Grounds Worker II (50%- 20 hour per week )

Location: Brentwood Campus (primarily), with support for Pittsburg Campus

About the Role

This position performs a variety of skilled landscaping and turf maintenance duties, operating equipment to maintain campus grounds. The classification includes three levels:

• Grounds Worker I: Task-focused roles requiring basic landscaping knowledge. Employees receive training on specific activities with limited flexibility in work sequence.
• Grounds Worker II: Skilled roles involving comprehensive landscaping, turf maintenance, gardening, and care for trees, lawns, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, flowers, and athletic fields.
• Grounds Worker, Lead: Lead roles providing direction to lower-level staff in general gardening and grounds maintenance, including athletic facility upkeep. Responsibilities include guiding staff on techniques, methods, and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Plant, water, weed, trim, fertilize, restore, and mow lawns, shrubs, trees, and flower beds.
• Aerate lawns, rake leaves, clean walkways, fields, courts, and other facilities; load trimmings onto trucks.
• Perform routine preventive maintenance on equipment, including mowing equipment, vehicles, hand tools, and power tools (e.g., replacing spark plugs, oil filters, tightening belts).
• Maintain irrigation equipment; install sprinkler systems.
• Spray plants and shrubs with insecticides and herbicides; mix chemicals for application.
• Perform general grounds cleaning and empty exterior trash cans.
• Drive vehicles to transport materials, tools, and equipment.
• Operate and maintain landscaping vehicles, equipment, and tools.
• Assist in the maintenance of athletic fields.
• Dig post holes and trenches.
• Respond to inquiries from the public.
• Supervise and train staff in safety and proper work techniques (Lead role).
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Two (2) years of experience performing grounds work or similar duties, including operating maintenance equipment and maintaining irrigation systems.
• Possession of a high school diploma/GED or equivalent.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid forklift operator’s certificate.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California pesticide applicator’s certificate.

Knowledge

• Basic methods, tools, materials, and equipment used in grounds maintenance.
• Safe work practices and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Basic construction and repair methods.
• Plant and turf pests, diseases, and control/eradication methods.
• Landscape maintenance tools, equipment, and materials.

Skills and Abilities

• Operate a variety of light and/or heavy mechanical equipment.
• Mix and apply herbicides safely and effectively.
• Perform heavy manual labor, including lifting and moving items up to 50 pounds.
• Follow verbal and written directions.
• Perform preventive maintenance on landscape tools and equipment.
• Install irrigation clocks and systems.
• Analyze and diagnose electrical and wiring problems.
• Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with colleagues and the public.
• Demonstrate understanding, sensitivity, and respect for diverse academic, socio-economic, racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religious backgrounds.

Desirable Qualifications

• Advanced grounds maintenance experience (2+ years) in landscaping, turf, or athletic field care.
• Expertise in irrigation systems, including installation, troubleshooting, and programming of clocks and systems.
• Proficiency operating a wide range of landscaping equipment, including heavy equipment and specialized turf machinery.
• Ability to diagnose and repair equipment, including preventive maintenance and basic mechanical/electrical issues.
• Commitment to safety practices and ability to work independently in physically demanding conditions.

Pay

Annual salary range: $28,914.00 (Step 1) to $35,220.00 (Step 5). New employees are typically placed at Step 1 ($28,914.00), Step 2 ($30,378.00), or Step 3 ($31,914.00), depending on experience. Annual step increases occur on July 1st until the maximum step is reached.