Groundskeeper (Public Works)

Job Summary

This position, under administrative direction, is responsible for overseeing landscape maintenance services for Walworth County buildings, grounds and parks. This position ensures that county grounds are kept in excellent condition for full and productive use. This is a working foreman type of position with the understanding that whoever assumes this position will be working alongside those that may be supervised in the field.

SUPERVISION

• Assign, supervise and review the work of laborers, seasonal employees, Master Gardeners, and contracted service providers engaged in the care and maintenance of county grounds.

SCHEDULE

• Days: Monday - Friday
• Work Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., hours may shift in peak season to 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Hrs Per Shift: 8
• Shifts Per Pay Period: 10
• Position FTE: 1.00 full-time, hourly non-exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Inspect county grounds to assure safe and sanitary conditions.
• Cookordination crews in work involving landscaping and maintenance of county grounds.
• Prioritize, plan and assign work and supervise crews in planting, fertilizing, and trimming lawns, trees, bushes, hedges, shrubs using hand tools or motorized vehicles.
• Landscape (including assistance in design) new ground areas, repair damaged ground areas, replace bushes, hedges, shrubs, and trees. Plant and weed flower beds.
• Apply herbicide and pesticide chemicals to grounds, trees, bushes, shrubs and lawns to control plant diseases and insects.
• Supervise and assist with snow removal from sidewalks and parking lots and apply salt and anti-icing agents on sidewalks and parking lots during winter operations.
• Ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and County policies regarding the proper performance of the position (i.e. Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services).
• Responsible for the care and cleaning of all equipment used in grounds maintenance such as mowers, tractor/trailers, skid steers, woodchippers, snowplows/trucks, salt spreaders, and a variety of hand/power tools.
• Requisition materials and supplies for all aspects of grounds keeping.
• Recommend to supervisor projects that may be necessary to improve conditions on and about the county grounds.
• Assist in the development of and ensure compliance with grounds maintenance budget.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports including spray logs for herbicide and pesticide applications.
• Perform related work as assigned.
• Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.

Qualifications

• Education and/or Experience: High school plus two additional years of formal preparation and two to three years of relevant prior work experience. Associates degree in turf grass management, horticulture/landscape horticulture, or certificate in professional grounds maintenance preferred. Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Interactions and Communications: Responds to requests and initiates contacts to exchange general and sometimes complex information with others.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid Wisconsin commercial driver's license - class A or B required upon hire. Wisconsin Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification – Certification is required within one (1) year of the date of hire.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Analytical, Knowledge, Mechanical, Planning/organizing, Problem solving, Oral communication, Quality management, Safety, Written communication, Decision Making, Thinking and Problem Solving.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.