Groundskeeper

Grounds Management

Provide timely, professional routine maintenance of Central Florida turf, shrubs, groundcover and bedding plants keeping them in optimal condition through the use of proper horticultural practices and manual and power landscape equipment.

Minimum of 1 year experience using gas pruners/shears, stick edger’s, backpack blowers, z-turn and walk-behind mowers, chain saws, hand pruners, hand saws, hedge trimmers and other equipment common in the maintenance of aesthetically pleasing and safe ornamental and native landscapes.

Removing weeds, invasive plants, and miscellaneous debris from beds and tree rings.

Pruning plant materials in accordance with Florida Grades and Standards and acceptable horticultural practices.

Scouting and reporting any physical, pest, or cultural damage and assisting in removing and replacing plant material and installing new landscape projects.

Hardscape Management

Utilize hand and power equipment to maintain clean and safe hardscapes throughout campus including parking lots, sidewalks, patios, building entrances and streets.

Reporting damage to sidewalks and streets and assisting in the repair of concrete and paver hardscapes as needed.

Perform routine pressure washing to maintain vertical and horizontal hard surfaces in clean condition.

Removal of graffiti, stickers, signage, etc. to maintain pleasing and safe environment.

Policing/Solid Waste Removal/Recycling

Remove litter, debris, and miscellaneous items from turf, beds and hardscapes throughout campus.

Service trash receptacles by replacing garbage bags and depositing refuse into dumpsters.

Ensures that recycling is retrieved and placed in the proper receptacles for collection.

Irrigation

Assist with irrigation monitoring, inspection, installation and repairs as needed.

Hand watering of areas not covered by automatic irrigation.

Meetings/Education

Attend department meetings intended to present operational, safety and horticultural topics to all Grounds Department members.

Attend other continuing education opportunities including field trips, on/off site presentations, etc.

Equipment Maintenance

Proper usage and storage of all equipment.

Report any needed repairs for malfunctioning or damaged equipment and removing them from the equipment inventory until they are functioning properly.

Experienced in sharpening blades, changing trimmer string, maintaining fluid levels and other basic routine maintenance on all power equipment.

Safety

Practice safe work habits including the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Use of equipment and supplies in a manner that prevents personal injury, injury to others or damage to property.

Emergency Preparedness/Clean Up

Ensure the campus is ready for, and cleaned up after weather-related emergencies.

Furniture Moving

Moves furniture, event set up related items as needed.

Drivers License Requirement

REQUIRED: Must possess valid Florida Driver’s License. Employee will be required to operate a college vehicle, including but not limited to on and between campuses and in the local community, in order to perform the essential job functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to identify common Central Florida plant material and experienced in installation and maintenance of trees, shrubs, groundcover/turf.

Knowledge of common landscape and hardscape construction and maintenance equipment, tools, tasks and procedures, and the ability to drive company utility vehicles.

Customer service driven with a desire to exceed expectations and support the vision, mission, goals and objectives of Valencia College.

Utilize time management to complete tasks in a timely fashion while striving for quality results.

Ability to communicate effectively and follow written and oral instructions.

General Working Conditions

This job primarily operates throughout the College’s worksites and grounds. The employee may be exposed to elements including but not limited to wet/humid weather, extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, and unpleasant odors.

The role may also involve hazards or physical risks, which require comprehending and following basic safety precautions and may require Personal Protection Equipment.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.

Typical physical competencies include but are not limited to remaining stationary, moving, ascending/descending, positioning self, reaching, lifting/moving objects weighing between 5-100 pounds.

This job also entails communicating, discerning and exchanging information, detecting and perceiving objects up close, at a distance, and the ability to adjust focus.

Cognitive abilities include but are not limited to discretion, judgment, reasoning, memory, learning, maintaining confidentiality, comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making.