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Job Summary

Assigned primarily to the Main Campus and reporting to the Grounds, Landscape & Recycling Manager while under lead work direction provided by the Lead Groundsworker, the Groundsworker is a member of a team responsible for maintaining landscape and grounds areas of the campus as well as supporting recycling operations. This position is assigned to an area of campus and is responsible to maintain all areas of the grounds and landscape including lawns, groundcover, plants, hedges, shrubs, and trees. This includes work efforts associated with planting, cultivating, fertilizing, trimming, raking, mowing, weeding, and irrigating grounds areas and keeping the campus free and clear of debris and collecting trash and recyclables. This position operates small equipment and machinery typical to a landscape, hardscape, and grounds environment and may perform duties associated with and assisting qualified personnel in irrigation system repair, spraying, tree trimming, and nursery functions.

This position is a part of the Maintenance & Operations unit of Facilities Development & Operations, which provides services to a University campus spread across five sites comprised of 167 acres, 85 buildings, and more than six million gross square feet. Maintenance & Operations employs approximately 235 full time permanent staff and up to an additional nine part time, seasonal, or contract staff. The assigned operating budget for the unit is +$20 million for annual routine maintenance and operation activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant, trim, prune, and spray ornamental plants, shrubs, hedges, trees, lawns, and flowers.  Erects and maintains tree supports
• Rake leaves and hoes weeds including use of specialized equipment where appropriate. Manicures, cuts, removes, and cleans up vegetation and debris to maintain aesthetics
• Monitors and cultivates lawn and plant growth by providing water, light, and soil nutrients and aeration
• Collects trash and recycling and disposes of properly while also maintaining trash/recycling bins and area in a neat and clean manner
• Prepares and treats soils to ensure vigorous plant and lawn health
• Under guidance from qualified personnel, operates, adjusts, cleans and inspects irrigation piping, valves, heads, emitters, and related equipment to ensure proper coverage and to identify problems and needed repairs
• Assists in maintaining, including preparing for play and lining, athletic fields
• Uses hand tools common to the gardening and grounds maintenance field to upkeep areas of assignment
• Maintains clean work areas, tools, equipment and associated structures
• Provides response to the lead supervisor, appropriate administrator, and FD&O Customer Service Desk to responds to grounds services related emergency situations around campus and miscellaneous trouble calls as assigned
• Records work efforts in detail within computerized recordkeeping systems and, where directed, on log sheets, and keeps accurate records so as to ensure an appropriate level of documentation regarding actions taken to complete assignments
• Attends and participates in departmental meetings, trainings and functions.  Maximize productivity through participation in training and performance improvement initiatives.
• Disables and clearly identifies (lock out and tag out) unsafe equipment, and immediately notify appropriate personnel.
• Uses protective equipment, as required for personal safety.
• Participates in after hours emergency response callbacks and scheduled overtime to meet campus needs

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• General knowledge in the proper use and care of gardening materials, tools, and equipment.
• Ability to recognize the more common species of ornamental shrubs, trees and flowers grown in California.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical labor as required to successfully complete grounds and landscape assignments.
• Utilizes mechanical aptitude and motor coordination to properly operate all equipment and to do so safely
•  Ability to initiate, establish, and foster a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere while establishing effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds
• Ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic justice, social justice, environmental justice) into all aspects of performing job duties
• Must participate in and successfully complete all assigned training, skill and professional development activities
•  Ability to operate a motor vehicle, utility cart, personnel lifts, powered street/pavement sweepers, ride on mowers, and other hand and power driven equipment and tools required to successfully complete assignments

Required Qualifications

• One year of experience in the care and maintenance of landscaped areas or in general grounds maintenance work, or in related manual labor
• Must participate in all OSHA required physicals and examinations
• Requires the possession of a valid California Driver's License for the operation of any vehicle or equipment required for position and in any emergency situation

License

A valid driver's license is required for this position. Out of state candidates selected for the position must obtain a State of California driver's license within 10 days of hire in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles regulations.

Once hired the employee must successfully complete the Defensive Driver Training Program provided by the State of California for California State University campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent education
• Knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenance methods
• General knowledge of planting, cultivating, and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, and floors
• Possession of a maintenance gardener pest control certification or qualified applicator license from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Three years of experience in the care and maintenance of landscaped areas or in general grounds maintenance work or in related manual labor
• Experience working within a University or large commercial setting

Compensation

Classification: Groundsworker
Anticipated Hiring Range: $3,545/month - $3,662/month
CSU Salary Range: $3,545/month - $5,532/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: April 23, 2024 through May 7, 2024. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Work Schedule

Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).