Grounds Worker

About the role

Responsible for maintenance of campus grounds including trees, lawn, flower beds as well as hardscape features. Uses a variety of machinery such as lawn mowers, trimmers, edgers and hand tools to accomplish tasks.

Essential Functions

• Mows large lawn areas with zero-turn mowers and tractors.
• Edges with a small push type edger, trimming turf away from sidewalks and curb edges.
• Shears shrubs using gas powered hedge clippers.
• Performs hand weeding in flower beds.
• Cuts back brush, small saplings and small branches using hand held loppers.
• Uses a chain saw for the removal of large branches and small trees.
• Plants flowers, shrubs and trees and encourages growth through regular watering.
• Prunes, hedges, shrubs and trees; cuts flowers and mows lawns; ensures application of fertilizer, pesticides, plant treatments, and other methods to maintain healthy plants and lawns.
• Assists supervisor in applying fertilizer; aeration and topdressing of turf.
• Uses leaf blowers, turfvacs, power sweepers and other tools or hands to remove trash and debris from grounds.
• Operates power equipment such as, but not limited to, ride-on mowers, chippers, power sprayer, aerial-lift truck, flail mower, aerators, edger, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and tractor/loaders as necessary.
• Responds promptly to work order requests and completes necessary records.
• Performs minor equipment repair and maintenance as required; sharpens blades, chain saw chains & check and maintain proper lubrication & oil levels.
• Supports campus wide activities in the areas of setups, snow and ice removal including operation of snow removal equipment and any other duties as assigned.

Schedule

6:30 am - 2:30 pm. This position works 40 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent GED.
• Experience of 2-3 years in maintenance labor or trades is preferred, or a combination of education and experience providing a similar skillset.
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) preferred; experience operating commercial vehicles or related equipment is desirable.
• Must be willing to receive additional training as required.
• Committed to following safety guidelines to protect self and others.
• Must be able to follow verbal and written directions and provide responses in writing.
• Ability to use computers to read and respond to emails and to use basic applications is also required.
• Must have and maintain a valid Virginia operator's license.
• As essential personnel, must respond to emergency events and weather conditions.

Physical Requirements

• Fine Motor Manipulation: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.

Working Conditions

• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
• The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.
• Types of Work: Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Pay

The expected pay rate for this position is between $22.54 - $26.15 per hour. Offers are based on factors such as qualifications, relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market and organizational considerations.

Benefits

Washington and Lee University offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. To learn more about working at W&L and benefits, visit jobs.wlu.edu.