Groundsworker

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 38,624 - 46,168; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is seeking a Groundsworker to maintain campus landscapes, ensuring safety and visual appeal. Responsibilities include turf and shrub maintenance, daily litter pick-up, and operating power tools. Candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience, physical fitness, and knowledge of gardening methods.

This position requires a valid California Class C Driver’s License and offers competitive salary in the range of $3,461.00 to $4,137.00 per month along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in grounds maintenance or general landscaping.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical work and follow instructions.
• Knowledge of gardening and grounds maintenance methods.

Responsibilities

• Maintain campus grounds to ensure safety and aesthetics.
• Perform daily litter pick-up and turf area maintenance.
• Operate power equipment and maintain irrigation systems.

Skills

Ability to recognize common species of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers

Mechanical aptitude and motor coordination

Ability to communicate and work as a team

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Salary and Benefits

Salary
The starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $3,461.00 per month to $4,137.00 per month (Step 1 - Step10).

Benefits
Cal State East Bay offers a broad range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement (CalPERS), 401k, 457, 403(b), dependent and health care reimbursement accounts, life insurance, vacation and sick leave, 14 paid holidays, one personal holiday and tuition fee waiver.

About the Position

The main function of the Groundsworker position is to maintain campus grounds in a way that provides a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment for staff, faculty, students and the community. This includes planting, cultivating, fertilizing, spraying and watering ornamental plants, shrubs, hedges, trees, lawns and flowers; raking, removing weeds, cleaning trash from assigned areas; preparing and treating soils; maintaining hoses, sprinklers and tools; trimming trees, hedges and shrubs; operating power equipment and preparing athletic fields for events.

Responsibilities

Turf Area Maintenance

• Daily litter pick‑up
• Edge sidewalks, valve boxes, drains, and planting beds
• Trim and mow edges around trees and obstacles in lawn
• Hand trim or weed‑whip tall grass where inaccessible to mower
• Fertilize lawns

Shrub and Flower Bed Maintenance

• Daily litter pick‑up
• Weed flower and shrub beds
• Prune shrubs and small trees
• Plant annuals, perennials, ornamental shrubs and small trees
• Fertilize

Hardscape Maintenance (Parking Lots/Roads/Walks/Stairs/Patio)

• Daily litter pick‑up
• Sweep and blow leaves and debris
• Pressure wash concrete and hard surfaces
• Repair asphalt potholes and grind concrete to remove trip hazards
• Vacuum

Irrigation Systems Maintenance

• Power trim grass around sprinkler heads and valve boxes
• Repair or replace broken sprinkler heads or other small irrigation repairs
• Report malfunctioning sprinkler heads to leads or irrigation technicians
• Place portable sprinklers in dry spots and hand wash as instructed

Other Duties as Required

• Assist with in‑house landscape upgrades
• Report hazards or emergencies to manager
• May be called back after hours for emergencies
• Nursery work – potting plants and maintaining nursery stock
• Athletic fields and stadium maintenance
• Report monthly absences
• TMA time card entry
• Train when required
• Landscape – removal of old/dead plants
  • Add new soil, amendments and wood chips
  • Shape terrain and planting material as instructed

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

• One year of experience in the care and maintenance of landscaped areas or in general grounds maintenance work, or in related manual labor.

Abilities

• Ability to recognize common species of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers grown in California.
• Perform strenuous physical work as described in this classification.
• Utilize mechanical aptitude and motor coordination.
• Learn to skillfully operate small trucks and power‑driven grounds equipment.
• Read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of the position.
• Follow simple oral and written instructions.

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenance methods.
• General knowledge of proper methods of planting, cultivating, and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers, and the use and care of gardening materials, tools, and equipment.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to communicate with other staff and share pertinent information as required.
• Ability to work in a team setting as well as solo.

License & Certification Requirements

• This position requires the operation of state vehicles and equipment.
• Valid State of California Class C Driver’s License is required.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• More than three years of progressive experience in a groundsworking function.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Proficiency in English grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Special Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Employees are required to perform tasks requiring a relatively high degree of physical strength and endurance.
• Need to stand and walk for long periods of time.
• Reach above and below waist level.
• Be able to adequately climb, stoop, kneel, crawl, and traverse rough uneven terrain.
• Safely lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work beyond daylight hours and in dark surroundings as well as inclement weather conditions.
• May occasionally experience exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions.

Condition(s) of Employment

Satisfactory completion of a background check, including LiveScan and verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and work history, is required for employment. The offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information or if the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.

EEO Statement

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Cal State East Bay does not discriminate on the basis of any protected categories: age, ancestry, citizenship, color, disability, gender, immigration status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. The University is committed to the principles of diversity in employment and to creating an stimulating learning environment for its diverse student body.