Groundskeeper, Lead

As a member of the Facilities Division within the Site Utilities and Maintenance (SUM) Department, the Lead Groundskeeper oversees a team of 2
-5 craft workers responsible for maintaining Laboratory grounds. This role includes performing and leading semi-skilled and skilled grounds maintenance tasks such as lawn care, trimming, pruning, planting, watering, and general landscape upkeep.

The Lead Groundskeeper provides leadership on assigned work scope and objectives, ensures safety oversight through pre-job briefings, supports staff with work order questions, and escalates hazards or significant safety concerns to Supervisors or Line Management as needed. The role requires working independently on routine assignments while maintaining strong coordination with leadership.

Responsibilities also include managing tools and equipment by receiving, storing, issuing, and tracking inventory; maintaining records; ensuring proper cleaning, maintenance, and minor repairs coordinating calibration of measuring devices; and overseeing proper disposal of surplus or obsolete equipment.

We're here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans

• Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program

• A culture where you'll belong - we are invested in our teams!

• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.

• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)

• Pet insurance

You will:

• Perform routine grounds maintenance including site clean-up, planting, cultivating, mowing, hedging, pruning, watering, weeding, debris removal, and specialized tree trimming tasks.

• Operate and maintain hand tools, power tools, heavy equipment (e.g., wood chipper, boom lifts), and government vehicles; ensure proper storage, maintenance, and safe operation.

• Under general supervision, perform Lead duties including assigning work, conducting job briefings, and guiding crew activities.

• Work independently on routine assignments while ensuring team adherence to Berkeley Lab safety practices; inspect assigned zones daily for quality and cleanliness and report issues to the Supervisor.

• Utilize Maximo and Data splice to generate, assign, track, and update work orders.

• Coordinate schedules and communications using Google Suite; collaborate with Facilities Division teams, Security and Emergency Services (SES), Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) and external stakeholders.

• Conduct job walks with Facilities and Lab staff to define scope; monitor project progress and report delays or issues.

• Maintain and organize tools, equipment, vehicles, and work spaces; oversee safe use of power equipment for landscape maintenance.

• Ensure proper PPE use and safety compliance for self and crew.

• Support additional duties such as traffic flagging, barricades, environmental fencing installation, erosion control, and related tasks.

• Comply with LBL, DOE, and applicable federal, state, and local health, safety, environmental, and vegetation management requirements.

• Identify hazards, enforce safe work practices, minimize waste and chemical exposure, and report safety concerns to Supervisor and EHS.

• Exercise Stop Work authority when necessary and coordinate hazard mitigation before work resumes.

• Partner with stakeholders to ensure work planning meets compliance and safety standards; monitor green waste containers and coordinate disposal pickups.

• Follow Operational Safety Procedures (OSP) and maintain exposures within prescribed safety limits.

• Support continuous improvement, preventative maintenance activities, and effective work execution.

• Maintain required safety training; attend safety, technical, and SUM Craft Lead meetings.

• Promote workplace health, safety, and environmental protection; understand PUB 3000 and injury reporting requirements.

• Drive pickup trucks and passenger vehicles to and from work sites.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A minimum of 1 year of related experience in shop work, grounds maintenance work, labor, or gardening work, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Must demonstrate leadership skills and ability to lead and delegate work to others.

• Demonstrated analytical skills

• Ability to plan and carry out assignments independently.

• Strong customer service and conflict management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot issues related to work performed.

• Experience working with power equipment and tools and being able to troubleshoot issues and concerns safely.

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written to provide direction to staff and work with stakeholders.

• Ability to read and interpret information such as guidelines and…