Job Summary:

Responsible for overall appearance and maintenance of the campus grounds and athletic fields. This work is coordinated with the efforts of the maintenance, event setup, and the outsourced housekeeping staffs. Performs semi-skilled work in the maitenance, care, and modification of the College grounds and landscapes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Performs tasks common to the care of grounds and landscapes by seeding, watering, mulching, fertilizing, and applying chemicals to outside plantings, lawns and turf, as well as inside flowers and cuttings used in transplanting; inspecting plant materials for insects, disease, physical and mechanical damage and identifying replacements; transplanting, pruning, trimming, and cultivating trees, shrubs, ground cover, and flowers; and storing and caring for bulbs and cuttings in the winter season.
• Performs regular and directed grounds and landscape maintenance by mowing lawns with riding or push mowers; trimming and edging around trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, sidewalks and buildings; weeding, thinning and cleaning flower beds and other grounds by hand or utilizing proper tools and equipment; and setting up, adjusting, repairing, and cleaning irrigation systems.
• Removes unsightly trash and debris from public areas by regularly inspecting grounds, drains, manhole covers, etc., for debris; raking, sweeping and bagging leaves, debris, dirt and trash from streets, sidewalks, parking lots, tunnels, and transporting the trash to designated central collection points on a daily basis.

Other Responsibilities: 

• Assists in preventing accidents resulting from snow or ice covered walkways by removing mowing decks and installing snow removal equipment on riding mowers and tractors; operating snow blowers, tractors or mowers with blades and using shovels to remove snow and spread sand, chat and salt on snow- or ice-covered surfaces.
• Prepares outdoor locations and athletic fields for use by painting and marking athletic fields, moving bleachers and seating, and erecting portable goals or other athletic equipment.
• Safely operates light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, tractors, street sweepers or riding mowers and portable power tools and equipment such as saws, grass trimmers, snow/leaf blowers, sprayers, paint machines and other groundskeeping equipment by obeying applicable traffic laws and following operator instructions, and wearing appropriate safety items such as goggles, gloves, or other appropriate protective clothing.
• Ensures that grounds maintenance equipment is operational by performing routine and preventative maintenance and cleaning of tools, equipment and machines within reasonable capabilities.
• Promotes a positive image of Hanover College and represents the College in accordance with the College's mission, principles, and strategic plan.
• Supports and is an advocate for the College's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, goals, and mission.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Grounds Department by performing all other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required
• 1-2 years related experienced preferred
• General mechanical or technical aptitude preferred
• General knowledge or and experience in a skill, craft, or trade preferred
• Ability to understand procedures, operations and/or operate basis equipment required
• Ability to troubleshoot issues required
• Strong communication and judgment skills required
• Ability to work independently and in team environments required

Physical Requirements/Work Environment:

• May require some evening and weekend work 
• Regular/daily climbing of stairs and walking to/from on-campus buildings
• Occasional climbing of stairs and bleachers
• Work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as climbing ladders, frequent lifting of objects over 50 pounds, crawling or crouching in restricted areas
• Occasional lifting of heavy objects weighing 75 pounds or more may be required