Groundskeeper II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Lubbock, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Groundskeeper performs complex groundskeeping work at a State Supported Living Center or State Hospital. Maintains and improves the appearance of grounds and flower beds for the facility, including mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and ensuring the effective operations of sprinkler systems. Removes, plants and trims trees and shrubs. Safely and efficiently operates power- and gas-operated equipment to complete duties. Ensures grounds keeping tools, supplies, and equipment are well maintained and accounted for. Performs minor repairs on equipment in accordance with training and skill level. Removes debris, trash and obstructions from parking lots, roads, fences and sidewalks. Assists in minimizing the presence and impact of nuisance animals at the facility, including snakes, rodents and feral cats. Performs some minor maintenance duties as needed in conjunction with maintenance staff. Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the overall safe operations of the facility. As needed, works some weekend and/or after-hours callouts, to respond to situations impacting safe facility operations. Works under limited supervision of the Maintenance Technician Supervisor or other appropriate staff depending on facility structure, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

Knowledge, skills and ability to safely fell and remove large trees in and around buildings and other infrastructures.
Knowledge, skill and ability associated with minimizing the presence of nuisance animals such as rodents, snakes and feral cats.
Skill in safely operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, backhoes, and/or pruning shears, and a variety of a variety of hand and power tools used in construction/repair).
Must be able to meet facility driver requirements.
Ability to speak and read English is preferred.
Ability to read, understand and apply a variety of inter-related instructions such as those found in guidelines, regulations and policies.
Ability to perform basic mathematical computations.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to train and lead others.
Ability to stand/walk for extended period of time.
Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions.
Ability to work harmoniously and productively with co-workers and residents.
Ability to lift and carry 50 to 100 lbs.
Ability to withstand long periods of standing, bending and walking.
Ability to maintain and care for hand and power tools and equipment.
Ability to learn to detect diseases in plants and grasses.
Ability to learn basic knowledge of horticulture and to apply that to job duties.
Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date.
Experience in groundskeeping work.
Experience operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoe or pruning shears.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Nice To Haves

Chemical application (herbicide) license is preferred.
Pesticide license is preferred.
Graduation from a standard senior high school or equivalent is generally preferred.
Prefer six (6) months of work experience in professional groundskeeping.

Responsibilities

Performs routine groundskeeping duties at the facility including mowing, trimming, fertilizing, removing and planting trees and shrubs, and plants new flowerbeds.
Mixes and sprays pesticides and herbicides.
Treats for insects around buildings.
Performs litter control/trash pick-up.
Moves dumpsters for commercial company trash pick-up.
Uses gas- and power-operated tool to complete work safely and efficiently.
Properly cleans and stores tool and other equipment after each use.
Performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance on tools as needed and reports major issues to the supervisor.
Completes tool inventory as required.
Follows the daily, weekly, and monthly scheduling of work in the grounds section/department.
Works as a team member with other groundskeepers.
Reports any significant issues to the supervisor for handling.
Safely operates tractors with implements such as front-end loaders and backhoes for digging out tree stumps, cleaning up debris, moving large amounts of gravel, sand, mulch and other landscaping materials, and to help dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break.
Ensure roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are safe and free from debris.
Works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to remove ice/snow from sidewalks, roadways, clear debris from catch basins during heavy rain, and other related duties.
As instructed, safely and humanely trap, and remove live animals, disposes appropriately of dead animals, and takes proactively measures to abate future issues.
Performs general maintenance, repairs, and construction work for the facility in collaboration with maintenance staff commensurate with skills and abilities.
Drives trucks (non-Commercial Driver License) as needed to haul needed materials and transport items around the facility such as furniture, wheelchairs, and beds.
Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.