Grounds Crew Member

Grounds Crew Member

Job Title: Grounds Crew Member

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Lead Grounds Supervisor

Job Summary/Objective: The Grounds Crew Member performs semi-skilled and skilled tasks relating to the maintenance and beautification of the campus property and associated grounds projects. This position also assists Horticulture land management, agriculture and vineyard management strategy.

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders. Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation. Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program. Its finances are robust, and validated by balanced budget and positive bond ratings.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation’s most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week; 7:00 – 3:30 pm Monday through Friday. Hours will vary during summer operation. Overtime and evening/weekend availability may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Essential Responsibilities:

• Police grounds, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks and sweep or blow clean as needed. Maintain litter free grounds, sidewalks, curbs and patio areas.
• Perform snow removal duties, operating snowplow(s), spreader, and other snow removal equipment as required.
• Under direct supervision provide landscape services to include fine grading, bed preparation, and installation of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.
• Clean-up from storm damage to include but not limited to removal of trees and other debris.
• The marking of athletic fields and the repair and storage of goals.
• Perform event setups as assigned.
• Maintain roads and other surfaced areas to include reworking and resurfacing graveled roads, keeping drainage ditches and other drains free of obstructions, repair and/or replace asphalt on roads and walks.
• Maintain lawn areas with proper equipment to include mowing, bush hogging, edging, seeding, and fertilizing.
• Perform routine and emergency cleanup of trees and shrubs.
• Perform the transfer of compost materials to the compost storage area.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license and insurability
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience operating heavy equipment such as Bobcat or tractor, backhoe, and mowing equipment
• Requires full range of body motion, including reaching, stooping, kneeling, climbing and walking.
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 lbs.
• Requires standing/ extensive walking for extended periods of time.
• Must have good vision, with or without corrective devices.
• Requires working in all types of weather.
• One or more years of related grounds/agricultural experience
• Ability to work as a team with some supervisory skills.
• Operate handheld equipment such as blowers, weed eaters, and etc.
• Operate and perform maintenance checks on lawn mowing equipment.
• Operate and perform maintenance checks on large equipment to include bucket truck, skid steer, tractor, and trash truck.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicators License

Work Environment: Must be able to work weekends and longer hours if needed. The position requires work to be completed in all types of weather conditions.

Physical Demands: Extensive periods of standing/bending/sitting will be required. Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs regularly. Full range of body motion, including reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing, and walking.

Travel: None

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.