Groundskeeper

Riverdale Country School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shuttle service to subway stations

Professional development budget

Frankel Fellow grants

Sabbatical after 10 years

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Defined contribution retirement plan

Generous vacation time

Job summary

Riverdale Country School is seeking a dedicated Groundskeeper to maintain campus grounds, ensure safety, and support athletic field preparation. The role supports the Facilities and Operations team on a full-time basis at the New York City campus.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in groundskeeping, knowledge of irrigation, and the ability to operate tractors, mowers, and snow removal equipment. Valid driver's license and ability to lift up to 50 lbs required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 2+ years in groundskeeping or related field.
• Knowledge of lawn care, irrigation, seasonal maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain campus lawns, landscaped areas, and athletic fields.
• Prepare and mark fields for practices and games.
• Mow, water, fertilize, aerate turf; prune plants.
• Perform seasonal maintenance including snow/ice removal.
• Inspect and repair irrigation systems; operate groundskeeping equipment.
• Ensure safety and PPE compliance; assist with events setup.

Skills

Groundskeeping

Safety awareness

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Tractor operation

Commercial mower operation

Snow removal equipment

Forklift operation

Job description

Riverdale Country School is a Pre‑K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Riverdale seeks to reflect that belonging is the foundational core of community building in how we work collaboratively and support the school’s mission and empowers all community members to thrive in mind, character, and community. Riverdale enrolls about 1,300 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes.

Position Title:

Groundskeeper

Department:

Grounds

Reports To:

Director of Grounds

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Position Overview:

Riverdale Country School is seeking a dedicated and reliable Groundskeeper to maintain the beauty, safety, and functionality of our campus grounds. This position is responsible for ensuring that all outdoor spaces are clean, well‑maintained, and aesthetically pleasing for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Groundskeeper will also support the Athletics Department by assisting with the maintenance and preparation of athletic fields both on and off campus.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Maintain the appearance and condition of campus lawns, landscaped areas, and athletic practice fields.
• Prepare, lay out, and mark athletic playing fields for practices and competitions.
• Mow, water, fertilize, aerate, and maintain lawns and turf.
• Plant, prune, mulch, water, and fertilize flowers, shrubs, trees, and other landscape features.
• Perform seasonal grounds maintenance, including leaf removal and snow and ice removal using equipment such as snow blowers, snowplows, and spreaders.
• Keep campus grounds, walkways, parking areas, and surrounding facilities free of litter, debris, weeds, and other hazards.
• Inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform basic repairs to irrigation systems.
• Operate, clean, inspect, and maintain groundskeeping equipment, tools, and vehicles.
• Follow all school safety policies and procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Assist with campus setup and breakdown for school events, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Facilities and Operations team.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, or a related field.
• Knowledge of lawn care, athletic field maintenance, landscaping, irrigation systems, and seasonal grounds maintenance.
• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record.
• Basic knowledge of small engine maintenance and repair.
• Experience operating groundskeeping equipment, including tractors, commercial mowers, snow removal equipment, forklifts, and other power equipment.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and perform physically demanding work for extended periods.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.
• Sufficient strength, agility, and dexterity to safely operate groundskeeping equipment and perform manual labor.

Benefits Of Full Time Work At Riverdale Country School:

Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:

• Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.
• Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of‑school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).
• Sabbatical: Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.
• Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre‑tax dollars to pay for health‑related expenses.
• Retirement: Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.
• Vacation: Riverdale Country School has a generous time‑off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.