Facilities and Grounds Superintendent

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Competition Number: J0325-0967

Position Title: Facilities and Grounds Superintendent

Position Number (Final): 00118363

Employee Group: Support Staff

Job Category: Other Professionals

Location: Elgin, Ontario, Canada (On-site)

Salary: $50,578.00 - $61,680.00/Year

Grade: 06 Review Salary Information Here

Hours per Week: 35

Job Type: Permanent (Continuing)

Shift: 7 Monday - Friday

Number Of Positions: 1

Date Posted: April 2, 2025

Closing Date: April 20, 2025

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COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

Come work with us!

Job Summary

The Queen’s University Biology Station (QUBS) is located near the village of Chaffey’s Lock, approximately 50kms north of Kingston, Ontario. It is the largest university-owned field station in Canada with over 3,400 hectares of property. Its primary mandate is to provide opportunities for university teaching and research in the biological and related sciences. QUBS has two campuses: Lake Opinicon (hereafter Opinicon), where most research and teaching occurs, and Elbow Lake, known as the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre (ELEEC), which offers public and school outreach. Opinicon provides daily meals, accommodation, lab space, technical equipment, computer systems, weather stations, and safety equipment, with on-site accommodation for over 90 residents.

QUBS is hiring a Facilities and Grounds Superintendent to join our QUBS Team. In addition to a competitive wage, the Facilities and Grounds Superintendent is eligible for a wide range of other employee benefits such as pension, health and dental benefits, work wear, tuition support, childcare support plan, and various work/life wellness programs. Further information is available on the human resources website: https://www.queensu.ca/humanresources/

Reporting to the Operations and Stewardship Manager, Opinicon (QUBS), the Facilities and Grounds Superintendent helps with multiple aspects of maintaining a busy field station (off-campus locations), and ensuring its ability to host researchers, students and other users. Opinicon has 35 building (Queen’s Point only) – there are 7 other buildings located on research tracts, 19 buildings at the ELEEC, 3,400 hectares of property, a workshop and a wide range of equipment for snowplowing, tree removal, trails and road maintenance, landscaping, and maintaining boats and motors, as well as safety equipment etc. The Facilities and Grounds Superintendent will maintain equipment, including, but not limited to, the workshop equipment, vehicles, tractors, generators, fire pump, chain saws, brush cutters, bushhog, ATV, lawnmower, snowblower, snowplow and sander, snowmobile, and boats and motors. The incumbent will assist with keeping water systems (14 systems) and septic systems (9 systems) operational. The incumbent will assist QUBS users in designing new equipment and repairing existing sampling and field gear. Because of the remote location, the incumbent needs a varied skill set – mechanical, electrical, sewage and potable/non-potable water systems, general construction, carpentry, farm equipment operation and maintenance, etc. The Facilities and Grounds Superintendent will assist with cleaning and basic maintenance of buildings including guest accommodations, teaching spaces and/or labs. Tasks include removal of garbage and recycling and taking these to appropriate landfill/recycling facility and tending grounds.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Tend grounds and assist with stewardship, including snow removal, grass cutting, road maintenance, trails maintenance, bushhogging fields and edges, tree removal, building and repairing fences etc.
• Perform scheduled, corrective, and preventative maintenance and repair of infrastructure and building projects, including plumbing and minor electrical work, carpentry, painting, etc.
• Updates and maintains digital maintenance logs of all equipment and repair activities.
• Assist with cleaning and tidying appropriate areas. May include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, removing trash and recyclables, and washing windows and walls.
• Assist with larger projects – including small building construction, bridges, docks, outdoor furniture, renovations, structural repairs, walkways, and docks.
• Maintain a broad array of supplies and equipment including; trucks, ATVs, tractors, mowers as well as tools in the main workshop (farm, shop, safety, vehicles, etc.)
• Assist users with sampling field gear construction and repair.
• Respond to emergencies with standard corrective action and notify supervisors of problems requiring further assistance. May be required to be on-call to respond to problems that arise at any time.
• May help coordinate work of casual staff.
• Other duties as required in support of the unit or department.
• Protects own health and health of others by adopting safe work practices, reporting unsafe conditions immediately and attending all relevant in-services regarding occupational health and safety. Follows all guidelines for employees and employers as legislated under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 Secondary School Diploma coupled with at least 1 year of general, related trades helper experience, grounds keeping and snow removal/de-icing operations.
• Previous experience in building and/or performing repairs with demonstrated skills in a variety of trades including, carpentry, plumbing (including well and septic systems), and electrical and mechanics would be an asset.
• Varied skill set required because of the scope of the facility and its remote location
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Other necessary skills will be learned on the job or training opportunities will be provided.
• Knowledge of safe working procedures in accordance with applicable Safety Regulations.
• Valid Province of Ontario Class G driver’s license required. Experience safely operating heavy equipment including large tractors, driving with a trailer, and piloting various watercrafts
• Organizational and problem-solving skills to analyse a situation and take appropriate action
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practice in safety procedures, and experience maintaining safety equipment, including Personal Protective Equipment.
• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening required.
  
  

Special Skills

• Interactions require the ability to identify and respond to straightforward needs or requests
• Ability to operate a wide range of equipment: janitorial, shop tools, farm equipment, snowplows, boats, trailers, chainsaws, welder, etc.
• Maintain workshop tools in a good working condition.
• General maintenance ability, including basic plumbing, electrical, carpentry, construction and renovation, fencing, trail maintenance, road maintenance, brush and tree removal
• Ability to perform the physical demands of the job
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to oversee varied tasks, prioritize duties and complete activities in a busy environment with multiple stakeholders/users and competing interests.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• As a representative of the University and QUBS, strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact and communicate with a variety of stakeholders/users in a professional, respectful manner, demonstrating tact and diplomacy. Stakeholders/users include: members of the public, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, professors, alumni, Department of Biology colleagues and QUBS colleagues.
  
  

Decision Making

• Plan daily work and prioritize. Work toward long-term goals of the facility when daily goals achieved without being specifically directed to do so.
• Evaluate maintenance problems to assist supervisor in carrying out corrective action
• Assist QUBS users with questions, and redirect inquiries as appropriate
• Take immediate corrective action in emergency situations and take appropriate steps to minimize damage, avoid risk and maintain safety
• Effective decision-making ability including knowing when to address issues independently and when to refer to the Operations & Stewardship Manager/or Senior Manager, Program and Administration (QUBS), or other program supervisors.
• Determines when to report on safety issues in accordance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and the Workplace and Insurance Board (WSIB), when to alert the Operations & Stewardship Manager and/or Senior Manager, Program and Administration (QUBS), and when to call emergency services.
  
  

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.

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