Grounds Maintenance Worker

City of Portsmouth • Portsmouth, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position works as part of a crew responsible for performing a variety of semi-skilled or unskilled work related to cleaning, grading, and maintaining Stormwater ditches and underground structures. Reports to Equipment Operator Supervisor.

Requirements

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent and related job experience performing general grounds maintenance tasks with general supervision at a variety of city property locations to include, but not limited to, operating lawn and landscape tools and equipment related to mowing, weed eating, pruning, trimming, and edging.
• Has general knowledge of standard methods, materials and equipment employed in ditch maintenance.
• Able to follow instructions.
• Able to perform medium physical work.
• Able to understand and interpret oral and written instructions.
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Must be physically able to operate hand and small power tools to include rakes, edgers, blowers and weed eaters.
• Requires the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics of data, people or things.
• Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information.
• Requires the ability to read route assignment sheets.
• Requires the ability to complete route assignments and completion sheets, leave slips and time sheets using prescribed format.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively in Standard English.
• Requires the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one-or two-step instructions; to deal with standardized situations with occasional or no variables in or from these situations encountered on the job.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using Standard English, and recreational terminology.
• Requires the ability to add, subtract.
• Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of hand and small power tools and equipment.
• Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as hand and small power tools.
• Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of colors.
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situation).
• Requires the ability to talk and/or hear.
• Must be able to communicate via telephone.
• An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
• This position requires a post offer of employment medical evaluation and substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and substance abuse testing.

Nice To Haves

• General knowledge of standard methods, materials and equipment employed in ditch maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Provides assistance with trash and debris removal in Stormwater conveyance systems (ditches, catch basins, etc.) using a variety of hand and power tools and other equipment.
• Performs manual work as a part of a crew, using a variety of tools and equipment to include ladders, lawnmowers, hand controls, sprayers and pressure washers.
• Assists crews by obtaining, carrying or loading supplies and materials.
• Performs various ditch maintenance duties such as mowing grass, trimming hedges, removing blockages, raking leaves, etc., using power lawn mowers, string trimmers and various hand tools.
• Maintains the city’s network of Stormwater ditches, cleans Stormwater conveyance systems, cuts and cleans outfalls and BMP’s.
• Ensures the safety of city equipment, private property, and others by following proper safety procedures, watching for pedestrians, private property, overhead utility lines and other utilities or obstructions.
• Performs other related work as required.
• Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED