Temporary Grounds Worker

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Temporary Grounds Worker who performs manual labor and operates light equipment for general landscape maintenance and construction tasks, including turf maintenance, plant maintenance, litter control, and snow removal. The role requires reporting unsafe conditions and safely operating various hand and self-propelled equipment. Employees are subject to 24/7 call-ins for emergencies, especially snow, and must be prepared for shift changes and extended working hours, including nights, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, to meet seasonal demands. The work environment involves exposure to weather extremes, high and low temperatures, snow, and rain for extended periods, and potential contact with sewage, dead animals, bees/stings, and other environmental allergens. All employees are expected to uphold the organization's values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity, foster an inclusive and healthy work environment, and support sustainable practices. This is a temporary, benefits-eligible position expected to last 6 months, with a starting pay rate of $22.00 per hour. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must have and maintain a valid US driver’s license.
• Some working knowledge of the methods, materials, tools and equipment used in the landscaping or labor trade.
• Excellent interpersonal (oral and written) skills in order to interact with a wide range of people.
• Self-motivated with ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A strong customer service orientation while providing a helpful and friendly approach to serving the campus community.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

• Two seasons of demonstrated work experience with landscape maintenance, landscape construction, or related field.
• Formal training in ornamental horticulture, agronomy, arboriculture, phytopathology, ornamental plant pests, and/or equipment operation helpful.

Responsibilities

• Perform manual labor and independently operate light equipment for general landscape maintenance and/or landscape construction tasks, including turf maintenance, plant maintenance, litter control, and snow removal.
• Promptly report unsafe conditions or damage to campus landscape, equipment, or facilities.
• Safely operate hand and self-propelled equipment and tools including string trimmers, walk behind mowers, blowers, snow blowers, rakes, and shovels to achieve required landscape standards.
• Be available for call-in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to handle emergencies, especially snow emergencies.
• Adapt to shift changes and extended working hours (including nights, early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays) to meet seasonal work demand.
• Support the FCS values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity.
• Support inclusive and sustainable practices in carrying out everyday responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.
• Attend staff development trainings.
• Participate in the performance evaluation process.

Benefits

• educational benefits
• access to a plethora of wellness programs
• employee discounts with local and national retail brands
• health care options to choose from
• generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation leave, health and personal leave, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year’s Day), 2 floating holidays
• superior retirement contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees