Senior Groundskeeper

Health & Human Services Comm; Vernon (TX); Presencial; USD 34.000 - 46.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid time off

Career advancement opportunities

Descripción de la vacante

Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) in Vernon, TX seeks a Senior Groundskeeper to perform extensive groundskeeping duties, operate power equipment, and lead a team in maintaining hospital grounds at Vernon State Hospital.

Responsibilities include scheduling, supervising others, ensuring safety, and performing beautification projects while supporting a safe, accessible campus environment for staff and patients.

Formación

• Nine (9) months of experience operating power equipment (e.g., mowers, tractors, chain saws, backhoes).
• Experience as groundskeeper or similar in vegetation and landscaping.
• Valid Texas driver license by 90 days after hire.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs and stand/walk for extended periods.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply a variety of instructions and policies.

Responsabilidades

• Attends work regularly and may work rotating or extended shifts and overtime as needed.
• Performs groundskeeping duties: mowing, trimming, fertilizing, planting trees/shrubs; uses gas/power tools safely.
• Schedules work in the groundskeeping department, assigns tasks, and leads others to complete daily/weekly goals.
• Oversees quality of work and reports issues to supervisor; assists with hospital beautification projects.
• Operates tractors and implements for digging, moving landscaping materials, and tree planting; maintains equipment.
• Ensures roads/parking lots/sidewalks are safe; conducts ADA plot plan documentation and seasonal snow/ice removal when needed.

Conocimientos

Groundskeeping

Tree felling

Equipment operation

Leadership

Communication

Descripción del empleo

Posting ID22058-Posted10/05/2026-Health & Human Services Comm-Groundskeeping-Healthcare Support-Vernon State Hospital-Not Eligible for Telework-b. $3000 - $4999 per month

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage .

Brief Job Description:

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Performs groundskeeping duties at the hospital including mowing, trimming, fertilizing, removing, and planting trees and shrubs. Ensures the safe and effective use of gas and power-operated tools to complete work efficiently. Trains other staff to use tools commensurate with skill and ability.

Implements the daily, weekly, and monthly scheduling of work in the groundskeeping department, such as schedules for treating insects around buildings, trimming of hedges, litter control, and mowing. Assigns, prioritizes and leads the work of other groundskeepers to ensure all tasks are completed as required on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis in accordance with the groundskeeping schedule. Designates and assigns mowing and weed eating areas (zones of the campus) to other groundskeepers.

Oversees the quality of work for other groundskeepers and assists as necessary assuring proper results. Reports any significant issues to the supervisor for handling.

Initiates and executes projects for hospital beautification, such as designing and planting new flowerbeds, with the approval of the supervisor. Ensures sprinkler systems are in working order.

Operates tractors with implements such as front-end loaders and backhoes for digging out tree stumps, cleaning up debris, moving large amounts of gravel, sand, mulch, and other landscaping materials, and helps dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break.

Ensures roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are safe and free from debris and reports any major issues to supervisor. Assists with conducting sidewalk surveys and documents on a plot plan as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in an effort to reduce slips, trips, and falls. Works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to remove ice or snow from sidewalks, roadways, and clears debris from catch basins during heavy rain as needed.

Minimizes the presence and impact of nuisance animals (e.g., snakes, rodents, and feral cats). Takes action to safely and humanely trap and remove live animals, disposes appropriately of dead animals, and takes proactive measures to abate future issues.

Performs general maintenance, repairs, and construction work for the hospital in collaboration with maintenance staff commensurate with skills and abilities.

If the hospital has a cemetery, performs cemetery duties to include maintaining grounds, setting head stones, excavating graves for funerals, and setting up casket devices and tents. Maintains burial logs and ensures proper lifetime retention of logs in a secure location with backup log on server.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge, skills, and ability to safely fell and remove large trees in and around buildings and other infrastructures.

Knowledge, skills, and ability associated with minimizing the presence of nuisance animals such as rodents, snakes and feral cats.

Knowledge of horticulture and landscape design; and the skills and ability to apply that knowledge to landscape projects.

Skills in safely operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoes, and/or pruning shears, and a variety of a variety of hand and power tools used in construction/repair, and ability to teach/train others to safely use this equipment.

Ability to read, understand, and apply a variety of inter-related instructions such as those found in guidelines, regulations, and policies.

Ability to perform basic mathematical computations.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to follow written and oral instructions.

Ability to coach, train, and lead others

Ability to stand or walk for extended periods of time.

Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions.

Ability to work harmoniously and productively with co-workers and patients.

Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs.

Ability to withstand long periods of standing, bending and walking.

Ability to maintain and care for hand and power tools and equipment.

Ability to teach other groundskeepers to detect diseases in plants and grasses.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Must possess a valid Texas driver license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date to drive a state vehicle. Applicants with an out-of-state driver license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Nine (9) months of experience as an operating power equipment (e.g., mowers, electric clippers, tractors, chain saws, sod cutter, pruning shears) required.

Nine (9) months of experience as a laborer, farmer, gardener, florist helper, groundskeeper, or similar work involving general duties which may include the planting and maintenance of vegetation, landscaping, nursery inspections, or equivalent to a Groundskeeper required.

Additional Information:

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Waco and Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.

Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. All these diseases are vaccine preventable. As a result, state hospital policy requires employees be vaccinated according to their level of contact with individuals. In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans :

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited tothose listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions .

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.

Functional Title:Senior Groundskeeper
Job Title:Groundskeeper III
Agency:Health & Human Services Comm
Department:Groundskeeping
Posting Number:22058
Closing Date:10/19/2026
Posting Audience:Internal and External
Occupational Category:Healthcare Support
Salary Range:$3,047.58-$4,149.83
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group:TEXAS-A-12
Shift:Day
Additional Shift:None
Telework:Not Eligible for Telework
Travel:Up to 10%
Regular/Temporary:Regular
Full Time/Part Time:Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt:Nonexempt
Facility Location:Vernon State Hospital
Job Location City:VERNON
Job Location Address:4730 COLLEGE DR
Other Locations:None
MOS Codes: 8000