Groundskeeper

Location: Lakeville

The Hotchkiss School 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, CT 06039, USA

Position: Groundskeeper |
Department: Facilities |
FLSA: Non-Exempt |
Reports to: Supervisor of Grounds |
Schedule: Full-time, calendar year (Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. with ½ hr unpaid lunch) |
Designation: Staff, essential staff during inclement weather and other emergencies |
Travel: Rare

The Groundskeeper's duties will include, but are not limited to, working independently, as well as working as a team member, to perform routine grounds maintenance. This position requires the performance of manual duties in connection with the upkeep of Hotchkiss School grounds, including the campus, roadways, a nine-hole golf course, and a variety of natural and artificial turf athletic playing fields.

Assignments will vary and may include indoor as well as outdoor work, as the needs of Hotchkiss require, emphasizing quality of work to support high standards and appearance for the school’s best interests.

Essential General Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and care for 800+ acres of an independent secondary school including campus lawns, trees, flower beds, parking lots, walkways, athletic fields, and a 9-hole golf course.
• Operate equipment used for various landscape maintenance needs safely such as mowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers.
• Monitor sprinkler systems and watering.
• Prepare seeding or transplanting beds by cultivating soil and adding fertilizer as directed.
• Prune trees and trim hedges to promote growth and improve appearance.
• Collect and dispose of leaves, and other refuse.
• Weed flower beds.
• Perform snow removal, including plowing, snow blowing, shoveling, and de-icing.
• Load and unload materials.
• Lift and move furniture.
• Perform additional duties as needed and assigned.

Golf Course and Athletic Field Responsibilities as assigned

• Mow greens, tees, fairways, and rough; rake and edge sand traps, as directed.
• Collect and dispose of leaf debris on the course.
• Support course set up, including cup changes, tee and boundary markers, and cart directional signage, as directed.
• Support the maintenance of athletics fields, as directed.
• Configure field layouts for all seasonal sports specifications, as directed.
• Maintain line painting on all fields, as directed.
• Perform specialized work as directed on baseball/softball infields and other natural and artificial turf surfaces.
• Perform duties in a manner that maintains fields in peak condition, supporting optimal playing conditions.

Skills and Experience Required

• High School Graduate.
• At least one to three years of considerable experience with landscaping maintenance; training opportunities are available.
• Excellent customer service skills and experience working collaboratively as a team member, as well as in a self-directed manner.
• Knowledge of methods and materials used in grounds maintenance.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and the ability to operate a licensed motor vehicle.

Physical Conditions

• Required to lift approximately 50+ pounds.
• Bend, stoop, reach, and kneel regularly.
• Climb up to 4 flights of stairs.
• Work with or be in areas where hazardous materials may be present.
• The ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, with excessive dust, dirt, temperature, rain, or snow.
• Work in the ice rinks with cold temperatures.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time on a tractor or other equipment.
• Walk for long periods of time on different types of terrain.
• Overtime occasionally required, especially during heavy inclement weather (part of the essential staff).
• The Hotchkiss School property is a tobacco‑free environment.

Additional Information

The essential functions and basic skills have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.

The Hotchkiss School is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School…