Grounds Technician - Colorado Christian University

About the Job

The Grounds Technician is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Assistant Director of Grounds. The ideal candidate has two or more years of progressive experience in landscape and grounds maintenance, or similar areas. The successful candidate will possess the skills and experience necessary to provide competent service to the Colorado Christian University (CCU) community.

About CCU

Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV)

CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.

Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.

CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars—competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.

A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 100 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 8,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.

What is most appealing about working at CCU?

1. Faith friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.

We’re looking for candidates who have:

1. Ability to function as part of a team with exceptional interpersonal skills and aptitude for initiating and building relationships.
2. Ability to meet goals and deadlines and to manage multiple tasks/work orders as a self-starter.
3. Ability to lift weight in excess of 50 lbs.
4. Ability to communicate via phone, text, email, or in person with Assistant Director of Grounds and/or Director Facilities.
5. Ability to resolve issues out in the field and demonstrate problem solving skills.
6. Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision.
7. Valid driver’s license.

Key Job Duties

Mission Contribution

Contribute to CCU’s mission: Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. In this role, the Grounds Technician supports the mission of the University by exemplifying Christ-like character as they work to make the CCU campus a safe and beautiful environment for students, faculty, staff, and constituents.

Customer Service

1. Work with constituents from initial receipt of a work order request until completion, including final communication with customers.
2. Provide complete customer service to all members of the CCU community and work cooperatively with vendors as assigned.
3. Demonstrate Christ's love to student employees as an example of hard work and of Christ-like character while providing direction and guidance.
4. Assist the Director of Facilities and Assistant Director of Grounds in project management, communication to and from the CCU community, CCU building maintenance oversight and goal setting, and setting an example of Christ-like dialogue.
5. Perform all assigned functions during their designated shift.

Safety, Inspection, and Repair

1. Comply with safety guidelines and other policies as established by CCU and other governmental authorities.
2. Inspect campus for unsafe conditions and cleanliness.
3. Care for and perform routine preventative maintenance on all grounds equipment used in the course of work.
4. Assist with irrigation, troubleshooting, and system repairs.
5. Troubleshoot, repairs or replaces broken irrigation lines, manual or automatic irrigation valves, sprinkler heads, automatic controllers and related equipment

Maintenance and Equipment Operation

1. Operate a variety of heavy equipment and other hand and power tools used in grounds maintenance i.e. tractors, mowers, chain saws, edger's, weed eaters, backpack blowers, power hedge trimmers, rototillers, snow blowers, snow plow, skid steer and loader, gator and golf carts.
2. Responsible to complete scheduled cleaning and preventative maintenance on irrigation and grounds equipment.
3. Complete scheduled cleaning and preventative maintenance on irrigation and grounds equipment.
4. Operate truck, tractor, and utility terrain vehicle with hydraulic plow, snow blowing, shoveling, spreading ice melt manually or with ice melt spreader, and any another means needed to keep our campus safe.
5. Assist with the care and maintenance of pond.
6. Design, re-design, lay out and install new or existing irrigation systems by trenching, connecting to existing water supply, and installing all related parts, which may include low voltage wiring.

Landscape and Lawn Oversight

1. Rake or blow leaves.
2. Plant, cultivate, weed removal, water and care for lawns, ornamental plants, shrubs, trees and flowers. Prune trees and shrubs, re-sod and repair lawns.
3. Spray non-toxic applications to control pests and weeds; may assist with the spraying and dusting of insecticides and other chemicals.
4. Perform landscape construction: patch asphalt, install signs and decorative planters, set wood and metal posts in cement, chains link or wood fences and gate repair etc…
5. Remove snow in winter months.
6. Install new landscape planting and structures.
7. Set traps for vertebrate pest control and spray/apply fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides for pest, plant disease control, weed control

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is required to work on call as needed for snow removal or emergency grounds issues, which may include occasional irregular hours, including some after hours, early mornings and later nights, and weekends.

What we offer our employees:

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process.

Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $18.00-20.00 per/hour. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.

Application Deadline: This position will remain open until filled.