Groundskeeper

In order to be considered for this position applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Once the posting closes all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive concise history of their education certification licensing and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.

For questions regarding this posting please contact Sherry Christman Human Resources Analyst at or .

Equal Employment Opportunities It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race color national origin religion sexual orientation marital status sex gender identity gender expression age genetic information disability or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state federal or local law.

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Groundskeeper position performs semiskilled grounds maintenance work via the operation and routine maintenance of light and heavy power equipment and maintenance repairs for recreational and related facilities and equipment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the Lead Groundskeeper Parks Foreman Parks and Recreation Superintendent and/or the Director of Public Works.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position exercises no supervision but may oversee the work of temporary and seasonal employees and volunteer staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Operates hand power riding and/or rotary mowers to cut lawns and open areas and trim grass around trees fences and structures. Uses hand and power equipment to trim and prune trees and shrubs.

Services power equipment by changing oil lubricating and adjusting as necessary maintains and sharpens blades troubleshoots and repairs.

Cleans grounds ponds paths equipment and walks. Rakes leaves picks up litter and keeps areas tidy and in good appearance. Clears ditches and removes brush from trails and pathways.

Excavates and readies spaces for further development by clearing grading and otherwise preparing large tracts of land for use in park system.

Removes snow ice and other hazards from all County facilities. Uses trucks with snowplow attachments smaller snowplows for walkways snow blowers and shovels. Spreads a variety of melting agents and/or materials to improve traction.

Tills aerates and prepares garden plots including measuring and marking plots for use by County residents. Applies fertilizer pesticides and other chemical solutions with spray rigs to grass shrubs trees and other plantings to prevent and/or control weeds disease and pests or to stimulate growth. Waters fertilizes cultivates and trims lawns shrubs flowers trees and other plantings. Plants trees shrubs and flowers. May perform hand mulching and hand weeding.

Traps and disposes of wildlife posing threats to garden plots and County property.

Performs repair work in recreation and similar structures including but not limited to carpentry plumbing and electrical work such as: unstopping sinks and basins; mending broken fencing doors windows or partitions; painting signs; exterior and interior painting; and recreational facility markings. Builds and repairs birdhouses duck blinds and similar items. Removes trash litter and other debris from grounds. Cleans sanitizes and maintains facilities including restrooms and equipment associated with assigned area such as tennis and volleyball courts playgrounds etc.

Repairs storm damage. Performs roofing repairs and installation.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority but may not perform all of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Completion of a high school or general equivalency diploma; AND

Employees assigned to this title are required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operators license.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION As a post-offer prerequisite for appointment appointees must pass a motor vehicle driving record check.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Basic knowledge of methods techniques materials and equipment used in grounds maintenance work.

Basic knowledge of methods and techniques used in power lawn equipment operation and maintenance.

Basic knowledge of carpentry plumbing and electric.

Knowledge of methods and techniques used in earth-moving equipment operation and maintenance.

Ability to learn to make minor maintenance repairs on tools playground and related structures and recreational equipment and facilities.

Ability to understand follow and give verbal and written instructions.

Ability to work outdoors in differing climatic conditions for several hours at a time.

Ability to perform heavy manual labor.

Ability to read write speak understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Pick up truck dump truck back hoe loader forklift snow blower lawn and landscaping equipment including tractors mowers aerator chain saw edgers weed trimmers electric motors pumps sprinklers irrigation systems; miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance carpentry roofing painting plumbing electrical and cement finishing work boiler telephone or cell phone mobile or portable radio.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to use hands and finger controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance stoop kneel crouch or crawl walk sit and talk or hear.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to eighty (80) pounds and occasionally lift weight up to one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts or in adverse weather conditions including flood conditions. The employee may encounter wet and/or humid conditions fumes toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee may deal with high volume of vehicular traffic. The County will provide proper safety equipment and safety training.

The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy.

SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application rating of education and experience interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: RU-15
UNION STATUS: AFSCME RESIDUAL UNIT

Updated September 2023