Seasonal Grounds and Maintenance Staff

Lincoln Park Zoological Society • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Lincoln Park Zoo is seeking Seasonal Grounds and Maintenance Staff to perform routine groundskeeping, custodial, maintenance, and event-support duties that help maintain the park’s cleanliness, appearance, safety, and guest experience. The role involves cleaning throughout zoo buildings and grounds, operating and maintaining cleaning and other powered equipment, reporting repairs and safety hazards, handling waste and biohazardous materials appropriately, and following building security procedures. Staff also support seasonal grounds work, including snow and leaf removal, and assist with event setups, breakdowns, deliveries, and vendor coordination. The position requires interacting professionally with zoo staff, guests, vendors, and the public, and may include covering duties during coworkers’ absences. The schedule lists an AM shift of 6 a.m.–10 a.m. or a PM shift of 3 p.m.–7 p.m.; special events may require work outside the regular schedule, including evenings, weekends, or holidays. The hourly rate is $17.05.

Requirements

• High school diploma, or a comparable combination of education, experience, or training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Experience completing similar tasks at an institution of similar size and reputation.
• Knowledge of the zoo’s mission and philosophy.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with diverse groups and represent the Society professionally.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergencies and respond appropriately.
• Ability to interact courteously and respectfully with supervisors, coworkers, volunteers, visitors, and the general public.
• Ability to work cooperatively and promptly as part of a team.
• Ability to work on ladders and scaffolding and to sweep, rake, and clean flat roofs.
• Ability to replace soap dispensers, toilet paper holders, and batteries in devices.
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds to respond to emergencies.
• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force regularly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to safely and efficiently operate specialized equipment used to move and lift supplies, including hand trucks and electric carts.
• Ability to work safely around potentially dangerous animals and equipment and manage predictable, controllable hazards associated with wild animals and zoonotic diseases.
• Availability to work assigned special events outside the regular schedule, including evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license and maintenance of a good driving record.
• Non-infectious TB status.

Responsibilities

• Perform custodial cleaning, including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing, dusting, waste collection, rug cleaning, paper picking, and laundering.
• Clean assigned areas across the zoo, including restrooms, restaurants, offices, laboratories, animal buildings, meeting areas, and other facilities.
• Operate and maintain assigned cleaning and grounds equipment, and report needed repairs to a lead or supervisor.
• Observe premises and report repairs, safety hazards, and conditions requiring outside vendor services.
• Collect and dispose of waste, including properly cleaning or disposing of biohazardous waste and using appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Perform general and heavy cleaning using approved chemicals; clean and maintain floors, carpets, furniture, windows, fixtures, and other surfaces.
• Follow building opening and closing procedures and ensure buildings are secured before and after shifts.
• Maintain cleaning and toiletry supply inventory and communicate supply needs to a lead or supervisor.
• Clean zoo grounds and parking lots of litter, weeds, glass, and other debris.
• Load, unload, move, transport, and store supplies, furniture, equipment, and other items using appropriate carts or powered equipment.
• Replace restroom supplies and perform basic maintenance on soap, paper towel, and toilet paper dispensers.
• Assist with snow and leaf removal using shovels, rakes, salt spreaders, and powered equipment, working with zoo staff or outside vendors as needed.
• Set up and break down event tents, structures, signage, staging, tables, chairs, and other event materials.
• Support event setups by clearing spaces, transporting and storing Grounds and Maintenance audio-visual equipment, and hanging signage or decorations.
• Assist with installing and removing landscape stakes and temporary fencing or barricades.
• Clean or launder event-related equipment and supplies as needed.
• Assist vendors and other departments during load-in, setup, event execution, and teardown for special events, programs, and promotions.
• Drive zoo-related equipment for events and daily activities, deliver items, and organize and store items across the grounds.
• Interact with guests and other zoo departments, promote good public relations, and perform other assigned duties.
• Cover duties of subordinates or coworkers as needed to support Facilities operations during absences.
• Learn to safely operate golf carts.

Benefits

• Free admission to many other Chicago cultural institutions.
• Free on-site parking anytime, with access to Lincoln Park, Lakeshore Trail, and North Avenue Beach.
• Discounts on event tickets, attractions, dining, and retail at the zoo; free admission to select events.
• Quarterly staff mingle events.
• LPZooU training and educational sessions about the zoo, wildlife, ecology, and related subjects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: High school or GED