Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker - Housing

Title: Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker - Housing

Division: Finance and Administration

Department: Facility Operations and Planning

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Range: Grade 9: $18.33/hour

EEO Job Group: 9 E8

Position Summary

The University of Southern Indiana is accepting applications for Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker - Housing.

As a working supervisor, assist Grounds Supervisor in scheduling, directing, performing and overseeing the seasonal tasks relating to general upkeep of landscaped and turf areas; roads and walkways; parking lots; lakes, streams, and watersheds; playing fields and recreational facilities; University property, the University housing complex and Historic New Harmony grounds; and minor construction projects.

Duties/Responsibilities 

• Assist in planning and coordinating daily work schedule for department employees as directed by the Grounds Supervisor.
• Assist in determining methods and standards for work, allocating machines and equipment, and assigning tasks to accomplish seasonal programs for all grounds maintenance areas.
• Supervise the work of others in the grounds maintenance areas in the absence of the Grounds Supervisor or as necessary.
• Work from blueprints, landscape plans, sketches, work orders or oral instruction to landscape areas and construct outdoor facilities.
• Coordinate the operation of complex and specialized grounds maintenance equipment to apply herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
• Maintain inventories, warehouses supplies and equipment pertaining to landscaping, grounds development and maintenance.
• Coordinate and lead regular employees, seasonal and temporary employees and student workers in seeding, sodding, aerating, fertilizing, mowing and trimming of turf areas and removal of trash and debris.
• Assist in interviewing and selecting applicants for grounds worker positions available as needed.
• Assist in the coordination with civic groups and University departments to provide setup support for outdoor events and athletic programs.
• Prepare and conduct employee 30-day, 60-day, 90-day and annual performance evaluations.
• Assist the Grounds Supervisor in disciplinary actions as required.
• Inspect and report to the Grounds Supervisor the condition of grounds and landscaping areas to plan daily work.
• Coordinate the purchase of equipment and supplies for the grounds maintenance program. Prepare requisitions for purchase of materials and supplies.
• Act as liaison between vendors and the University ensuring best product for best price is achieved.
• Collect, check, and verify all payroll time sheets for support staff and student workers. Assist in Resolving areas of discrepancies when necessary.
• Plan and develop preventative and regular maintenance programs for the athletic fields (i.e. formulating chemical programs involving fertilizing, soil amendments, insecticides, pre emergent and post emergent).
• Assist in supervising the maintenance of University roads, walkways, parking lots, and loading docks to include minor paving, patching, grading, ditching, and snow removal.
• Assist certified ground maintenance workers in applying chemicals, pesticides and herbicides to trees, shrubs and turf.
• Assist in supervising the maintenance of vehicular equipment to include trucks, tractors, mowers and towed or mounted equipment i.e. sprayers, spreaders, loaders, plows, discs, blades, aerators, seeders and rollers; hand and powered tools to include saws, augers, trim mowers, week cutters, pruning shears, shovels, and hoes.
• Coordinate and plan seasonal planting and pruning programs. Tend to minor tree plant diseases.
• Plan and execute basic landscaping designs and plant selections to achieve erosion control and enhance wildlife habitats.
• Develop and maintain outdoor facilities to include playing fields, shelter houses, fences, picnic areas, campgrounds, recreational facilities, fishing areas, nature trails, and fences.
• Instruct employees on safety use of equipment and pesticide applications.
• Attend seminars on the application of pesticides as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• High school diploma/GED required.
• Experience operating specialized equipment and a working knowledge of turf maintenance, diseases, chemicals, and agriculture/horticulture/landscaping required.
• Certified or eligible for certification in use of herbicides and pesticides required.
• One year of previous supervisory experience required.
• Valid driver’s licen