Groundskeeper

Youngstown State University's Excellence Training Center; Youngstown (OH); On-site; USD 19,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Youngstown State University’s Excellence Training Center is seeking a skilled Groundskeeper to maintain university grounds, flower beds, and athletic fields. The role requires operating heavy equipment, applying pesticides, and performing routine maintenance to ensure safe and attractive outdoor spaces.

The position includes year-round responsibilities, weather-related adjustments, and potential weekend shifts.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of experience in grounds maintenance.
• Pesticide license 6A (Ornamental Pests) and 8 (Turf Pests) within 4 months of employment.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Mow, edge, trim, fertilize lawns and beds; apply pesticides/herbicides as needed.
• Maintain flower beds, trees and ornamental plants; prune and weed as required.
• Prepare for inclement weather; plow, salt, and clear parking facilities and walkways.
• Maintain clean, professional grounds; perform rounds and assist with events.
• Perform excavation tasks for beautification projects; install signs, gates, fences, and construct sidewalks or patios.

Skills

Knowledge of grounds maintenance

Safety practices

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Tractors

Mowers

Sprayers

Sod cutters

Job description

Summary Of Position

The class works under general supervision and requires considerable knowledge of grounds keeping in order to perform skilled and semi-skilled grounds maintenance duties.

Position Information

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 20% - Performs skilled maintenance of university grounds including mowing, edging, trimming, and fertilizing. Applies pesticides and herbicides to lawns, shrubs, and trees. Lays sod, limes, grades surfaces, and applies topsoil.

20% - Performs skilled maintenance on university flower beds, trees, and ornamental plants. Weeds and grooms flower beds, plants and prunes trees, plants and maintains ornamental flowers and other foliage. Pulls bulbs and winterizes tender annuals.

20% - Performs skilled maintenance, preparations, and mitigation of effects of inclement weather on university facilities. Plows and salts university parking facilities, streets, walkways, loading docks, and entrance ways. Cleans up damaged trees and shrubs following inclement weather.

10% - Maintains a clean and professional appearance of university grounds. Performs regular rounds removing trash and litter. Maintains facilities following events. Moves and stages memorial benches and associated outdoor furniture.

10% - Performs minor shallow, manual, or light mechanized excavation for university led beautification projects. Performs shallow trenching to expose failed irrigation systems for access to make necessary repairs. Develops beds and digs holes for planting of new or relocated trees. Removes soil for landscape renovations and edging. Installs signs, gates, or fences. Builds retaining walls, patios, walkways and ornamental structures. Pour concrete for walkways and surfaces, repairs damaged concrete surfaces. Repairs and patches asphalt surfaces.

10% - Maintains and grooms artificial turf for athletic facilities. Grooms and drags artificial turf for all athletics fields and facilities. Adds infill in high traffic areas as needed. Patches and repairs seams as needed. Performs decompaction on artificial turf.

5% - Maintains and services university irrigation systems. Identifies and isolates leaks and faulty components. Replaces lawn sprinkler heads and control valves. Works with university plumber for more complex problem resolutions.

5% - Cleans and repairs tools; installs attachment on equipment; operates heavy equipment.

Other Functions and Responsibilities: Assists with training new hires.

Performs other duties as assigned and/or required that are within the level of responsibility for this classification at the discretion of the supervisor.

Equipment Operated: Backhoe, skid steer, front loaders, forklifts, plow trucks, and airbrake equipped dump trucks.

Work Schedule

M-T-W-Th-F 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. May work weekends, early mornings, evenings as scheduled. May be called out due to extraordinary operational needs, 24 hours, 7 days per week.

Primary Location

Youngstown

Supervision Exercised

May exercise supervision over student employees.

Reports to

Groundskeeper Supervisor

Qualifications And Competencies

Required Certifications, Training, and/or Licensures: Pesticide license in 6A (Ornamental Pests) and 8 (Turf Pests) within 4 months of employment; valid driver's license.

Sponsorship and/or Work Authorization Status

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Knowledge of: basic mathematic principles; grounds maintenance; safety practices associated with use and operation of grounds maintenance equipment.

Skill in: operation of various types of grounds maintenance equipment including tractors, mowers, sprayers, sod cutters, etc.

Ability to: carry out instructions in written, oral, or picture form; deal with problems involving several variables in familiar context; demonstrate general physical fitness.

(*) Developed after employment.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED and two years of experience in grounds maintenance. Valid driver's license. Pesticide license in 6A (Ornamental Pests) and 8 (Turf Pests) within 4 months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Landscaping experience. Snow plowing experience. Experience working with collegiate athletics facilities and artificial turfs. Certified Grounds Technician (CGT).

Physical Requirements

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings, this position will perform very heavy work.

Very Heavy

work involves exerting 100 pounds of force occasionally, or 50 pounds of force constantly to move objects.