Groundsworker

at  California State University

Job no: 544458
Work type: Staff
Location: Stanislaus - Turlock
Categories: Unit 5 - CSUEU - Operations and Support Services, Custodial/Facilities, Probationary, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)
Position Description
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POSITION SUMMARY

• Full-time position available on or after February 12, 2025 for Landscape & Laborer Services.
  Under general supervision of the Grounds & Events Supervisor, the Groundsworker performs a combination of unskilled and semiskilled work, which encompasses the maintenance of landscaped areas, parking lots, athletic fields, and surrounding facilities to provide a safe and aesthetically pleasant environment for the campus community. The incumbent shall participate in the preparation and lining of all assigned sport fields to include, proper mowing of turf to the desired height of the sport to be played, but most importantly by the grass cultivar.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: None required.
  Experience: One year of experience in the care and maintenance of landscaped areas or in general grounds maintenance work, or in related manual labor.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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• High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Three years of experience working in commercial landscape maintenance, and installation large turf areas such as golf courses, parks or school grounds.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

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• Thorough knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenance methods.

• General knowledge of proper methods of planting, cultivating, and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers as well as the use and care of gardening materials, tools, and equipment.
• Ability to recognize the more common species of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers grown in California.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical work.
• Ability to utilize mechanical aptitude and motor coordination.
• Ability to learn to operate skillfully small trucks and power-driven grounds equipment.
• Ability to read and write at a level appropriate to the position.
• Ability to follow simple oral and written instructions.
• May required possession of a valid California driver’s license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Duties include but are not limited to:
• Maintain campus turf by irrigating, mowing, edging, hand and power trimming, fertilizing, and performing annual scheduled maintenance to sport fields, that includes power raking, core aerating, over seeding, and top dressing with appropriate soils and using weed control methods when necessary, to provide a safe and aesthetically pleasant environment for students and authorized visitors.
• Prepare and line sport fields for academic games and special events.
• Prepare areas for seed or sod, lay sod and sow seed.
• Operate riding mowers with single or multiple decks including both, rotary blades and reels, roto-tillers, lawn vacuums, hydraulic sprayers, backpack blowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, aerators and other grounds related equipment.
• Maintain landscaped areas including ornamental trees, shrubs, and ground covers byproperly pruning, trimming, and edging according to season, schedule, and growth habit depending on plant species.
• Plant, cultivate, fertilize water and spray ornamental plants, shrubs, hedges, trees, lawns and flowers, rake leaves, pull and hoe weeds.
• Prune and trim trees to maintain sufficient clearance to walk and mow safely under canopies.
• Remove dead and diseased shrubs, trees and broken branches/limbs, or unsightly growth, fell and remove trees when work can be done from the ground or with the assistance of aerial equipment.
• Assists a qualified specialist in sprinkler repair, spraying, tree trimming, or nurseryfunctions.
• Make minor repairs to the irrigation system such as replacing of sprinklers, replacingof nozzles and adjusting watering pattern on assigned areas of campus.
• Prepare and amend soil for planting.
• Make minor repairs to sidewalks and parking lots using appropriate materials and procedures.
• Maintain hoses, sprinklers, tools, supplies, and equipment in good condition andrepair.
• Clean all access areas to campus’ buildings, by power blowing, sweeping, or pressurewashing areas of stain and gum concentration.
• Clean roadsides, sidewalks, streets and related areas.
• Pick up trash at assigned facilities and empty trash containers daily or as needed.
• Make sure that equipment being used is taken to the automotive shop for scheduled preventive maintenance.
• Inspect and check all fluids, safety guards, and moving parts on equipment prior tobe used.
• Perform minor maintenance on small power-operated pavement sweepers, powermowers, small riding mowers, and other gardening equipment.
• Service/lubricate all moving parts of equipment daily or as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.