Grounds - Groundskeeper

Brookfield Zoo Chicago•Brookfield, IL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Groundskeeper maintains Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s public outdoor spaces, helping keep the grounds clean, attractive, safe, and welcoming for guests and staff. This is a fully outdoor position covering the Zoo’s 235 acres, including parking lots, walkways, roadways, lawns, flower beds, trees, and shrubs. Work takes place in varied weather conditions, and the role involves substantial walking. Groundskeepers regularly interact with visitors by answering questions, providing directions, and helping them navigate the Zoo. This is a union, full-time hourly position (grade U540) paying $31.67 per hour. The anticipated schedule is 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and includes at least one weekend day. The position performs routine and standard Grounds Department duties under minimal supervision and may direct seasonal employees during assigned tasks. Work may also include irregular and emergency assignments. The role includes landscape and horticultural care, general park maintenance, and maintenance of assigned park quadrants. The employee uses hand tools, small power equipment, and grounds-maintenance vehicles and machinery, follows safety procedures, conducts inspections, keeps work records as directed, and reports issues to a supervisor. The incumbent is expected to provide positive customer service, assist the public, work cooperatively with others, and represent the Zoo in a safe, clean, professional, and orderly manner.

Requirements

High school diploma or educational equivalent, such as a GED.
At least one year of previous grounds maintenance or horticulture experience.
Valid driver’s license. Illinois residents must obtain a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire; out-of-state residents must hold a valid license from their state.
A valid medical authorization card is required for positions with commercial motor vehicle driving responsibilities.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Reliable, dependable, and flexible.
Professional demeanor and a customer-service orientation.
Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions and walk extensively across the park.
Knowledge and skills to safely and correctly use hand tools such as rakes, brooms, hoes, shovels, hand pruners, saws, and loppers.
Knowledge and skills to correctly use small power equipment such as blowers, mowers, chainsaws, power washers, tillers, edgers, snow blowers, and weed whips.
Knowledge and skills to safely use small tractors, water wagons, plows and brooms, riding mowers, and other assigned equipment; basic operating knowledge of Bobcats and backhoes.
Familiarity with the Severe Weather Emergency plan.
Ability to provide positive internal and external customer service and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in horticulture or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Horticulture or landscape design experience.
Prior heavy equipment operator experience.
Class C or B commercial driver’s license.
Knowledge of irrigation-system operation and maintenance.
Pesticide operator’s license; onsite training may be provided.
Certified arborist license.
Spanish fluency.

Responsibilities

Perform general park duties, landscape maintenance, and horticultural work according to routine operating procedures.
Care for trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants; perform planting, watering, weeding, mulching, propagation, tilling, lawn care, pruning, fertilization, plant protection, pest control, plant selection, design, and interior tropical plant maintenance.
Perform general park tasks such as waste and manure collection and disposal, recyclables collection, snowplowing, construction activities, equipment maintenance and repair, irrigation-system installation and maintenance, and road repairs.
Maintain assigned quadrants through cleaning, sweeping, raking, blowing, paper and litter pickup, and safety inspections.
Repair sentinels, picnic tables, seating benches, playground equipment, drainage systems, and animal-yard surfaces as assigned.
Perform leaf pickup, snow and ice removal, pavement power-washing, paver maintenance, minor road cold patching, and path mulching.
Maintain work records as directed and direct seasonal employees during specific assigned tasks; report performance to a supervisor as necessary.
Participate constructively in departmental activities, including meetings and irregular or emergency assignments.
Inspect assigned areas daily and report safety issues, needed repairs, and other problems to a supervisor.
Interact with visitors by answering questions, providing directions, and helping them navigate the Zoo; inform and assist the public and share park schedules and activities as necessary.
Use tools, power equipment, vehicles, and machinery safely and correctly, and follow standard safety procedures and use safety equipment.
Work cooperatively with others to support departmental and institution-wide goals and represent the Zoo in a safe, clean, professional, and orderly manner.
Perform other related duties as required.