Mech Vehicle S11 – Senior Grounds Vehicle Mechanic

The Cornell University campus is widely admired as one of the world’s most beautiful academic settings. The Division of Facilities and Campus Services is committed to providing the highest quality service to, students, staff, alumni and visitors. With more than 260 major buildings enhancing the magnificent landscape of the Ithaca campus, approximately 1,000 highly talented and dedicated staff serve as stewards of the campus resources and operations. All employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity; and supporting inclusive and sustainable practices in carrying out everyday responsibilities.  

Facilities Management (FM) provides maintenance, grounds, and custodial services to the entire campus. As a key steward of the University’s facilities, FM is responsible for facility assessments, skilled trades, general construction, building care, grounds, recycling, asbestos, and the management of planned, corrective, and preventive maintenance. 

The Senior Grounds Vehicle Mechanic serves as the lead mechanic for Grounds vehicle and equipment maintenance, reporting directly to the Construction Manager of Grounds. Consistent with management direction, this position assists with oversight and coordination of mechanics and temporary staff, including scheduling, assigning routine work, training staff in equipment maintenance procedures and safety protocols, providing guidance on vehicle maintenance matters, and inspecting work for compliance with standards. 

This position performs and helps oversee skilled diagnostics, servicing, repairs, inspections, fabrication, preventive maintenance, and recordkeeping for a wide variety of Grounds fleet vehicles and equipment, including turf, landscape maintenance, construction, snow removal, diesel, and other vehicular equipment. The position oversees the Grounds NYS Vehicle Inspection program, supports research and selection of large and small equipment purchases, handles day-to-day procurement of parts and supplies, manages stock and shop tool inventories, and helps maintain a safe, clean, and efficient shop operation. 

The position also administers receiving processes for the Grounds department, ensuring accurate receipt, documentation, and billing paperwork for materials, equipment, chemicals, supplies, and other department purchases. The position may operate landscape, construction, and heavy snow removal equipment, including dump trucks with plows and salt spreaders and large loaders with plows or snow boxes, in support of special projects, seasonal operations, and snow emergencies in a high-traffic campus environment. The position promptly reports unsafe conditions or damage to campus landscape, equipment, vehicles, or facilities. 

This position is subject to 24/7 call-in for emergencies and may require extended hours, including nights, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, to meet seasonal operational needs. Work may occur in weather extremes and may involve working underneath vehicles and equipment, on lifts, in confined spaces, from ladders, in noisy environments, and around gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products. 

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others. 

This is an Endowed, union position within the UAW. The starting pay rate is $33.19/h