requirements and regulations, college policies and procedures including tracking work orders and service orders assigned to the department.
• May direct student and/or temporary workers and/or contracted services as needed and assigned.
• May apply pesticides under direct supervision.
• May paint poles and other structures within the landscape.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Turf management

Pesticide knowledge

Blueprint reading

CMMS

Interpersonal skills

Driver's license

Job description

Under the direction of the Landscaping Services Director, perform highly skilled trades duties in a variety of landscape and hardscape work. Performs skilled maintenance and/or construction work requiring the application of trade skills, codes, and standard trade practices of College historical campus, waterfront, and athletic fields. Makes estimates of time, personnel, and material required on assigned tasks; keeps necessary records; performs duties related to the trade or trade areas as required.

These positions are categorized as Emergency Support Services/Essential Staff. Must be willing and able to work during emergency closures/delayed openings due to inclement weather or for significant events that affect campus operations. Applicants must also be willing to respond to emergencies on overtime (nights, weekends or holidays).

These positions also require participation in the Weekly On-Call Rotation Schedule; when assigned to the on-call rotation, calls must be responded to during the on-call assignment within 15 minutes.

Priority Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares, installs and maintains decorative landscaping features to include flowers, plants, shrubs, ornamental grasses, trees, waterscapes, lighting and decorative and synthetic or natural materials in formal gardens, plant containers, borders and island beds.
• Clears brush, debris and leaves from lawns and catch basins
• Hauls materials, fills, grades and slopes work sites; pulls weeds, mulches, repairs drip lines, waters and fertilizes.
• Installs and maintains turf by seeding or siding, repairing, mowing and fertilizing.
• Installs and maintains recreational sports fields.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Installs, maintains and repairs asphalt pavement and other materials on traveled surfaces.
• Operates and maintains various large and small power and construction equipment including bucket/boom truck, front loader, backhoes, bulldozers, forklifts, tractors, dump trucks of five (5) ton or greater capacity, plow and pickup trucks and trailers, street sweepers, leaf vacuums, wood chippers, mowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers and chainsaws.
• Maintains and repairs small gas engine power equipment and large equipment to include, but not limited to, oil and spark plug change, blade sharpening, tire change or repair, fluid change and battery replacement.
• Uses and maintains various hand tools; assists with the setup and dismantling of, but not limited to, plantings, fences, chairs, tents, bleachers and tables for special events; installs and maintains fences, bollards and signage campus wide.
• Performs pre-treatment and snow and ice removal.
• Assists arborists with tree pruning or felling operations.
• Maintains orderliness and efficiency of landscape work sheds and surrounding areas.
• Removes trash and changes bins daily.
• Ensure all work processes comply with OSHA requirements and regulations, college policies and procedures including tracking work orders and service orders assigned to the department.
• May direct student and/or temporary workers and/or contracted services as needed and assigned.
• May apply pesticides under direct supervision.
• May paint poles and other structures within the landscape.
• Performs related duties as required.

Education and Skills

• 4-7 years of general experience in a particular trade area.
• A combination of education and experience that provides a demonstrated knowledge of various plants used in landscape features; knowledge of proper care of plants for sustainment, principles, methods, materials, tools, and equipment.
• Basic knowledge of turf grass management practices.
• Basic knowledge of pesticides and application methods and techniques.
• Interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to keep shop records, interpret and read blueprints.
• Ability to utilize computer software ( CMMS ).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Demands

Driving Required

Yes

Salary Range

23.49

Note

Connecticut College is committed to fair and competitive compensation. The final offer will reflect the candidate’s experience, education, and the institution’s pay structure to ensure internal equity.

Applicant Credentialing

Thorough applicant credentialing will be conducted on the selected candidate which will include criminal records check, DMV check and depending on the position psychological exam and pre-placement physical.