Grounds Lead Worker

Title: Grounds Lead Worker

VP Area: Administration & Finance - UMW

Department: Grounds

Campus Location: Main Campus

Advertised Range: $32,842 - $35,000

Job Summary/Basic Functions

Known for its exceptional urban canopy and landscape, UMW Lead Groundskeepers will lead and perform general landscape and grounds maintenance duties on the UMW Campuses and other university holdings. This position will be a working crew member, coordinating with supervisors daily for projects and tasks. You will maintain designated campus turf and landscape areas, strive for a safe workplace and ensure that assigned equipment is safely and efficiently used and maintained.

Functioning independently or with a crew, Lead Groundskeepers:

• • provide manual labor and expertly and safely operate small/light equipment for general landscape maintenance and /or landscape construction tasks. This includes turf maintenance, plant maintenance, litter control, snow removal and other duties.
• -monitor the campus daily, reporting unsafe conditions or damage to campus landscape, equipment or facilities.
• -safely operate hand and self-propelled equipment and tools including string trimmers, walk behind mowers, blowers, snow blowers, rakes and shovels to achieve required sustainable landscape standards.

This position has been deemed essential as defined in Policy No. 1.04 of the Department of Personnel and Training Policies and Procedures Manual.

Required Experience:

• Multiple years experience in commercial/ professional grounds keeping or directly related work.

• Multiple years experience in the operation of a wide range of commercial power grounds maintenance equipment.

Additional Considerations:

KSAs:

• Measurable knowledge of and experience with identification of ornamental pests and disruptions to healthy growth.

• Knowledge and experience with horticultural pesticide application preferred.

Education:

High School diploma or equivalent

Experience:

• Experience with horticultural pesticide application preferred.

• Experience with id of ornamental pests and diseases and other disruptions to healthy growth.

Licensure/Certification:

VDACS Pesticide Applicators certificate and respirator certification preferred.

The University of Mary Washington is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status. We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Duties / Responsibilities

Perform a wide variety of general grounds maintenance duties as assigned.

MEASURES:

• • Lead and perform a wide variety of general grounds maintenance duties revolving around the proper maintenance of assigned areas according to landscape and turf maintenance guidelines. This includes the oversight and operation of zero-turn or stand-on mowers and other power turf maintenance equipment, dump trucks, tractors and other vehicular and grounds maintenance equipment as assigned.
• • Also includes but not limited to: cleaning of curbs, drains, roadways and parking lots and decks, installation of signs and other hardscape items, leaf removal, weeding, and recycling pick up from grounds and buildings, and pressure-washing.
• -Keep the college campus free of trash, litter and landscape debris to present a clean, neat, and attractive environment.
• • Conduct regular inspections of grounds to identify and address any safety hazards, such as fallen branches, uneven walkways or damaged structures. Be able to relay detailed information to management and/or enter a work order in the university work order system.
• • Make recommendations to supervisory staff for upgrading current landscapes to address safety, aesthetic and maintenance issues.
• • Ensure all assigned staff implements all Landscape & Grounds (L & G) standards and safety procedures including proper use of PPE.
• • Self-motivated with ability to work effectively as a member of a team. The Grounds Lead is expected to adapt equipment use and techniques to meet the situation and job needs. All equipment must be operated in a manner that is safe for the operator and conscious of the safety of bystanders. The Grounds Lead is expected to adjust priorities and make effective decisions about routine assignments without consulting the Grounds Supervisor. The Grounds Lead is expected to alert supervisor of changes in conditions or priorities that may affect operations. Works on weekends, evenings and holidays as required.

Lead and perform landscape maintenance of trees, shrubs, perennial and annual plant material. Ensuring any assigned staff (and occasionally volunteers) follow accepted landscape guidelines and safety protocols.

MEASURES:

• -Ability to recognize the more common species of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers grown in Virginia (USDA Zones 6-7).
• • Perform landscape plant maintenance including, but not limited to: planting, pruning, weeding, fertilization, watering and following accepted horticultural practices.
• • Identify and report disruptions of healthy plant growth patterns.
• • Perform pruning of trees and shrubs from standing on ground, ladder or utilizing a lift, while using power tools and hand pruning tools, as well as meeting all accepted arboriculture pruning guidelines.
• • Ability to read chemical labels and to read material safety data sheets (SDS).
• • Ensure all assigned staff implements all L & G standards and safety procedures including proper use of PPE.

Provide the care maintenance of University turf using a variety of maintenance equipment.

MEASURES:

• • Perform routine lawn/turf maintenance tasks, such as mowing, edging and string trimmer-weeding to ensure a well-kept and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
• • Operate and maintain various grounds keeping equipment, including push/ride-on mowers, trimmers, edgers, leaf blowers and both powered and hand tools.
• • Responsible for maintaining landscape/lawn turf quality standards.
• • Keep walkways, parking lots and outdoor gathering areas clean and free of lawn and trash debris by sweeping, pressure washing or removing trash regularly.
• • Consistently implement all L & G standards and safety procedures including proper use of PPE.

Lead and perform other duties to assist other grounds and trade shops as assigned.

MEASURES:

• • Be available and responsive throughout the work day as landscape or campus needs arise.
• • All Facilities employees are expected to possess a "teamwork" attitude and exercise behavior in accordance with University policies as well as with the Facilities mission to support the university.
• • Excellent interpersonal (oral and written) skills in order to interact with a diverse range of people.
• • A strong customer service orientation while providing a helpful and friendly approach to serving the campus community. The L & G Lead is expected to alert L&G Supervisor of changes in conditions or priorities that may affect operations of any Facilities trade.

Perform the basic maintenance of small landscape equipment (mowers, chainsaws, line trimmers and other power grounds equipment) or identify issues to report to the University mechanic.

MEASURES:

• • Exercise mechanical aptitude and safe use of landscape equipment and their proper operations.
• • Demonstrated knowledge of equipment operation and maintenance principles.
• • Perform daily maintenance as required to maintain tools and equipment in efficient working order.

The Grounds Lead works in tandem with all UMW Facilities trades to prepare for significant weather events as necessary, at any and all hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Subject to call-in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to handle emergencies, especially snow emergencies. Direct and perform required tasks during winter or other weather events. Acts as a Zone Leader as needed.

MEASURES:

• • During snow events, assist with continuous removal of snow and ice from roads, sidewalks, stairs, ramps, driveways and parking lots across campus and all residential halls.
• • During snow or other seasonal storm events, assist with removal of fallen trees, limbs or other related debris; clearing drains and other storm systems to assure proper function.
• • Subject to shift changes and extended working hours (including nights, early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays) to meet seasonal work demand.
• • Subject to working in weather related extremes of high and low temperatures, snow and rain for extended periods.
• • Addresses clean-up efforts as necessary following hurricane or winter weather events, including the cleaning and storage of equipment and supplies.
• • Removes snow and ice from University sidewalks, steps, parking areas, roads, etc., as required; and operates, as assigned, light to heavy snow/ice removal equipment, including salt spreaders, snow shovels, snow blowers, snow plows or brushes, trucks and tractors with attached snow removal equipment, etc.