Groundskeeper (Aux)

Colorado-Mesa-University; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health benefits

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Colorado Mesa University seeks a Groundskeeper to maintain campus grounds, including mowing, pruning, irrigation, and pesticide applications. The role requires operating a wide range of equipment and ensuring safe, attractive outdoor spaces.

Starting pay is $21.34/hour with a 20% weekend differential. The position emphasizes manual and semi-skilled work, with potential for supervisory responsibilities and growth within CMU’s maintenance team.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; valid Colorado driver’s license preferred.
• Experience with turf care, irrigation systems, pruning, and mowing is expected.
• Supervisory skills preferred; advanced certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Operates and maintains a variety of grounds equipment and tools.
• Maintains campus turf, irrigation, trees, shrubs, and landscapes.
• Performs seasonal lawn care, fertilizing, pesticide applications, and field maintenance.

Skills

Turf care

Irrigation system repair

Tree pruning

Flower & shrub care

Mowing

Valid Colorado driver’s license

Supervisory skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate’s degree in applied horticulture or related field

Job description

ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCYFLSA Status:United States of America (Non-Exempt)Compensation:21.12Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package:SECTION I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTUREAt CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea.From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement.Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create.Colorado Mesa University Core ValuesLove - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and othersDignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwillCourage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilitiesHumility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of othersResiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing OpportunityCuriosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknownPower - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goalsSECTION II – THE SEATAt CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats.Groundskeeper (Aux)OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKSSUMMARYA Groundskeeper 1 at Colorado Mesa University provides for well-maintained campus grounds through the performance of grounds care duties, as established in grounds care program to include pruning, trimming, fertilizing, mowing, irrigation, pest control, snow removal, litter policing and removal, hardsurface maintenance, athletic court & field maintenace, site amenity repair, record keeping and other related duties to ensure a functional, safe and attractive campus, consistent with the educational role and mission of Colorado Mesa University.DAYS OFF WILL BE SUNDAY AND MONDAYThe starting pay for this position is $21.34/hour with a 20% shift differential pay on the weekends. Days off are Sunday and Monday of each week.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and other related duties may be assigned.Performs semi-skilled and skilled grounds / landscape maintence, including:· Operates and maintains a variety of manual and power hand tools; including, but not limited to, walk behind mowers, edgers, line trimmers, riding mowers, pressure washers, utility vehicles, forklifts, tractors & front-end loaders equipped with various mechanical and towed implements.· Performs repairs, maintenance and installation on all irrigation sprinkler heads, lines, valves, wiring. Able to trouble shoot irrigation pumps / irrigation control systems to the point of. Trouble- shoots low voltage valve wires. Systems include multi-wire and two-wire valve control systems.· Schedules and programs irrigation watering based on water use calculator, campus activities, and visual observations and adjusts schedules to allow for special events and conditions. Sets schedules in various types of irrigation controllers. Competency in using an irrigation controller’s multiple programs & features.· Maintains campus turf, including mowing, edging, fertilizing, aerating, top-dressing, fertilizing and pesticide applications.· Helps paint and layout fields for athletics, rugby and intramural.· Pesticide applications and help to training others in using pesticides properly.· Visually inspects trees, shrubs and turf areas for disease and insect pests. Safely applies fertilizers and pesticides to landscape plants. Keeps proper records applicable to EPA pesticide standards.· Mows, rakes, plants and transplants trees, shrubs, sod, etc. Prunes trees, shrubs, and various types of flowers.· Maintains and cleans outdoor fountains.· Maintains and repairs synthetic turf.· Removes trash and debris from sidewalks, streets and other campus grounds daily.· Vacuums leaves and debris from paved and landscaped areas.· Enters student time in spreadsheet.· Enters and checks campus events in a shared email-based calendar.· Helps with day-to-day operations when Manager is away for example but not limited to irrigation issues, snow call out and construction.· Helps maintain athletic fields, courts and relate site amenities as needed.· Removes snow and ice from sidewalks and grounds by hand, walk behind equipment and riding brooms and blades.· Helps set up for tournaments and camps.· Directs student employees. Directs and decides how best to utilize the skills of student, temporary, and STRIVE and place them according to their abilities. Checks on completion of assigned tasks performed by student help.· Provides input to supervisor on the timing and applications of pesticides, equipment issues / repairs, irrigation problems, and all site conditions.· Helps set-up and assists with public events and student life events.· Preforms other related work as required.QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily within a service driven environment comprised of many different components. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCEHigh School diploma or GED equivalent is required. Must have outdoor work experience in grounds, park, or golf course maintenance. Must have demonstrated ability with turf care, automatic irrigation system repair and maintenance, tree pruning, flower and shrub care, and mowing.Must have the ability to operate wide range of equipment (manual, automatic, and hydraulic drives). Equipment includes, but not limited to: small pickup trucks, ¾ and 1 ton trucks and trucks with trailers, tractors and attachments such as front end loader, top-dresser and various aerators, cold and hot-water pressure washers, ladders, utility vehicles, truck and tractor-mounted snow plows, chain saws, riding and walk- behind mowers, line trimmers, blowers, power augers (hand & tractor mount),operate synthetic turf groomers.Must have demonstrated competency in using an irrigation controller’s multiple programs & features, including water budget.Must have basic computer skills with experience using Microsoft Word and Excel or similar software.Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license.Superior/preferred candidates will possess supervisory skills and experience and advanced knowledge or certifications, such as: Certified Landscape Technician, Certified Arborist, Certified Backflow Tester, Certified Pesticide Applicator, an associate’s degree in applied horticulture or related field.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bicycle, drive, operate machinery, kneel, sit, talk, and hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, color vision and ability to adjust focus. Employee may occasionally need to work on tall ladders or a boom lift.Pre-employment and annual functional capacity tests are administered.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is typically exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; dry and/or dusty; extreme heat and cold temperatures moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but occasionally high. The employee may occasionally be exposed to high levels of vibration.This position is required to work overtime. Person is subject to call outs for snow removal and irrigation breaks. Occasional night and early morning work may be requiredReasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and areas of accountability.HOW TO APPLY: Applicants will be asked to complete an online application by creating a profile and then providing personal and demographic information. In addition, please be prepared to upload a:• Cover letter• Resume• Include the name, phone number, email address and relationship of at least three professional references who can attest to your ability to perform the job you are applying for. Professional references should include at least one current or former supervisor. Professional reference may also include current or former employers, colleagues or other professionals who have first-hand knowledge and can recommend you for employment.• Copy of transcripts for all degrees completed (if your transcripts include a social security number or birthdate, please redact that information before uploading the document. Official transcripts will be required upon hire)HOW TO APPLY: Applicants will be asked to complete an online application by creating a profile and then providing personal and demographic information. In addition, please be prepared to upload a:Cover letterResumeCopy of transcripts for all degrees completed (if your transcripts include a social security number or birthdate, please redact that information before uploading the document. Official transcripts will be required upon hire)Colorado Mesa University is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment to improving the levels of access and success for underrepresented students within higher education.Colorado Mesa University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able to verify U.S. employment eligibility. Colorado Mesa University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact the CMU Human Resources Office by phone or email. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and the type of accommodation needed.