Grounds keeper

Missouri Southern State University•Joplin, MO

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Groundskeeper performs routine mowing, trimming, landscaping, grass maintenance, and minor repairs to grounds. This position performs event support and other tasks (including snow/ice removal) necessary to maintain a safe and attractive environment. Assist with other departmental needs.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED required.
Valid driver’s license required.
Ability to read procedure manuals, work orders, equipment operating instructions and general correspondence.
Ability to effectively communicate with staff, students, administration and visitors.
Ability to read and accurately complete maintenance requests, time sheets, supply requests.
Ability to add and subtract two- digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s.
Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance.
Ability to apply commons sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
Ability to effectively work both individually and as a member of a team in a service oriented environment subject to frequently changing priorities.
Possess good problem-solving skills and sound judgment.
Ability to understand and apply University and Departmental policies and procedures.
Requires the ability to use or repair small/light equipment.
Requires the ability to use or minor repair/service of small/medium equipment and machinery, such as vehicles or commercial mowers.

Nice To Haves

Six months experience in grounds keeping or landscaping services preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Maintains campus lawns by mowing, trimming, edging, hand blowing areas.
General lawn maintenance of aeration, irrigation, fertilization and seeding.
Operates riding mowers, tractors, backhoe, pickups, edger’s, vacuums/sweepers, sprayers and aerators as needed.
Uses hand tools to remove snow and ice from stairs, walks and ramps.
Operates salt spreaders, tractors, and Bobcats to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, drives and parking lots.
Maintains campus trees, shrubs and hedges by planting, pruning, watering, spraying, weeding, hedge trimming/cleaning and mulching.
General maintenance of sidewalks and parking lot areas by making any minor repairs using hot and cold patch as needed or instructed.
Prepares all landscape areas and flowerbeds. Involving annual flower planting and mulching as needed.
Applies herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to control weeds, insects and diseases attacking campus plant life. May require certain training.
Operates departmental vehicles of trucks, UTV’s, tractors and other specialized equipment as assigned.
Maintains surface drainage by keeping catch basins free of debris during heavy rainstorms, and removing snow and ice in the winter months.
Fall leave removal by raking/vacuuming and properly disposing of on a seasonal basis.
Picks up campus litter and empties campus trash receptacles cleaning up as needed around them.
May have contact with disposal services for special needs.
Performs other related duties as required or assigned through the work order system.