Lead Groundskeeper

University of North Texas System•Denton, TX

28d•Onsite

About The Position

The Facilities Department at the University of North Texas is seeking to hire a Lead Groundskeeper to join our team. First impressions matter! As the department of first impressions, the Grounds department is essential to project the correct image of the University’s longevity, culture, and priorities. Here at UNT, we Mean Green, and we strive to show that in how we as a department tend to our campus. A well-maintained grounds provides social, economic, and environmental benefits to the university, the students, the faculty and staff, and the surrounding community. Grounds maintenance professionals create safe, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing landscapes with these goals at the forefront of all we do.

Requirements

Three years of related experience or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to apply mathematical concepts to complete tasks (example: measuring and mixing chemicals).
Considerable knowledge of the practices, tools, materials, and machines used in grounds maintenance operations.
Ability to monitor tasks of others and ensure completion of work.
Ability to work outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Knowledge of safety and security precautions appropriate to work performed.
May operate heavy machinery.
Possession of a valid Texas drivers license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment; ability to drive a vehicle and maintain coverage under University liability insurance policy, if required to drive University vehicles.

Nice To Haves

1 year of experience applying fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides.
Possession of or ability to obtain Noncommercial Political Pesticide Applicator License from the TDA.
Three years of landscape or grounds experience.
One year of leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Works under the direction of Grounds Supervisor to apply herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers to the campus grounds and sports fields.
Operates and performs preventative maintenance on equipment such as tractors, spreaders, aerators, sprayers, and other landscape related equipment, for grounds and sports fields.
Assists with troubleshooting plant health care issues.
Assists with agronomy product inventory management and storage in accordance with TDA guidelines and regulations.
Responsible for daily recordkeeping of agronomy applications in compliance with TDA requirements.
Assists crew leader to ensure all safety and proper horticultural practices are followed.
Takes proactive measures in addressing problem areas, including making plans, asking for assistance from other teams, and reporting to Crew Leader, Supervisors, or Managers.
Ensures that all required paperwork is completed in a timely manner, including labor reports, daily completion reports, mileage forms, and others as required.
Helps Crew Leader ensure that crew members properly follows all break times, lunch times, and work schedules.
Helps train and supervise new and inexperienced crew members including students.
Works with crew to ensure all assigned areas and tasks are completed properly and according to the schedule.
Leads crews or projects as assigned.
Participates in mowing, trimming, edging, hand weeding, digging, planting, pruning, trash detail, and all other mow and landscape related tasks.
Participates in inclement weather cleanup including snow, ice, storm events.
Other duties as assigned.
Oversees groundskeepers, mowers and landscape crew.
Assigns duties to subordinate employees, reports any employee relations issues to management and trains employees.
Trains personnel on installation methods and procedures and proper equipment use.
Mixes a variety of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides while following proper application procedures.
Supervises and assists grounds personnel in the removal of snow and ice from walks and roadways when necessary.
Consistently completes expected duties in a timely manner without constant supervision.
Accepts responsibility for own work and follows through on commitments.
Supervises construction and care of new landscape beds and installs plants and trees according to landscape blueprints and existing horticultural standards.
Promotes Facilities core values of Service, Integrity, and Excellence by conducting oneself in a manner that is respectful, honest, ethical, and customer focused.
Committed to maintaining a safe and secure work environment.
Demonstrates punctuality and follows policies and procedures for absences, time and attendance.