Groundskeeper (Aux)

Colorado Mesa University; United States; On-site; USD 24,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and retirement benefits

Campus environment

Paid time off (benefits)

Job summary

Colorado Mesa University is seeking a Groundskeeper 1 to maintain campus grounds through pruning, mowing, irrigation, fertilizing and routine repairs. The role includes operating walk-behind mowers, edgers, irrigation systems, and related equipment to keep outdoor spaces safe, clean and visually appealing.

Starting pay is $21.34 per hour with a 20% weekend differential; Sundays and Mondays off apply. Requires high school diploma or GED, outdoor maintenance experience, and a valid Colorado

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Outdoor maintenance experience in grounds or parks preferred.
• Ability to operate a range of grounds equipment and irrigation systems.

Responsibilities

• Operates and maintains manual and powered grounds tools such as mowers and edgers.
• Maintains irrigation systems and schedules watering as needed.
• Mows, edges, fertilizes, and cares for turf and plantings.
• Assists with set-up for events and manages day-to-day grounds tasks.

Skills

Outdoor work

Grounds maintenance

Irrigation systems

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Walk-behind mowers

Edgers

Irrigation controllers

Job description

ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCY

FLSA Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Compensation: 21.12 Commensurate with education and experience.

• Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information!

SECTION I - OUR VALUES

CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE At 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 Values

• Love - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others
• Dignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill
• Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities
• Humility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others
• Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity
• Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown
• Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals

SECTION II – THE SEAT

At 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 TASKS SUMMARY

A 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 MONDAY

The 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.

• 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.
• Vacuum 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

To 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 EXPERIENCE

• High 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 required Reasonable 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.

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. A comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa University provides exceptional educational opportunities on a state-of-the-art campus. As western Colorado’s largest university, CMU serves students on its main campus in Grand Junction, its satellite campus in Montrose, its technical college, CMU Tech, and via online offerings. Colorado Mesa University serves as the primary intellectual and cultural center of western Colorado and promotes the exchange of ideas that are of regional, national, and international importance. Founded in 1925, it is a dynamic university enrolling 10,000 students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. At the heart of the CMU experience is an integrative and experiential approach to higher education that encourages students to think differently and empowers them to challenge assumptions. CMU brings students together with expert scholars and thinkers from different disciplines to make connections between ideas and gain the skills to solve the unstructured, complex problems they will encounter in life. Our focus is on providing quality academic programs, built on a strong liberal arts core that supports students' interests and regional employment needs, as well as technical programs that respond to vocational workforce demands. The Grand Valley is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state of Colorado and you will not have to fight traffic and crowds to enjoy it. CMU is surrounded by the Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and the Colorado National Monument. We have world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and a mountain resort that’s less than 45 minutes from campus for skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. Living and working in Grand Junction, you will be able to explore one of Colorado’s best kept secrets.