Basking Ridge Groundskeeper

About the role

The Pingry School, a prestigious K–12 coeducational, independent day school founded in 1861, maintains a nearly 200-acre campus in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, serving Middle and Upper School students. Groundskeepers are vital to the safety, functionality, and appearance of an active educational, athletic, and event environment that includes seven outdoor playing fields, a track, 12 tennis courts, and a cross-country course. The role supports varsity, junior varsity, and Middle School athletics; summer programs; rentals; and all-community events, including high-profile athletic use such as FIFA World Cup team training.

Responsibilities

• Maintain grass and synthetic turf through mowing, trimming, fertilizing, aerating, painting field lines, and setting up/relocating athletic equipment.
• Care for tennis courts, tracks, outdoor athletic spaces, and surrounding grounds.
• Perform seasonal landscaping and grounds-care activities: planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, leaf removal, turf care, and general outdoor beautification.
• Help maintain campus appearance and safety, including walkways, roads, parking areas, outdoor gathering spaces, landscaped beds, and common areas; remove debris and identify hazards.
• Safely operate and perform basic preventive maintenance on grounds equipment and machinery, including commercial mowers, tractors, spreaders, utility vehicles, hand tools, snow-removal equipment, and other specialized tools.
• Assist with basic exterior infrastructure maintenance and repairs: asphalt maintenance, sidewalk edging, walkway patching, fencing, signage, and other campus grounds features.
• Participate in winter weather response by clearing snow and ice, applying ice melt or salt, shoveling walkways, and operating snow-removal equipment.
• Support outdoor event preparation, including setup and breakdown, traffic-flow support, placement of equipment and furnishings, and general property logistics for athletics, school events, rentals, and community programs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Demonstrated ability to follow directions, work independently when appropriate, and contribute effectively as a team member.
• Reliable, punctual, service-oriented, and committed to maintaining a safe and professional campus environment.
• Prior experience in landscaping, turf care, grounds maintenance, parks, golf courses, athletic facilities, or large-property maintenance preferred.
• Experience operating commercial grounds equipment (mowers, trimmers, tractors, spreaders, utility vehicles, snow-removal equipment, etc.) preferred.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions throughout the year.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Flexibility to work occasional overtime, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and weather-related or snow-removal assignments as needed.
• Ability to perform essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, including traversing uneven terrain; standing, walking, bending, crouching, and kneeling for extended periods; and moving or positioning equipment and materials up to 50 pounds.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community aligned with Pingry’s mission and DEIB values.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $22–$30 per hour. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and education.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement plans with employer matching.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Tuition remission for employees’ children.
• Access to wellness and professional development resources.