Grounds & Nursery I

University of Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This position helps create and maintain an attractive, safe, and welcoming campus environment for Auxiliary Funded spaces. The employee maintains landscaped areas and floral displays, cares for campus grounds, supports sustainability through recycling programs, collects litter and debris, performs routine grounds-equipment maintenance, and assists with seasonal snow and ice removal. The position helps preserve campus beauty, accessibility, and functionality for the university community. The work includes landscape maintenance (65%), maintaining a clean and safe campus (10%), equipment and system maintenance (5%), snow removal and other assigned duties (15%), and chemical application (5%). Duties include prioritizing turf maintenance, assessing turf and sprinkler conditions, addressing litter and surface hazards, evaluating and maintaining equipment, prioritizing snow and ice removal, responding to emergencies, and determining appropriate timing and methods for weed and pre-emergent chemical treatment. The employee may be temporarily reassigned and must report without delay when needed for essential or emergency services. This is an onsite position at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Employees may work various shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, depending on the needs of the building or work group. The role may involve exposure to hazardous materials, cleaning products, infectious materials, human blood or bodily fluids, extreme cold and heat, atmospheric conditions, electrical shock, and toxic or caustic chemicals. Applicants must pass a background check and pre-employment drug testing and physical. A valid driver’s license and Colorado residency are required.

Requirements

One year of experience in grounds and nursery, landscaping, storm water maintenance, outdoor services, or another related occupational field.
Valid driver’s license.
Colorado residency at the time of application.
Ability to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 50 pounds; the physical requirements also state occasional lifting or moving up to 50 pounds and frequent lifting or moving up to 20 pounds.
Ability to report without delay or interruption for essential or emergency services.
Must successfully pass a background check and pre-employment drug testing.
Must complete a pre-employment physical.
Ability to work various shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, depending on operational needs.

Nice To Haves

One year or more of experience in an essential personnel role.
Two years of experience in grounds and nursery, landscaping, storm water maintenance, outdoor services, or another related occupational field.
Experience in a higher education or institutional environment.

Responsibilities

Maintain landscaped areas, turf, and floral displays in an assigned campus zone, prioritizing work according to campus foot traffic and building activity.
Assess turf condition and report signs of stress to a Grounds & Nursery II employee or supervisor.
Assess and determine repair strategies for broken sprinkler heads.
Collect litter and debris and assess the cleanliness of benches and tables; clean them when appropriate.
Identify sidewalk and other safety hazards, take temporary steps to mark hazards, and communicate issues to a supervisor.
Evaluate handrail paint condition, create work orders when needed, and schedule painting.
Assess equipment condition, determine cleaning schedules, check and replenish fluids according to specifications, and evaluate mower blades for sharpening or maintenance.
Prioritize snow and ice removal, identify slip-and-fall hazards, apply ice melt according to manufacturer recommendations, and operate snow-removal vehicles as needed.
Respond to emergencies and perform short-term reassignments as required.
Determine appropriate timing and methods for pre-emergent chemical application and weed removal or treatment, taking weather conditions into account.
Support sustainability efforts through recycling programs.

Benefits

Medical insurance, with the lowest-cost option at no cost to the employee.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Disability insurance.
Paid vacation and sick time accruals; starting accruals are 8 hours of vacation and 6.66 hours of sick time per month, prorated if part-time.
Mandatory retirement plan; employees contribute 5% of annual compensation and CU contributes 10%.
Tuition Assistant Benefit available to the employee or a dependent.
Paid parental leave after 12 months of employment.
Off-campus housing resources.
Overtime eligibility under the Fair Labor Standards Act (non-exempt).