Grounds Lead - Rice University
Houston, TX 77001
About the Job
The lead groundskeeper performs and leads others in general landscape maintenance including loading, unloading, and safely moving furniture, equipment and other items. In this role, the incumbent shares in the leadership and supervisor responsibilities of a three to five-person team and uses various vehicles, equipment and machines to perform landscape maintenance, solid waste removal and furniture moving activities. The Rice Facilities Engineering & Planning (FE&P) grounds team consists of 30 plus groundskeepers, arborists and other specialists who develop and maintain our 300-acre tree-lined campus in an environmentally sensitive and aesthetically pleasing manner. This dedicated team works throughout the year in all-weather conditions, while caring for our trees, fields, gardens and lawns. Our mission is to create a great first impression and support the university's mission of teaching and research through our effective and innovative stewardship of the campus landscape.
The successful candidate can coordinate and lead a team of groundskeepers and equipment operators in routine tasks. S/he is able to prioritize and monitor work assignments and has good communications skills.
Salary
$15.00 - 18.20
Essential Functions
- Performs general grounds and heavy equipment maintenance activities as directed
- Implements grounds projects
- Collaborates with supervisor to coordinate assignments and work schedules, observe and report areas of risk
- Participates in horticultural maintenance; plants, prunes, and removes trees, hedges, and shrubs; cleans, weeds, and mulches around trees and flower beds; prepares area and adds topsoil
- Removes debris from general areas and from walkways and paths
- Operates and provides first-line maintenance on various heavy equipment and vehicles; instructs on equipment operation
- Assists in moving and storage of furniture and equipment
- Provides functional supervision to designated employees
- Performs all other duties as assigned
Experience and Education Requirements
- HS Diploma or equivalent
- 3 years of related experience
- Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver's license with no more than three moving violations and/or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.
Skills Required
- Dependability
- Ability to follow instructions
- Advanced knowledge of proper equipment use and maintenance
- Strong interpersonal skills
Preferences
- Good communication skills
- Able to coordinate and lead a team of groundskeepers and equipment operators in routine tasks
- Able to prioritize and monitor work assignments
- Willingness to obtain specialized training
Physical Demands
- HEAVY - Exert up to 70 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects
- Requires walking, standing, lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 8 hours per day and multi-limb coordination to operate heavy equipment
- Other physical requirements of the job include the ability to bend/crouch/or kneel, see, reach, climb, and balance
Working Conditions
- Work is done outdoors, exposure to inclement weather (hot, cold, rain, etc.)
Essential Personnel
This position is considered essential during a campus emergency. The incumbent in this position is expected to report to campus, provide the essential services designated and work under the overall direction of the Crisis Management Team for the duration of a campus emergency
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
Current Rice University COVID policies, which include vaccination, face mask, testing, gatherings, occupancy limits, and travel policies can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies