Groundskeeper

Sun Prairie Area School District; Sun Prairie (MT); On-site; USD 24,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Prairie Area School District is seeking a Groundskeeper to maintain school grounds, turf and athletic fields, ponds, trees, irrigation, playgrounds, and related facilities across our campuses. The role also covers snow plowing, equipment upkeep, and supporting custodial staff as needed.

Requires a High School diploma with horticulture/turf/landscape training and at least three years of related experience.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent with horticulture/turf/landscape training and at least 3 years' turf/landscape grounds experience.
• Capable of identifying plant species and pruning shrubs/trees; evaluating diseases and pests.
• Valid driver’s license; playground inspector and pesticide/herbicide certifications encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Maintain perennials, shrubs and trees; bed and lawn care; general landscaping and maintenance.
• Care for natural and athletic fields; irrigation, fertilization, mowing and turf management.
• Maintain ponds, wetlands and natural areas; inspect playground equipment and hardscapes.
• Plow and salt sidewalks; assist with after-hours snow removal; support shipping/receiving as needed.
• Complete logs/records for regulatory purposes; coordinate with grounds team and custodians.

Skills

Plant identification

Shrub and tree care

Pest/disease assessment

Equipment operation

Education

High School diploma or equivalent with horticulture/turf/landscape training

Tools

Pesticide application certification

Playground inspector certification

Job description

STARTING WAGE: $21.39+ per hour (based on experience)
This position is full time, year round and comes with paid time off, paid vacation and is benefit eligible.
Summary
The Groundskeeper will maintain school grounds to an excellent degree to convey pride, care, and stewardship of the District's grounds. This includes but is not limited to landscaping, lawns, turf and athletic fields, natural and retention ponds, tree maintenance, irrigation systems, playgrounds, and planting beds, plowing snow, maintaining equipment, and performing other duties as required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Care and maintenance of perennials, shrubs and trees; bed maintenance; plant selection; lawn care and maintenance; general landscaping.
• Care and maintenance of natural turf, synthetic turf, and athletic fields; painting of athletic fields; set up and measurements of athletic fields and equipment; fertilization; pesticides; irrigation; seeding; aeration.
• Care and maintenance of detention/retention ponds and storm water systems.
• Care and maintenance of natural areas including native plant areas and wetlands.
• Care, maintenance and inspection of playground equipment and playground area.
• Care, maintenance and repair of hardscapes including asphalt and concrete; signs and parking lines.
• Plow and salt sidewalks and other paving areas as required, includes being on-call for after-hours plowing during the snow season.
• Perform maintenance and small repairs on Grounds equipment & Fleet vehicles
• Coordinate with other grounds crew both regular and seasonal, coordinates with custodians for school related grounds issues.
• Deliver grounds supplies to the schools including fuels, salt, seed, and equipment.
• Provide backup for Shipping & Receiving when needed
• Complete and submit logs and records as required for regulatory record keeping and submissions.
• Serve on the district wide on-call rotation as required.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Facilities & Grounds.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
High School graduate with horticulture, turf and/or landscape training and a minimum of three years of turf, landscaping, grounds power equipment, and building and grounds experience or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities. Must be capable of identifying plant species, correctly pruning and caring for shrubs and trees and evaluating plant diseases and insect issues and treatment. Prefer certifications in the area of playground equipment inspection. Must possess a valid driver's license. Obtaining and utilizing a Certified Playground Inspector and/or a commercial pesticide/herbicide application certification through District-paid training is highly encouraged.
Minimum Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate a variety of building and grounds maintenance equipment including mowers, snow plows, tractors, fork lifts, skid steers, end loaders, etc.
• Ability to use a variety of landscaping, mechanical and carpentry tools, including power tools
• Ability to provide care and maintenance to synthetic turf surfaces.
• Ability to lift and maneuver objects weighing up to 90 pounds
• Must have current physical on file with the district certifying applicant is able to meet all job qualifications

Supervisory Skills

• Ability to assign, supervise and review the work of others

Mathematical Ability

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate decimals and percentages
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions, area, circumference and volume
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with building and grounds personnel, athletic director, principals, coaches, teachers, the general public, and others verbally and in writing.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret and/or prepare a variety of documents, including field diagrams, landscape civil engineering plans, work orders, maintenance manuals, material data sheets, request for proposals, purchase orders, etc.
• Ability to prepare a variety of documents including landscaping plans, daily worksheets, equipment maintenance logs, reports, correspondence, etc. and using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow instructions.
• Ability to use and interpret landscaping and building and grounds maintenance terminology.

Environmental Adaptability

• Ability to work effectively outdoors under a variety of conditions.
• Ability to work near or with moving mechanical equipment.
• Ability to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
• Ability to work in a loud and/or dusty environment.
• Ability to work with hazardous materials.

Maybe required to work outside of normal work hours.