Groundskeeper

JOB SUMMARY  

The Groundskeeper position is responsible for maintaining the aesthetic appearance of SEU’s campus by performing various landscaping tasks including mowing lawns, trimming shrubs and trees, planting flowers, weeding, removing debris, operating irrigation systems, and ensuring the cleanliness of walkways, parking lots, and outdoor areas, often using a variety of power equipment and hand tools.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS 

Reports to: Grounds Lead, Director of Grounds

Supervisory Responsibility: Grounds Lead  

Indirect Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but is not limited to the following: 

• Requires physical work on all grounds projects as well as the daily operations, and any other grounds needs that requires physical labor and manual lifting. 
• Provides day-to-day coordination of maintenance of physical grounds in a clean and aesthetically appealing manner.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative and effective working relationships with university personnel and with outside contractors.
• Works with outside contractors as it relates to the grounds of the university.
• Helps to supervise student workers assigned to the grounds area on their day-to-day assignments.
• Actively surveys, on a regular basis, the overall condition of grounds and associated turf, trees, irrigation, and landscaping to identify areas that may require regular and/or additional attention.
• Maintains and updates equipment and materials inventory logs.
• Works with heavy machinery with moving parts, chemicals, dust, and outside weather conditions which may include inclement weather and high or low-temperature conditions.
• Lifts and moves supplies, equipment, and material, as needed, up to 100 pounds; bends, crawls, or climbs as required.
• Listens and comprehends written instructions and follows oral and written directions.
• Organizes, conveys, and presents ideas and data clearly, concisely, and accurately in written and oral presentations.
• Maintains physical activity over prolonged periods of time.
• Drives a light truck, tractor, forklift, and mowers, and operates all other grounds light-duty equipment with skill and ability.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL/NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

N/A

All remaining duties are considered "nonessential" within the context of the ADA, which means that the function could be reassigned to another employee in order to allow a disabled individual to hold the position.  Alternatively, the manager could try to provide a reasonable accommodation so that the disabled individual could perform the function.

LOCATION 

Lakeland Main Campus 

EDUCATION   

Required Education:

High School/GED 

Preferred Education:

Some college education is preferred

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Clean Driving Record

EXPERIENCE 

Required:

• Three years of directly related experience in horticulture or landscape maintenance is required. 
• Experience working with landscape equipment such as mowers, weed eaters, pole saws, irrigation timers, and all other components of irrigation preferred.

Preferred:

5+ years' experience in horticulture or landscape maintenance 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required:

1. Must be compatible with Southeastern University's Christian mission and purpose
2. Knowledge of principles and practices of general management; methods, material, and equipment used in grounds maintenance; safe work practices, and health and safety regulations and procedures.
3. Ability to perform heavy lifting

Preferred:
Knowledge of and ability to operate a wide variety of heavy or light grounds equipment; hand and power tools preferred.
 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, and harassment, including sexual harassment. 

• This position is considered essential for the purposes of Emergency Response.

Physical Requirements: 

• Requires physical work on all grounds projects as well as the daily operations, and any other grounds needs that requires physical labor and manual lifting. 
• Provides day-to-day coordination of maintenance of physical grounds in a clean and aesthetically appealing manner.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative and effective working relationships with university personnel and with outside contractors.
• Works with outside contractors as it relates to the grounds of the university.
• Helps to supervise student workers assigned to the grounds area on their day-to-day assignments.
• Actively surveys, on a regular basis, the overall condition of grounds and associated turf, trees, irrigation, and landscaping to identify areas that may require regular and/or additional attention.
• Maintains and updates equipment and materials inventory logs.
• Works with heavy machinery with moving parts, chemicals, dust, and outside weather conditions which may include inclement weather and high or low-temperature conditions.
• Lifts and moves supplies, equipment, and material, as needed, up to 100 pounds; bends, crawls, or climbs as required.
• Listens and comprehends written instructions and follows oral and written directions.
• Organizes, conveys, and presents ideas and data clearly, concisely, and accurately in written and oral presentations.
• Maintains physical activity over prolonged periods.
• Drives a light truck, tractor, forklift, and mowers, and operates all other grounds light-duty equipment with skill and ability.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Travel:

No

Schedule:

Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm, or as assigned

TRAINING

All new hires and employees transferring into a new position will have a 90-day probationary period within which to learn the functions of the job and to be evaluated. Following the probationary period, the employee can transition to regular status, have the probationary period extended in order to receive more training, or employment can be terminated. Required compliance training is as follows:

Regular Training is provided to maintain safety standards

SAFETY 

• SEU promotes a safe working environment. Employees are responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently, and supervisors are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. 
• Employees must report any unsafe work conditions or practices, as well as any near-miss incidents, to their supervisor and Risk Management. 
• Work-related injuries must be immediately reported to Security and Human Resources. When life or limb are at risk, please dial 911. Supervisors and employees should ensure that injury/accident reports are submitted to the Office of Human Resources within 24 hours of the incident. 
• Emergency Employees report for or must remain at work in emergency situations.  Dismissal or closure announcements do not apply to this position unless instructed otherwise by your direct supervisor or a member of the Leadership Team.  

SCREENING

All full-time positions at SEU are deemed security-sensitive and require background checks. Employees required to drive their own personal vehicle, a rental car or an SEU vehicle the performance of their duties must pass an MVR records check and meet the requirements of the University’s insurance carrier in order to meet the requirements of the position.
 

DISCLAIMER

SEU is an at-will employer.  This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

SEU is committed to providing a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. All forms of discrimination against or harassment of a person because of his or her identification within a protected category are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This prohibition applies equally to conduct by and against employees, vendors, visitors, and students.

Southeastern University is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. The equal opportunity policy will apply in University programs and activities, and all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. All employees of Southeastern University, by continued employment, agree to abide by the policies contained in the Employee Handbook and in the SEU Mission, Vision, Statement of Faith and Community Covenant.