Facilities Maintenance – Lead Groundskeeper

Posting Date: April 7th , 2025

Position Title: Facilities Maintenance – Lead Groundskeeper

Reports to: Facilities Manager

Service Area: Santa Fe, NM

Employment Term: Full-Time; 12 months

Salary/Wage Range: Depends on qualifications and experience

Deadline for Application: Open until filled

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Summary

It is anticipated and expected that all functions of this position will be performed in a positive and receptive manner, while helping to advance the mission, vision and policies and procedures of New Mexico School for the Deaf.

The Lead Groundskeeper is responsible for coordinating preventative maintenance and ensuring the upkeep of the NMSD campus grounds. This role involves providing detailed work directions from the Facilities Manager to various contractors and groundskeeping staff. Key duties include soliciting proposals, initiating purchase orders, and processing payments to contractors, maintaining accurate records and inventory, documenting work assignments and time, and reviewing and approving grounds personnel time records at the first level.

The Lead Groundskeeper is responsible for coordinating, scheduling, maintaining, and inspecting all work tasks related to the upkeep of campus grounds, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and promptly. Additionally, the Lead Groundskeeper serves as a role model for students, displaying professionalism, courtesy, and helpfulness.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly and or indirectly supervises non-supervisory employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities as deemed necessary by the Facilities Manager in alignment with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executes or delegates tasks as determined by the Facilities Manager, Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work as instructed by the Facilities Manager. (Other duties may be assigned, including but not limited to campus security and safety-related tasks.)

Under the supervision of the Facilities Manager, the Lead Groundskeeper:

• Directs, coordinate, assigns, inspects, and performs work as necessary to ensure the successful completion of tasks.
• Drafts, updates, implements, and follows the Preventative Maintenance Plan (PMP). Utilizes School Dude and other software as directed to monitor, assign, and schedule preventative groundskeeping, maintenance and repairs.
• Performs and/or coordinates landscape care for lawns, irrigation systems, trees, shrubs, pest and rodent control, edges around driveways and walkways, flower beds, walls, weeds, hedges, and mulch. Performs raking, watering, planting, pruning, fertilizing, and other groundskeeping tasks.
• Manages the landscaping inventory, ensuring all tools and supplies are correctly labeled, stored, and tracked.
• Coordinates and participates in snow removal, including shoveling or mechanical clearing of driveways, walkways, boiler room steps, and building entrances. Sands or salts slippery areas as needed.
• Reports early during anticipated or actual inclement weather and coordinates ontractors and staff to ensure sidewalks and driveways are cleared.
• Works collaboratively with the Facilities Maintenance to ensure all grounds and facilities are well-maintained.
• Participates in cleaning, litter removal, and trash transportation to dumpsters or disposal sites, as needed.
• Collect recyclable materials and ensure the playgrounds are clean and safe.
• Assists with event setup, including arranging tables, chairs, and tents as needed.
• Responds positively to maintenance requests, either handling them personally or delegating them to the appropriate grounds staff member.

Competencies

To perform successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Job Knowledge: Competent in required skills and knowledge; learns and applies new skills with minimal supervision.
• Analytical: Gathers and interprets data effectively; applies intuition and experience in decision-making.
• Planning/Organization: Efficiently plans and prioritizes tasks; sets goals and manages resources effectively.
• Continuous Learning: Seeks feedback for improvement and actively builds knowledge and skills.
• Managing People: Provides feedback, encourages growth, and promotes a supportive supervisory environment.
• Performance Coaching: Defines responsibilities, sets goals, and motivates team members for improved results.
• Recruitment & Staffing: Analyzes staffing needs and presents a positive organizational image.
• Team Leadership: Promotes teamwork and recognizes team accomplishments.
• Cost Consciousness: Operates within budget constraints and promotes cost-saving measures.
• Attendance/Punctuality: Maintains consistent attendance and ensures responsibilities are covered during absences.
• Cooperation: Maintains effective relationships and supports coworkers.
• Teamwork: Balances individual and team responsibilities; encourages team success.
• Initiative: Demonstrates proactive behavior and seeks development opportunities.
• Innovation: Offers creative solutions and embraces challenges resourcefully.
• Judgment: Supports decisions with clear reasoning and includes relevant stakeholders.
• Achievement Focus: Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles.
• Conflict Resolution: Addresses issues effectively while remaining objective.
• Adaptability: Adjusts to changing circumstances and manages competing demands.
• Delegation: Matches responsibilities to team members and monitor’s progress.
• Dependability: Follows through on commitments and takes responsibility for actions.
• Compassion: Understands the significance of Deaf and minority communities in New Mexico.
• Personal Appearance: Dresses appropriately and maintains a professional appearance.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Recognizes and respects cultural differences in communication and customs.
• Humility: Shows openness to learning from others’ experiences and cultures.
• Multiculturalism: Demonstrates understanding of Deaf culture and applies appropriate cultural values.
• Diversity: Promotes respect for cultural differences and incorporates diverse viewpoints.
• Ethics: Upholds integrity and organizational values in all interactions.
• Language: Demonstrates proficiency across various language forms and registers.
• Communication: Communicates clearly in writing and speech, ensuring grammatical accuracy.
• Leadership: Inspires and motivates others, fosters respect, and acknowledges contributions.
• Problem-Solving: Analyzes information to develop effective solutions.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligns strategies with organizational goals and adapts to changes.
• Quality & Quantity: Demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, and productivity.
• Project Management: Completes projects on schedule.
• Organizational Support: Adheres to policies and supports organizational values.
• Customer Service: Responds promptly and effectively to service requests.
• Technology Use: Adapts to new technologies and uses them to improve productivity.
• Safety and Security: Observes safety protocols and maintains a secure environment.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the following requirements:

• Education and Experience: A degree or certificate in horticulture, a related field, or equivalent work experience in plants, landscaping, sprinkler systems, irrigation, and basic preventative campus and groundskeeping maintenance. A degree or certificate in a similar or related field, demonstrating, scheduling, task completion, management, and coordination skills. Equivalent or similar work experience that demonstrates task orientated completion and supervisory skills.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registration: Relevant certifications or equivalent experience in irrigation and landscaping maintenance. Other education, relevant certificates or licensing may be considered.
• General Management: The ability to complete projects with various resources. Critical thinking and general management skills to accomplish work goals.
• Language Skills: Ability to present effectively to audiences. Has a good grasp of written English. (Spanish fluency is desirable.)
• Sign Language: Required to participate in NMSD ASL classes to develop proficiency in American Sign Language.
• Mathematical Skills: Proficient in basic arithmetic, percentages, ratios, and interpreting bar graphs.
• Computer Skills: Working knowledge of School Dude, Microsoft Windows, Excel, and Microsoft Office software.
• Reasoning Ability: Capable of interpreting diverse instructions and working both independently and collaboratively.

Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; extreme cold and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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NMSD is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We adhere to all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations regarding equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. As an equal opportunity employer, we ensure that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, genetic information, family and medical leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law