Grounds Worker II

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Grounds Worker II provides building and grounds services to ensure a safe, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for students, staff, faculty and tenants. Performs general labor duties, including, but not limited to, grounds maintenance, snow and ice removal, room cleanouts, furniture moves, loading, unloading and delivering boxes and materials; picture hanging, light bulb changes and other tasks as assigned. Drives university vehicles and operates machinery and equipment associated with landscaping, snow removal and general maintenance. Works in buildings, grounds, roof tops, confined spaces in varying weather conditions and emergency situations such as flooding and snow storms. This position reports to the Grounds Foreman and Field Operations and Warehouse Manager (FOWM). COMMUNICATIONS Interacts in a cooperative manner with tenants, staff, co-workers, faculty, contractors and supervisors. Communicates with management, team members and Illinois Tech colleagues to achieve positive results. Escalates equipment or safety problems / issues to FOWM. Must be able to read and interpret basic documents and diagrams, such as read equipment safety operation instructions, and read landscape plans. CUSTOMER SERVICE This position provides a high level of customer service to maintenance and facilities, students, faculty and staff of the university. Delivers service within established departmental customer service standards. Responds proactively, identifies areas of concern and / or problems and escalates to Grounds Foreman and / or FOWM. Follows work instructions and assignments as provided by FOWM. Special Schedule Requirements Shift and workdays are to be determined. Applicants must be available to work on all days / shifts and take on-call responsibilities. This position is an IUOE Local 399 position. Qualifications Education & Experience High school diploma or GED; required

3-5 years landscaping experience and / or specialized job-related training preferred

3-5 years general maintenance experience working in a variety of commercial occupancy buildings with tenants or in an educational, hospitality environment or university campus; preferred

Perform basic math functions; required Knowledge & Skills Technical Knowledge :

The ability to perform plant species identification in the field : required.

Knowledge and skill to safely use the following equipment and follow equipment instructions : Snow plow, riding and walking lawn mower, wood chipper, log splitter, chain saw, forklift, bobcat, aerial lift, string trimmers, leaf blower, lawn edgers, salt spreaders equipment / machinery and university vehicles.

Considers safety in all aspects of the execution of the work to contribute to a safe environment for the students, staff, co-workers, faculty, tenants and visitors in accordance with IIT Environmental Health and Safety, and other Federal, and / or State Agencies.

Ability to maintain compliance with IIT safety regulations and maintain a safe work environment through the use of Personal Protective Equipment, as required, such as safety eyeglasses, masks, etc.

Knows how to keep working area safe, wears and / or uses appropriate safety equipment and follows established safety policies and procedures.

Demonstrated experience working independently and on a team.

Ability to follow controlled access area policies and procedures.

Use computer operations related to position requirements.

Understanding of work orders, use of smart phones or other field based technology.

Communicate effectively in English; both verbal and written; required

Understand and follow instructions.

Read landscape design plans for planting of trees, bushes etc.

Read instructions of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and other chemical use and applications and equipment.

General Skills :

Ability to follow directions and know when to escalate questions to FOWM. SUPERVISION & BUDGET AUTHORITY No supervisory duties and no budget authority. Physical Environment and Requirements Outdoor environments, roof tops, confined spaces and mechanical and building spaces. 70% of work spent in an outdoors environment 30% of work spent in mechanical, laboratory, normal office environment, shared workspace.

Work schedules and work distribution will vary depending on the needs of the university.

Work conditions and locations vary from day to day. Shift and work days are to be determined. Applicants must be available to work on all days / shifts and must be available to work evenings, weekends and emergency overtime as circumstances require.

Mechanical machinery / boiler room, roof tops, lifts, ladders, scaffolds and under floor areas may be exposed to wet, dusty and dirty environments, fire, steam or gas leaks, electrical or mechanical hazards, harsh weather, extreme heat or cold and long hours in emergency situations.

Must be physically capable of strenuous activity over extended periods of time.

Must be able to :

Walk extensive distances around campus.

Lift and move loads of up to 100 lbs.

Bend and work in a kneeling position for periods of time (i.e., for landscape maintenance and snow removal).

Work outside for long periods in extreme heat or cold or emergency situations.

Climb stairs and ladders.

Work at heights either on a ladder, aerial lift or on roof tops.

Enter and work in confined spaces. Certifications and Licenses List any certifications or licenses that are either required or helpful in performing the job, designating whether required or preferred. Required Certifications and License (either has these requirements or willing to acquire the requirements / training) :

Forklift operator certification, required.

Aerial Lifts certification; preferred

OSHA 10-hour safety training current; required (or willing to be trained by IIT)

OSHA Training must be re-certified per OSHA Guidelines

Confined Space training, required (or willing to be trained by IIT)

Fall Protection training, required (or willing to be trained by IIT)

Current valid Driver’s License, required Key Responsibilities Key Responsibility GENERAL MAINTENANCE : Performs general labor duties to maintain a clean, organized and safe campus. Furniture moves; removal of obsolete furniture and equipment, furniture set up, preparation, breakdown and clean up for events, office and mechanical room clean outs, loading and unloading boxes and materials from delivery trucks and delivering between campus locations, picture hanging and light bulb changes. Provides building and campus clean up from weather conditions; snow, rain, wind or other emergency situation. Parking lot surface repair and maintenance, and exterior maintenance painting. Clear and remove debris in and around drainage inlets on either roof drains, down spouts, sidewalk or parking lot drains. Exterior campus recycling and trash removal to designated dumpsters. Operates equipment such as, snow plow, riding and walking lawn mower, string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn edgers, log splitter, wood chipper, chain saw, salt spreaders, forklift, bobcat, aerial lift, other hand machinery, and drives university vehicles. The appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment is required. Percentage Of Time 30 Key Responsibility SEASONAL GROUNDS WORK : Hardscape planting, maintenance and turf care in selected areas around campus (Spring, Summer and Fall) Planting : tree planting, flower bed care and flower planting. Follows planting design plan or instructions. Turf Maintenance : tree trimming, lawn edging, grass seeding, weeding, fertilizing, raking, shoveling, mowing and trimming. Wood chipping, mulching, spreading of the wood chipping material and composting. Move the selected materials to deposit in appropriate location. Operates, adjusts and repairs exterior lawn irrigation system; based on field observation; runs, adjusts, repairs sprinkler heads; runs, adjusts sprinkler timing and schedules. Percentage Of Time 40 Key Responsibility SEASONAL GROUNDS WORK : Snow Removal Treatment and Maintenance (Winter) Snow removal Pre-treatment of sidewalks, driveways, entrances to buildings, stair wells and other identified areas using pre- determined materials. Uses riding and walking plows, snow blowers, shovels, salt spreaders, and hand spreaders. Snow removal maintenance requires continuous monitoring of designated areas to identify areas of risk and take care of areas of risk to maintain the proper and safe conditions of the campus. Operates designated snow equipment and other machinery; drives university vehicles. Percentage Of Time 20 Key Responsibility OTHER DUTIES : Participates in job-related training as deemed necessary by the university. Performs other tasks as assigned. Work schedules and work distribution will vary depending on the needs of the university. Percentage Of Time 10