HSIG Groundskeeper

Primary Responsibility

The Groundskeeper performs semi-skilled work in the maintenance, care, and modification of commercial and residential properties owned or managed by the company and its owners. Maintains the grounds and ensures the environment of the facility is clean, attractive, safe and in healthy condition. The Groundskeeper also performs maintenance on grounds keeping equipment and tools, and makes minor repairs (within demonstrated capability) as directed.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Maintains landscaping at all commercial and owners’ properties by seeding, watering, mulching, fertilizing, and applying chemicals to outside plantings and lawns, as well as inside flowers and cuttings used in transplanting. Inspects plant materials for insects, disease, physical and mechanical damage and identifies replacements. Transplants, prunes, trims, and cultivates trees, shrubs, ground cover, and flowers. Stores and cares for bulbs and cuttings in the winter season. Determines the appropriate plants or shrubs for walkways or garden areas.

• Maintains pools and fountains at all commercial, and owners’ properties including cleaning and filter maintenance.

• Performs regular and directed grounds and landscape maintenance by mowing lawns with riding or push mowers; trimming and edging around trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, sidewalks and buildings; weeding, thinning and cleaning flower beds and other grounds by hand or utilizing proper tools and equipment; and setting up, adjusting, repairing, and cleaning irrigation systems.

• Removes unsightly trash and debris from public areas by regularly inspecting grounds and drains for debris; raking, sweeping and bagging leaves, debris, dirt and trash from sidewalks, parking lots, and transporting the trash to designated central collection points on a daily basis.

• Reduces the likelihood for the spread of diseases and unsightly appearance of trash containers in public areas by emptying, cleaning and disinfecting trash and cigarette receptacles on a regular basis, and removing, repairing and installing trash and cigarette receptacles on company property on an as needed basis.

• Assists in preventing accidents resulting from snow or ice covered walkways by using shovels to remove snow and spread sand and salt on snow- or ice-covered surfaces.

• Prepares outdoor locations for use by visitors, vendors, and the public as needed by company operations to include cleaning outdoor seating.

• Applies chemicals used in grounds keeping (horticulture and floriculture) properly and safely by wearing prescribed protective clothing, masks, and/or rubber gloves and boots, following either written or verbal directions for mixing chemical compounds according to specifications. Applies the chemicals properly on grounds and landscapes designated for their use, and disposing of residual chemical products as directed or storing and labeling them for future use.

• Safely operates light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, tractors, riding mowers and portable power tools and equipment such as saws, grass trimmers, snow/leaf blowers, sprayers, paint machines and other grounds keeping equipment by obeying applicable traffic laws and following operator instructions, and wearing appropriate safety items such as goggles, gloves, or other appropriate protective clothing.

• Ensures that grounds maintenance equipment and building maintenance equipment are operational by performing routine and preventative maintenance and cleaning of tools, equipment and machines within reasonable capabilities.

• Maintain a polite, friendly, responsive, demeanor with guests, customers and employees.

• Contributes to the overall success of the organization by performing all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions & Responsibilities

• Maintains grounds for additional properties to include residential and commercial.

• Moves furniture when needed inside and outside the office building

• Performs minor maintenance work using hand and power tools by making carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repairs as needed.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• At least 3-5 years of landscaping experience is required where knowledge of the methods, materials and equipment used in planting, cultivating, and trimming a variety of types of trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers and grasses has been gained.

• Skilled in the proper operation and maintenance of grounds maintenance tools, equipment, and machinery is required.

• Skilled in using hand and power tools used in carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.

• Must have a valid driver license and be able to meet insurance standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associates degree in horticulture.

• Knowledge of the use and proper disposal of chemicals used in grounds keeping (horticulture and floriculture) is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge in horticulture and floriculture.

• Ability to communicate well with all types of personalities.

• Ability to perform manual labor.

• Ability to lift and carry grounds keeping supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis and up to 100 pounds on an occasional basis, prolonged walking or standing and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching on a daily basis.

• Ability to operate different types of outdoor or lawn care equipment

• Ability to work independently and with others

• Ability to follow instructions

• Ability to work overtime

• Trustworthy

• Of good moral character

• Must have full range of physical motion in order to operate manual, electrically-powered and/or gasoline-powered grounds keeping equipment and machines.

• Must be mature, flexible and empathetic to the total needs of the facility

• The ability to identify and eradicate disease or insect damage to plant is preferred.

• The ability to read the English language sufficiently to understand written work orders and instructions as well as directions for the proper mixture, use, and disposal/storage of cleaners, solvents, chemicals, fertilizers and similar products used in grounds keeping is required.

• Must be able to move throughout assigned areas, as the work is performed primarily outside, year-round. Employees in this job classification are designated as essential employees and must report to work as scheduled when offices are closed due to severe weather.

Other

Scope of the position requires exposure to and use of chemical compounds for application on trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, and grasses, which may be hazardous and cause injury if specific instructions regarding their mixture, application, use and disposal/storage are not properly followed.

Travel

• Will travel locally on a daily basis. Occasional travel to alternate work locations within 100 miles of the corporate location.