Groundskeeper/Operator

San Joaquin Delta College; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA is seeking a Groundskeeper I to maintain campus landscapes and athletic fields with diligence and safety.

You will operate a range of equipment, apply fertilizers and pesticides as trained, support irrigation and drainage tasks, and help keep walkways clean and safe for students and staff.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of groundskeeping and landscaping experience.
• Valid Class C California Driver's License by appointment.

Responsibilities

• Perform landscape maintenance duties including watering, mowing, weeding, trimming, renovating and fertilizing lawns and athletic fields.
• Plant, prune, stake, water and maintain landscaped areas with shrubs, trees, flowers and shrubs.
• Operate grounds maintenance equipment such as mowers, street sweeper, jackhammer, backhoe, and forklift.
• Evaluate turf athletic fields for wear, pest problems and fertilizer needs; prepare fields for practices and events.
• Clean campus grounds, remove leaves and debris from walkways and sidewalks.
• Perform chemical application activities and safely mix and apply chemicals to treated areas.
• Maintain chemical storage area and inventory; safely operate application equipment.
• Assist with underground water mainline repairs and irrigation system work.
• Maintain campus flora and fauna including koi pond; pump maintenance as needed.
• Work outdoors with safety and in varying weather conditions.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Equipment operation

Irrigation systems

Safety compliance

Chemicals handling

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Mowers

Backhoe

Forklift

Chipper

Irrigation components

Job description

Under the direction of the assigned manager, perform a variety of semi-skilled landscaping and grounds maintenance duties of various landscaped areas on campuses, and perform a variety of general maintenance tasks related to assigned area of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Employees within this class perform the full range of duties as assigned. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

This class is distinguished from the next higher level, Senior Groundskeeper in that the latter exercises technical and functional oversight over lower-level staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participate in a variety of landscape maintenance duties including watering, mowing, weeding, trimming, renovating and fertilizing lawns and athletic fields.
• Plant, prune, stake, water and maintain landscaped areas consisting of bushes, trees, flowers and shrubs.
• Operate a variety of equipment used in the maintenance of assigned campus grounds including but not limited to riding lawn mowers, street sweeper, broom truck, industrial chipper, jackhammer, backhoe and forklift.
• Evaluate natural turf athletic fields for wear, pest problems and fertilizer needs; coordinate and schedule all maintenance and preparation of athletic fields for practices, scheduled games and special events.
• Clean the campus grounds including walkways, sidewalks, roadways, patios and stairways; remove all leaves, dirt, debris and obstructions.
• Perform chemical application activities related to maintaining various landscaped campus areas; identify problems and safely mix and apply appropriate chemicals to treat affected areas.
• Maintain a safe chemical storage area and accurate inventory of chemicals; safely operate, maintain, modify and clean chemical application equipment.
• Operate and maintain a variety of grounds keeping equipment including, but not limited to, mowers, weed eaters, blowers, edgers, chainsaws, aerators, seeders, cultivators, trenchers, tillers, tractors, spreaders, jackhammers, mixers, chippers and power washers.
• Select, space, install, adjust, repair and maintain sprinkler heads, irrigation system components, and pipes in lawns, shrubs, groundcover and athletic areas; clear drain covers.
• Assist with repairs to underground water mainline to include installation of proper fittings; repair underground water main lines, 4\" or less in diameter.
• Maintain campus flora and fauna including the koi pond; maintain pumps and replace filters.
• Serve as member of the hazardous waste clean-up team as needed.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Operations, services, and activities of a grounds maintenance and landscaping programs.
• Principles and practices of horticultural maintenance and turf management including use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
• Commercial irrigation maintenance concepts, methods, and techniques
• Koi pond maintenance methods and techniques.
• Basic tree care concepts, to include pruning.
• Operational characteristics of grounds maintenance equipment and tools to include mowers, blowers, weed eaters, backhoe, and trucks.
• Pesticide application concepts, methods, and techniques.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices as applied to working outdoors performing grounds maintenance work.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local codes, laws and regulations.

Ability to

• Perform a variety of grounds maintenance work in a safe and efficient manner.
• Operate a variety of grounds maintenance equipment and power and hand tools in a safe and effective manner.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with all employees and others encountered in the course of work.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds and disabilities of community college students and staff as demonstrated by skills and abilities in cultural responsiveness and cultural humility.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience

One year of experience groundskeeping and landscaping with an agency, company, or organization.

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Class \"C\" California Driver's License is required by the time of appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the San Joaquin Delta College will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Physical Demands

Frequent moderate lifting and carrying; continuous walking and standing; frequent bending and twisting at the waist and neck; occasional reaching above and below the shoulder; frequent grasping, kneeling and squatting; operation of motorized vehicles and equipment.

Work Environment

Work primarily takes place outdoors in the field; and indoors on an occasional basis.

Hazards

Work in a variety of environmental and weather conditions. Exposure to heights when climbing ladders; exposure to chemicals, sprays, loud machine noises, and sharp edges.