General Utility Worker

State of North Carolina•Wake County, NC

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Governor Morehead School (GMS) is the flagship school in North Carolina that serves the special needs of visually impaired students, in a unique residential setting. Apart from its flagship status as the only residential school in the state for visually impaired students, GMS is renowned for its excellent program in Orientation and Mobility as well as its Braille Music program. Position Summary: The Grounds Worker is responsible for the maintenance, care, and appearance of campus grounds, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs, and lawns. This position performs skilled grounds maintenance work including planting, pruning, mowing, trimming, and general landscaping duties to ensure a safe, attractive, and well-maintained environment for students, staff, and visitors. The employee works under general supervision and exercises independent judgment in determining the care and treatment necessary to maintain grounds in excellent condition.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of groundskeeping and horticultural practices.
Basic knowledge of tree and shrub cultivation, pruning, spraying, and trimming techniques.
Basic knowledge of landscape equipment operation and safety procedures.
Ability to perform routine maintenance and servicing of grounds equipment.
Ability to identify common landscape maintenance needs and determine appropriate care and treatment.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to perform physically demanding work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Ability to safely operate hand and power tools used in grounds maintenance.
Frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, lifting, carrying, and climbing.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, snow, and other environmental conditions.
Ability to safely operate equipment and machinery for extended periods.
Education and/or experience in grounds work that is directly related to the job and consistent with accepted practices of the trade and equivalent to two years of experience in planting, cultivation, and care of shrubs, trees, plants, and grasses; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Plant, cultivate, water, fertilize, and maintain lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and landscape beds.
Prune, trim, shape, and remove trees, shrubs, hedges, and other vegetation as needed.
Mow lawns, edge walkways, and maintain grounds to ensure a clean, professional appearance.
Apply mulch, fertilizers, herbicides, and other landscaping materials in accordance with established procedures and safety guidelines.
Operate and maintain landscaping equipment including: Weed trimmers, Edgers, Pruners, Hedge trimmers, Chainsaws, Leaf blowers, Zero-turn lawn mowers.
Inspect and perform routine maintenance and servicing on grounds equipment to extend equipment life and minimize downtime.
Remove debris, litter, leaves, fallen branches, and other materials from grounds and landscaped areas.
Assist with the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems and landscape improvements.
Maintain sidewalks, parking lots, entryways, and other exterior areas in a safe condition.
Follow established safety procedures and utilize proper personal protective equipment.
Complete assigned work in accordance with oral and written instructions.
Assist with special projects related to grounds maintenance and campus beautification.
Participate in emergency response activities during inclement weather events.
Remove fallen trees, limbs, and storm debris to maintain safe access to campus facilities.
Assist with snow and ice removal operations, including operating equipment and applying ice melt to walkways, entrances, roadways, and other high-traffic areas.
May be required to report to work outside of normal operating hours during weather emergencies to ensure campus safety and preparation for student and staff arrival and departure.