Job Details

Grounds Maintenance Worker 2

This position reports to the Landscape Department Coordinator and supports the Landscape Maintenance team through daily and seasonal grounds care across the Southern Oregon University campus and Student Apartments and Family Housing (SAFH) properties. The primary focus of this role is the routine maintenance, appearance, and functional quality of campus landscape areas, including lawns, planting beds, trees and shrubs, hardscapes, and associated landscape systems. This position performs a broad range of landscape maintenance tasks including mowing, edging, pruning, planting, mulching, aeration, fertilization, and chemical applications, while also participating in equipment operation, irrigation support, debris management, and seasonal snow and ice response. The role works closely with other Landscape staff to maintain safe, functional, and visually appealing campus grounds while supporting the long-term health, appearance, and usability of university landscape areas.

Facilities Management and Planning administers custodial services; building maintenance and alterations; utilities operations (heating and cooling); landscape services; capital construction review as it pertains to future maintenance; motor pool operations; property control and inventory; delivery services; stores operations and other support activities necessary for the benefit of administration and academic areas of the campus community. The Southern Oregon University campus includes 175 acres of grounds, 140 of which are under active use and maintenance. Facilities Management maintains 21 major buildings comprising over one million square feet of building space. The department employs approximately 45 full time personnel and is responsible for approximately 9% of the total campus budget.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pesticide applicator's license may be required based on position duties; AND
• Two years experience as a grounds keeper which included plant care; OR
• An Associate's degree in Landscape Technology or Horticulture; OR
• Completion of a Landscape Certification program or license in a horticultural specialty.

Preferred Requirements:

• Landscape/Building Industry certificates, licenses, work experience, and/or class work completed.
• Trades/Technical School Degree or Associate Degree in a related field.
• Public Pesticide Applicator License through the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Must have the license category "Ornamental and Turf - Herbicide." Applicants must obtain this certification within 6 months of hire.

Essential Functions Duties:

• (60%) Landscape Maintenance
• Plants, prunes, and fertilizes shrubs and trees.
• Advanced tree pruning and removal.
• Operates heavy equipment and light-duty commercial vehicles daily.
• Applies landscape mulch to shrub beds.
• Mows and edges lawns using appropriate equipment.
• Overseeds, fertilizes, aerates, top-dresses, and de-thatches lawn using the appropriate technique/equipment as directed.
• Identifies landscape or lawn problems (irrigation issues, pests, disease) and takes action to remedy/informs supervisor.
• Applies herbicides and insecticides as directed and under the supervision of Licensed Applicators on staff.
• Operates, installs, and repairs irrigation systems as directed.
• Removes leaves, brush from streets, steps, sidewalks, drains, lawns, landscape areas, and parking lots using the appropriate equipment as directed.
• Removes trash from all landscape areas and empties trash cans as directed.
• Transports litter, plant debris, and brush to bulk materials yard.
• Removes ice and snow from walkways, parking lots, and building entrances using plows, snow shovels, and other equipment as directed; applies granular and liquid de-icer as directed.
• (10%) Equipment Maintenance
• Maintains equipment according to Department procedures.
• Troubleshoots and performs minor repairs on landscape maintenance equipment.
• Refers major repairs to the Landscape Coordinator or Landscape Supervisor.
• (30%) Other Duties
• Works with groups of Student and Temp Workers as an occasional 'Crew Lead' - establishes project-specific work goals and provides clarifications to Supervisor instructions on an as-needed basis.
• Cleans Landscape Dept. Shop, vehicles, and equipment weekly.
• Attends meetings and training seminars.
• Maintains work files and records as requested.
• Interacts with faculty, staff, students, parents, agencies and private vendors in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.
• Expressed ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.
• Great ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information. Must be able to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Takes initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Expressed skill to independently analyze software functionality through technical documents, and design and document efficient/effective work processes; ability to independently analyze software problems, test probable causes, and recommend sound solutions.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, online systems, social media platforms, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Willingness to and work effectively in a heavily bureaucratic environment which requires regular interaction with a number of levels within the organization and multiple outside agencies.
• Working knowledge or ability to quickly learn, university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to provide training and direction to student assistants.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.
• Maintain a safe and safety-conscious workplace.
• Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Ensures that Safety and Risk Management practices are followed in the performance of all work.
• Organizes work to ensure efficient use of resources and to meet work completion deadlines.
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about the following:
• Plant identification
• Herbicide and fertilizer applications and reporting requirements
• Mowing equipment operation and maintenance
• Lawn aeration, topdressing, reseeding and sports field layouts
• Irrigation system repair, installation and operation
• Construction equipment operation, including backhoes, excavators, and loaders
• Tree and shrub pruning and planting
• Plant diseases and insect control using IPM
• Pruning procedures and the proper use and care of pruning tools

Physical Demands:

• Ability to work at heights of up to 80 vertical feet from the ground.
• Pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching; lifting and carrying 70+ lbs., climbing; planting, pruning.
• Using mowers, chainsaws, heavy equipment, rakes, shovels, aerators, plows, blowers and heavy trucks.
• Exposure to chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides), insects and fumes and familiarity with required Personal Protective Equipment.
• Willing to work in all weather conditions.

Special Conditions: