CERES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

JOB DESCRIPTION

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction and supervision of the Director and Assistant Director of Maintenance & Operation, performs groundskeeper work, including the maintenance of lawns, trees, shrubs and landscaped areas for District facilities and grounds. 

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Plants and maintains lawns, shrubs, trees and other plantings.
• Installs, inspects and maintains sprinkler systems, makes minor repairs and reports major problems.
• Controls weed, plant diseases and insects; may use pesticides, herbicides and fungicides for abatement.
• Picks up rubbish and litter.  Performs general grounds cleaning, sweeps or blows sidewalks and cleans drainage areas.
• Operates lawn mowers (riding and push), chainsaws, edgers, hedgers, line trimmers, brush cutters, cultivators, blowers, sweepers and related power equipment.  Performs routine maintenance and minor repairs on power equipment.
• Prepares athletic fields for events, including the chalking of fields for a variety of sporting events.
• Maintains, repairs or constructs outdoor areas, e.g., cement, fences, gates and playgrounds.
• Loads, unloads and drives a variety of district vehicles and transports equipment to work sites.
• Performs general custodial or maintenance worker duties.
• Plans maintenance and develops schedules for groundskeeper activities.
• Attends staff meetings, safety training and other in-service training as appropriate.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:  Methods used in planting, cultivating, pruning and caring for plants, flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns; gardening materials, tools and power equipment including their use and care; common plant diseases, inspect pests, and approved control methods and materials.

Ability to:

• Operate motorized equipment and use gardening hand and power tools.
• Repair and maintain gardening and landscaping tools and equipment.
• Work and operate tools and power equipment according to prescribed safety procedures using appropriate safety gear. 
• Keep vehicle, power equipment and tools in safe and proper operating condition.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions and work independently without direct supervision.
• Communicate effectively and accurately both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers.
• Speak, read, and write English.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:  High School Diploma or equivalent. 

Experience:  Two (2) years in gardening, landscaping or related work.

Special Requirements:  Must possess a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to talk or hear and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud.