Ground Maintenance Worker

The William George Agency for Childrens Serv•Freeville, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The William George Agency for Children's Services is seeking a Grounds Maintenance Worker to perform general maintenance of the campus grounds, including lawn care, landscaping, trash removal, and snow removal. This role also functions as a part-time Vocational Instructor for youth, providing a positive work experience that emphasizes the development of good work ethic and vocational skills. The agency is a private not-for-profit residential treatment center licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), serving male and female youth between the ages of 12 and 21 with significant mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, and substance abuse issues. The campus is located on 650 acres nine miles northeast of Ithaca, in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

Requirements

Experience in grounds maintenance work.
Ability to operate heavy equipment.
High School Diploma or equivalent (copy required upon hire).
Yearly Physical (required within 1 month of hire).
Valid NYS Driver’s License (copy required upon hire).
Ability to work with a diverse population presenting a variety of cultural, socioeconomic, developmental and sexual identities.
Must have the ability and willingness to establish and foster healthy and supportive relationships that acknowledge individual identities and encourage personal growth.
Must successfully complete all required background checks: Criminal History Record Checks (CHRC), NYS Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR), NYS Sex Offender Registry (SOR), NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) fingerprinting, NYS Justice Center Staff Exclusion List (SEL), Out-of-state child abuse register inquiry of any state in which the person resided within the last five years (if applicable).

Nice To Haves

Ability to do minor repairs on mechanical equipment.
Good communication and organizational skills.
Experience working with adolescents.

Responsibilities

Perform general grounds maintenance such as cutting grass, trimming and pruning trees and shrubs, spraying for disease and insect control, and applying fertilizer.
Safely and effectively operate heavy machineries such as forklifts, tractors, mowers, trailers, dump trucks, and pickup trucks.
Perform landscaping tasks such as planting trees, bushes, and shrubs; weeding newly landscaped areas; and spreading landscaping materials such as mulch and rocks.
Perform minor repairs on grounds equipment.
Empty campus trash containers; rake and dispose of leaves and debris from campus grounds.
Remove snow and ice from the campus and spread salt during winter.
Assist in moving and storage of furniture and equipment.
Properly use equipment, material, and tools in a safe and professional manner.
Perform related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Assess the youth’s interests and knowledge of the Vocational Program specific to your trade area.
Instruct youth in a skilled trade to prepare them for employment upon discharge.
Plan and conduct on-the-job training activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides youth with opportunities to observe, question, and participate in.
Instruct youth in the proper and safe care of work areas and all applicable equipment; stress safety at all times.
Be prepared and in a position to begin work by the Vocational Program time schedules; ensure that assigned youth are properly supervised at all times and maintain attendance and work schedule records.
Enforce established dress, conduct, and behavioral codes appropriate to the Vocational Program area.
Communicate and document significant behaviors or incidents on behalf of youth.
Maintain all trade-related, Vocational Program, and youth records and paperwork in a timely, organized way.
Adhere to and perform all duties by all rules, regulations, policies, and safety standards of The William George Agency and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, while upholding the mission, vision, and values.