Grounds Worker

Job Summary: This position is to maintain, install, and care for the University grounds, off-campus properties to include mowing and many other grounds keeping tasks as noted below, in order to provide a campus outdoor environment that is safe, well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Daily operation of mowing equipment.
• Control turf overgrowth by weed eating around fixtures, borders, and other areas mowers do not reach.
• Daily operate a pick-up truck or golf-type work cart as transportation to and from assigned work areas on or off campus.
• Operate vehicles, carts, or equipment with manual-type transmission.
• Control turf overgrowth of all sidewalks, curbs, edging and drives with use of power edging equipment.
• Perform regular maintenance of equipment used.
• Plan and organize assigned work.
• Flower and landscape bed maintenance includes soil preparation, planting, watering, fertilization, hand weeding, trimming, renovations, mulching and edging.
• Tractor operation with field equipment, aerating, seeding, blading, fertilization.
• Assist with the Athletic field painting process as needed.
• Hand and power shovel or sweep snow and ice from walkways and drives on and off campus.
• Salting and sanding of sidewalks and entryways on and off campus.
• Complete safety training by participating in safety programs as directed.
• Perform all duties in a safe and professional manner within departmental and University policies and procedures.
• Cooperate with others in and outside of the grounds department, including staff, students, faculty, administrators, and visitors.
• Ability to work in a flexible work environment which may require interruptions from tasks to assist others in and outside the grounds department which may involve duties other than grounds keeping. May include but not limited to; furniture moving, room setup, and deliveries.
• Assist in the management of student workers at any time of year as directed by supervisor.
• Assist in greenhouse plant production or maintenance as needed.
• Assist in detecting varying turf conditions by observing and reporting conditions to supervisor.
• Provide tree care assistance; planting, pruning, limb pick up, chipping, mulching, and leaf collection as needed.
• Use of some herbicides for weed control.
• Perform rounds for trash pickup and receptacles.
• Make minor sidewalk and parking lot repairs.
• Assist with parking lot striping.
• Sweep up dirt or debris on walks, trash collection areas, shop areas, and lots assigned.
• Keep work areas and equipment clean for optimum operation and safety.
• Remain up to date on work related responsibilities through reading, periodicals, classes, or seminars.
• Perform other responsibilities, including assisting with special events, moving, group effort duties with other departments as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• Knowledge of and ability to use different hand tools such as shovels, rakes, saws, pruners, hoses, wrenches, hammer, sledge, pliers, brooms, drills, ax, posthole digger, cup cutter, soil sampler, hand pump sprayers, etc.
• A valid state of Kansas drivers license.
• Knowledge and ability to operate tractors, bobcat, Ez-Go vehicles, brush chippers, rototillers, water tank pumps, sprayers, aerators, lawn sweepers, pick-up trucks, small trailers, truck snowplows, salt spreaders, mowers, weed eaters, edgers, blowers, chainsaw, paint machines, fertilizer spreaders, small dump truck, and other grounds keeping equipment.
• Experience driving manual shift-type equipment such as carts, tractors, pick-up trucks, and small dump trucks.
• Ability to perform minor equipment repairs and record those and preventative maintenance in English.
• Ability to work within the overall organization of the Facility Services and work with skilled, unskilled, hearing impaired and Spanish speaking personnel.
• Must be willing to seek and participate in training to enhance or learn new skills and safety procedures.
• Must be accessible and available in the event of emergencies or when needed to meet the ongoing missions of the University.
• Be available for on-call duties in winter season, to work overtime hours early or late and sometimes weekend hours may be required for snow and ice removal.
• Be available for overtime hours on a limited basis to finish work or deadlines necessary before leaving the work area.
• Vacation approval may be limited during peak activity periods including the week of campus workday, graduation, homecoming, and snow removal days.

Skills Required:

• Reasoning Ability:
  • ability to apply common sense to carrying out detailed work and also in problem solving throughout daily tasks or equipment operation.
• Mathematical Skills:
  • ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measuring whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Language Skills:
  • Ability to read, write, and follow directions from a written schedule, interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance manuals and instructions in English.
  • Must possess good oral and written communication skills and be able to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to express ideas effectively and concisely in English.

Education and/or Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED
• One year experience in the care and maintenance of similar facilities or any combination of education, training or experience which fulfills the requirements of the position and needs of the University.

Standards:

• A preventative equipment maintenance program is to be practiced.
• Clean work areas are to be maintained for neatness, safety and consideration of others.
• Understanding of and commitment to the Spiritual mission of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
• Ability to be trained in any of the categories of horticulture, gardening, turf, equipment operation, and safety.
• Adhere to dress code of grounds department given by supervisor.
• Carry a phone to maintain contact with Facility Services personnel to report or receive direction and as a means of safety or emergency contact.
• Courtesy is to be given to all others on or off campus at all times while representing the University.

Physical Demands:

• Good coordination for the operation of grounds equipment and hand tools. To be able to regularly lift various bagged grounds-keeping materials, parking blocks, 5-gallon supplies, and furniture that may exceed 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must not have allergies that interfere with working outdoors such as fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, plant life, pollens, etc.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, or sit. A grounds worker must be able to carry hand-held power equipment for extended periods of time.
• Ability to perform duties and responsibilities that normally require special physical effort including climbing in and out of trenches, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crawling, stretching, lifting, pushing, and pulling.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the duties of this job.
• Expected to work outside in all types of weather.
• The noise level is usually loud, mainly with equipment use.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently wet and/or in humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and outside weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. The grounds worker is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.

Application: Upload the following required documents. The review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Questions about the application process and position may be directed to Abigail Harris, HR Generalist, at abrubaker@mnu.edu. Questions regarding the position may be directed for Joe Vella, Director of Grounds, at jvella@mnu.edu.

Statement of Faith: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an intentionally Christian Community and desires that all employees in positions of leadership reflect a foundational Christian position in word, attitude and action. While there is no predetermined length or format for the Personal Statement of Faith, the norm is a one or two-page narrative document describing the applicants central Christian beliefs, significant formative influences in the applicants Christian experience (e.g., religious experiences of conversion or the affirmation of ones faith, ones family and/or home life, spiritual aspirations), and ways in which the applicants faith is being demonstrated in daily patterns and practices.

MidAmerica Nazarene University is interested in reviewing applications from qualified members of traditionally underrepresented groups in America, including women and racial and ethnic minorities. MidAmerica Nazarene University policy prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, religion*, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected class in the recruitment and admission of students, in the hiring process, during employment, and in the operation of all university programs, activities, and services.

• Christian faith and employment at MidAmerica Nazarene University: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. It reserves the right to prefer employees based on religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964). Preferred candidates demonstrate a strong commitment to the Christian faith, active participation in a local church, and a philosophy of Christian higher education consistent with the Wesleyan tradition.

Read the universitys full Non-Discrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement at www.mnu.edu/jobs