Lead Groundsworker

Our Commitment To Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion

California State University (CSU), Chico is a comprehensive and residential public university, holding Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Chico State operates as part of the 23-campus CSU system, which educates the most ethnically, economically, and academically diverse student body in the nation. The University enrolls over 15,000 students, with over half identifying as first‑generation college students. Chico State is committed to recruiting outstanding candidates who support equity gaps and inclusive environments.

Under general supervision, the Lead Grounds worker oversees and assists Grounds employees engaged in specialized campus-wide work, including athletic field maintenance, and leads crews engaged in grounds projects such as installing major landscape areas, planting trees and shrubs, maintaining irrigation systems, and performing concrete and asphalt work.

This classification is distinguished from other general or specialized grounds classifications primarily by the performance of lead duties requiring the ability to plan, train, coordinate, assign, and inspect the work of others. It is further distinguished from the Grounds worker classification by the greater technical knowledge of horticultural methods, materials, and plant care required.

Incumbents are responsible for coordinating work assignments for Grounds staff and student employees, completing required operational paperwork and documentation, conducting monthly safety meetings, providing safety training and reinforcing safe work practices, working independently and as part of a team, supporting special events, and providing landscape care and support within their assigned areas as well as other campus locations as operational needs dictate.

The Lead Grounds worker serves as a key field resource for coordinating daily operations, ensuring work quality and safety standards, and supporting campus events, projects and seasonal operational priorities.

• Coordinate work assignments for Grounds staff and student employees.
• Complete required operational paperwork and documentation.
• Conduct monthly safety meetings and provide safety training.
• Work independently and as part of a team; support special events and provide landscape care and support.
• Serve as a key field resource for coordinating daily operations, ensuring work quality and safety standards, and supporting campus events, projects, and seasonal operational priorities.

Two years of experience in planting, cultivating and maintaining flowers and shrubs, or in general grounds maintenance work.

• Experience with horticultural spraying and pest eradication.
• Experience with irrigation systems including installation and maintenance of sprinkler heads, repairs of irrigation lines, and familiarity with smart irrigation controllers and software.
• Experience with tree trimming, including knowledge of materials and tools used in trimming, pruning, cultivating and caring for trees.
• Experience with landscape construction projects, including sports field renovations.
• Possession of a Qualified Applicators Certificate.

Full‑time

12/12

Mon‑Fri 8:00am‑5:00pm, Summer:
Mon‑Thurs 7:00am‑5:30pm

$46,680 (Step
1) – $66,660 (Step 19) per year.

This position qualifies for benefits including a tuition fee waiver (if eligible). CSU, Chico offers a number of benefits to its employees, e.g., sick leave, vacation, health insurance. For more information please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-

Applicants must disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years if they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form authorizing the release of information by the applicant’s current…