Job Summary

Assigned primarily to the South 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 and athletic fields of the campus as well as supporting recycling operations. This position is typically assigned to an area of campus and is responsible to maintain all fields and grounds/landscape areas including natural and artificial turf, softball/baseball infields, sand volleyball courts, and tennis courts while also ensuring ornamental plants such as groundcover, plants, hedges, shrubs, and trees are properly cared for. This includes work efforts associated with cultivating and maintaining high quality playing surfaces as well as 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 athletics outdoor facilities and 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintains artificial turf playing surfaces including sweeping, brushing, grooming, leveling, decompacting, infill redistribution/replenishing, cleaning, disinfecting, watering, repairing seams, inspecting, and other related duties.
• Maintains specialized playing surfaces including a sand volleyball court and tennis courts including cleaning, filling, sifting, grooming, inspecting, and other related duties
•  Plant, trim, prune, and spray ornamental plants, shrubs, hedges, trees, lawns, and flowers
• Rake leaves and hoes weeds including use of specialized equipment where appropriate. Manicures, cuts, removes, and cleans up vegetation and debris to maintain aesthetics
• Provides lead work direction to unskilled assistants, including students and volunteers
• 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
• Unlocks and secures facility areas to access equipment. Maintains security of all assigned equipment and keys. Reports issues with lost or stolen equipment or keys promptly
• Works collaboratively and as a team with other members of the Grounds Services team and also with other FD&O units and personnel, as needed, to successfully complete work assignments and support work efforts

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge, including ability to quickly learn and adapt skills, in the maintenance of high level athletic playing fields
• Thorough knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenance methods
• Ability to read and write at a level appropriate to the position, and to follow simple oral and written instructions
• Ability to operate hand and powered equipment common to the landscape and grounds maintenance field
• Ability to maintain records, communicate, and retrieve data related to work performed using manual and computerized record-keeping systems, and to keep simple records and make simple reports
• 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 all required health physicals and examinations

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
• Possession of a maintenance gardener pest control certification or qualified applicator license from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Knowledge of general gardening, grounds, and athletic field maintenance methods
• General knowledge of planting, cultivating, and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, and floors
• 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 - $3,773/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

This position is open until filled.

Work Schedule

Tuesday - Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.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).