Grounds Maintenance

Racine Unified School District | Racine, WI

Posted Date 9/30/2024
Description

11/1/2024

Level 8

Full Time

Position Summary:
The Groundskeeper performs all aspects of operations related to grounds and landscaping profession including but not limited to, turf, hard surface maintenance, playground maintenance, snow removal, arboriculture, landscape design, fire extinguisher maintenance, customer service, and operation of equipment in a safe manor.

Schedule is Tuesday thru Saturday

Essential Functions:
1. Performs all phases of installation, maintenance and repair of all grounds and landscapes in all district facilities and sites.
2. Execute all phases of turf management including mowing, edging, aeration, fertilizing, irrigation, seeding, pesticide use, and sodding of all district campuses and athletic sports fields.
3. Implements landscape management best practices with an emphasis on sustainability and ecological practices including in site designs, installations, planting, pruning, repairs and replacements.
4. Installs, maintains and repairs various types of playground equipment in accordance with all applicable safety and accessibility codes.
5. Performs snow removal activities as required, including plowing and salting operations.
6. Installs, repairs and maintains retaining walls, walkways and borders using masonry, wood and metal components.
7. Inspects, tests and repairs hand held fire extinguishers throughout the district facilities and vehicles.
8. Provides professional assistance to schools, PTA’s, volunteers regarding best practices, location and types of plant material and equipment.
9. Performs concrete and bituminous surface repairs.
10. Repairs, replaces and installs multiple types of fencing.
11. Diagnoses and treats turf, tree and plant diseases and conditions.
12. Operates construction related equipment such as tractors, skid steer, lifts dump trucks and trailers
13. Insures that work areas are properly maintained.
14. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
15. Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position and actively supports the RUSD Strategic Plan.

Ability to:
1. Design, estimate and inspect projects.
2. Preform all duties in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility
3. Maintain integrity of confidential information.
4. Appropriately interact and develop effective working relationships with District administrators, school staff, and representatives of private and public agencies and the public for different purposes and in different contexts.
5. Diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations.
6. Interpret drawings, plans, blueprints and specifications for building and grounds projects, read, interpret and apply complex technical documentation, laws, policies, procedures, codes and regulations.
7. Prioritize, plan, and coordinate work to meet deadlines.
8. Analyze problems, identify solutions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
9. Recognize an emergency and take appropriate action.
10. Adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate. Think through the consequences of a decision prior to making it.
11. Motivate employees for peak performance and creative thinking regarding departmental operations.
12. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Requires tact, discretion and clarity when communicating.
13. Work independently and identify potentially more effective methods of work operation.
14. Operate a computer, tablet, and proprietary or variety of mass market software or applications.

Supervision Received:
Receives direction from the Grounds Foreman. The Groundskeeper normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work and receives general instructions on new assignments.

Safety:
Employee is responsible for taking all steps necessary to protect yourself and others against occupational accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Employee is responsible for ensuring all work performed meets the highest industry standards and is done in compliance with all local, state and federal requirements.

Contacts with other departments, outside organizations, and the general public:
Daily interaction with all departments, school personnel, vendors and service providers, the public and private organizations using district facilities.

It is the policy of the Racine Unified School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, marital or parental status, ancestry, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability in its education programs, admissions policies and practices, or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendment, and Wisconsin Statute.

Education and Experience:
1. Associates degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Arboriculture or related field from an accredited college or university.
2. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
3. Five (5) years full-time experience in turf, herbaceous plant care, snow removal, tree care, foundation plantings, knowledge of maintaining sports fields in commercial, industrial or institutional setting or an equivalent combination.
4. Training in Landscape design related computer software desired.

Licenses and Certifications:
1. Must possess and maintain a valid WI Driver’s License along with a good driving record. A good driving record is defined as zero moving violations (points) within the past 12 months.
2. Must maintain availability of a properly insured personal vehicle always.
3. Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator License within 6 months of employment.
4. Fire Extinguisher Certification within 6 months of employment.
5. Six Sigma White Belt certification within six months of employment.
6. Blood Borne Pathogen and other RUSD required safety training (lead, asbestos, ALICE, etc.) within 12 months of employment.
7. Playground Equipment certification within 6 months of employment

Must have excellent attendance and have no pending disciplinary action on them. If all qualifications are not met, the school district may assist the most qualified applicant with developing a plan for achieving them.

Physical Demands:
1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform using a full range of motions including standing, sitting, talking, hearing, and using hands and fingers to operate a computer and job-related equipment, intermittent bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, crawling and reaching to execute job duties.
2. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 100 pounds.
3. Ascending or descending ladders, scaffolding, ropes, poles and the like using feet/legs and/or hands/arms.
4. Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less to 20 feet or more. This is not just the ability to see a person or object, but the ability to recognize features as well.
5. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
6. Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s). Entering text or data into a computer or other machine by means of a keyboard.
7. Complete heavy workload within established time frames.
8. Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds (e.g., machinery alarms, medical codes/alarms).
9. Ability to work in confined spaces, mechanical areas where noise, heat and operating equipment are present.
10. Primarily an indoor work environment, but frequent travel between district sites is required with occasional out of town travel, with potential exposure to hazardous materials and construction equipment.
11. Job duties may require working outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
12. Ability to work with a respirator if needed.

Statement of Supervisor:
Perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature. Perform with frequent interruptions and/or distractions. Make appropriate job decisions following standard operating procedures and best practices. Recognize an emergency and take appropriate action. Think through the consequences of a decision prior to making it. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and the public. Complete heavy workload within established time frames. Adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate. Ability to interact appropriately with colleagues and stakeholders for different purposes and in different contexts.

  • Cover Letter
  • Custom Questions
Categories
Education & Training
Employment Type
FullTime

Share this job