Grounds to Equip Operator I - Training

Department: Facilities Management

Summary

Maintain and improve University grounds including turf, streets, parking lots and subsurface infrastructure; move equipment and furniture; transport incoming and outgoing freight shipments; set up furnishings and equipment at special events; and assist and work with Grounds and Trades personnel on a wide variety of projects. The employee’s progress through this training position will be regularly reviewed by a Training Committee. The employee has up to 2 years to successfully complete the training.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Perform a wide variety of skilled work in the operation of all light-duty equipment including, but not limited to the following: Wheel Loader Backhoe, Tandem-Axle Dump Truck, All-terrain Fork-Lift, Sewer Jetter Truck, Bucket Truck
2. Perform a wide variety of skilled work in the operation of all light-duty equipment including, but not limited to the following: Pick-up Truck Mounted Sander, Pick-up Truck with or without plow, Utility Work Machines with or without plow, blower, bucket, forks, or broom, Street Sweeper, Skid-steer, Riding Lawn Mower, Farm Tractor, Turf Sweeper
3. Plan and perform a wide variety of skilled work in the operation of hand-held tools and equipment including, but not limited to the following: Weed Trimmer, Leaf Blower, Air Compressor, Edger, Chain Saw, Welding/Cutting Torch, Power Broom, Masonry Saw, Snow Blower
4. Be responsible for general operating and light maintenance of equipment and machines including oil changes, greasing, filter changes, maintaining proper fluid levels and tire inflation, minor repairs and maintaining an operating log on dump trucks and bucket truck.
5. Support the maintenance of campus sidewalks and roadways, including pavement patching and replacement, installation of signage, maintenance of safety barriers, snow removal, and sand/salt treatment.
6. Be responsible for locating, maintaining, and repairing select campus utilities, including irrigation systems, storm water systems, fire suppression systems, and sanitary sewer systems.
7. Be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of campus grounds, including applying seed, fertilizer, and soil amendments; turf repair; lawn mowing; tree trimming, removal, and planting; and raking and leaf collection.
8. Be responsible for connecting hoses to exterior spigots and placing and positioning sprinklers at select areas on campus to ensure that areas are sufficiently irrigated and maintained.
9. Be able to work from general assignment and proceed with minimum supervision or direction from others.
10. Read and work from blueprints, sketches, and schematic drawings.
11. Maintain a broad knowledge of applied trade practices, techniques, and applicable rules and codes.
12. Assist Trades personnel with maintenance of various types of equipment and building facilities and infrastructure as necessitated by daily operations.
13. Assist fellow Operators and Groundspersons on projects as they are assigned, including organizing work assignments and ensuring that work is completed on time and within budget.
14. Project implementation support through organizing work assignments and coordinating with Equipment Operators to ensure that work is completed on time and within budget.
15. Be responsible for housekeeping, sanitation, and safety in assigned Grounds break, storage, shop, and work areas.
16. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
17. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
18. Report all safety-related concerns to supervisor.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High School diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Must possess appropriate valid driver's license(s) and a satisfactory driving record.
• Must possess or demonstrate the ability to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with B endorsement within 120 calendar days of hire. Having or achieving this is a critical component to maintaining satisfactory performance during the probationary period.
• The employee is subject to federally mandated CDL drug and alcohol testing policies.

Required Experience

• One year experience, within the last three years, in the performance of landscaping and groundskeeping including turf maintenance, tree and shrub planting and maintenance, walkway/roadway maintenance, snow removal, and equivalent tasks.
• Three years experience in the last three years in the operation and maintenance