Senior Groundskeeper

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•KERRVILLE, TX

12d•$3,650 - $4,595•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. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. The psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below. The Groundskeeper IV (Senior Groundskeeper) performs highly complex (senior level) groundskeeping work at a State Hospital. The Senior Groundskeeper maintains and improves the appearance of grounds and flower beds for the hospitals, including mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and ensuring the effective operations of sprinkler systems. Removes plants and trims trees and shrubs. Assigns and prioritizes the work of other groundskeeping staff to accomplish daily and weekly tasks most effectively. Serves a team lead on groundskeeping projects and maintains the schedules for routine work. The Senior Groundskeeper safely and efficiently operates power and gas-operated equipment to complete duties and trains others to use the equipment. The Senior Groundskeeper 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. The Senior Groundskeeper ensures parking lots, roads, fences, and sidewalks are free from obstructions and in good repair. The Senior Groundskeeper minimizes the presence and impact of nuisance animals at the hospitals (e.g., snakes, rodents, and feral cats). The Senior Groundskeeper performs some maintenance duties as needed in conjunction with maintenance staff. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to 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. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Requirements

Nine (9) months of experience as an operating power equipment (e.g., mowers, electric clippers, tractors, chain saws, sod cutter, pruning shears) required.
Nine (9) months of experience as a laborer, farmer, gardener, florist helper, groundskeeper, or similar work involving general duties which may include the planting and maintenance of vegetation, landscaping, nursery inspections, or equivalent to a Groundskeeper required.
Knowledge, skills, and ability to safely fell and remove large trees in and around buildings and other infrastructures.
Knowledge, skills, and ability associated with minimizing the presence of nuisance animals such as rodents, snakes and feral cats.
Knowledge of horticulture and landscape design; and the skills and ability to apply that knowledge to landscape projects.
Skills in safely operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoes, and/or pruning shears, and a variety of a variety of hand and power tools used in construction/repair, and ability to teach/train others to safely use this equipment.
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 both orally and in writing.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to coach, train, and lead others
Ability to stand or walk for extended periods of time.
Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions.
Ability to work harmoniously and productively with co-workers and patients.
Ability to lift and carry 50 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 teach other groundskeepers to detect diseases in plants and grasses.
Must possess a valid Texas driver license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date to drive a state vehicle.
Applicants with an out-of-state driver license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure.
Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required.

Nice To Haves

Ability to operate 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 helps dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break.
Assists with conducting sidewalk surveys and documents on a plot plan as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in an effort to reduce slips, trips, and falls.
Works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to remove ice or snow from sidewalks, roadways, and clears debris from catch basins during heavy rain as needed.
If the hospital has a cemetery, performs cemetery duties to include maintaining grounds, setting head stones, excavating graves for funerals, and setting up casket devices and tents.
Maintains burial logs and ensures proper lifetime retention of logs in a secure location with backup log on server.

Responsibilities

Performs groundskeeping duties at the hospital including mowing, trimming, fertilizing, removing, and planting trees and shrubs.
Ensures the safe and effective use of gas and power-operated tools to complete work efficiently.
Trains other staff to use tools commensurate with skill and ability.
Implements the daily, weekly, and monthly scheduling of work in the groundskeeping department, such as schedules for treating insects around buildings, trimming of hedges, litter control, and mowing.
Assigns, prioritizes and leads the work of other groundskeepers to ensure all tasks are completed as required on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis in accordance with the groundskeeping schedule.
Designates and assigns mowing and weed eating areas (zones of the campus) to other groundskeepers.
Oversees the quality of work for other groundskeepers and assists as necessary assuring proper results.
Reports any significant issues to the supervisor for handling.
Initiates and executes projects for hospital beautification, such as designing and planting new flowerbeds, with the approval of the supervisor.
Ensures sprinkler systems are in working order.
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 helps dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break.
Ensures roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are safe and free from debris and reports any major issues to supervisor.
Assists with conducting sidewalk surveys and documents on a plot plan as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in an effort to reduce slips, trips, and falls.
Works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to remove ice or snow from sidewalks, roadways, and clears debris from catch basins during heavy rain as needed.
Minimizes the presence and impact of nuisance animals (e.g., snakes, rodents, and feral cats).
Takes action to safely and humanely trap and remove live animals, disposes appropriately of dead animals, and takes proactive measures to abate future issues.
Performs general maintenance, repairs, and construction work for the hospital in collaboration with maintenance staff commensurate with skills and abilities.
If the hospital has a cemetery, performs cemetery duties to include maintaining grounds, setting head stones, excavating graves for funerals, and setting up casket devices and tents.
Maintains burial logs and ensures proper lifetime retention of logs in a secure location with backup log on server.
Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
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. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.