Grounds Laborer-Seasonal

Salary : $38,459.20 Annually
Location : Water Works Park, IA
Job Type: Seasonal
Job Number:
Department: Office of the CEO
Division: Grounds Maintenanc/Park Police
Opening Date: 02/26/2026
Closing Date: 3/13/2026 12:00 PM Central

JOB SUMMARY
Why Work at Des Moines Water Works? At Des Moines Water Works (DMWW), every employee plays a vital role in delivering Water You Can Trust for Life to over 600,000 central Iowans. We're looking for team members who are customer-focused and committed to our mission.

When you join DMWW, you become part of a team that values environmental stewardship-protecting our most essential natural resource: water. Just as importantly, we recognize that our people are our greatest asset. Your wellbeing matters to us-from physical and psychological safety to wellness, fitness, and professional growth, we're committed to supporting your health and development at work and beyond.
About the Position: Under the supervision of the Supervisor of Property Management, this position performs a wide range of grounds maintenance and horticulture tasks to support the care and upkeep of the organization's outdoor spaces. Work includes frequent operation of heavy equipment and machinery, as well as manual labor associated with maintaining grounds, trees, and related facilities. The employee is responsible for assigned grounds areas and takes part in a rotational on-call schedule for plant and turf watering and for responding to emergency flood events.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assists in performing routine horticulture activities under the direction of the gardener and lead gardener. This includes, but not limited to, watering, weeding, planting, seeding, sodding, mowing, and trimming.
• Operates a wide variety of equipment used in maintenance including but not limited to snow removal equipment, large turf mowers, weed eaters, push mowers, seeders, tillers, dump trucks, industrial tractors with agricultural attachments, and skid loaders within the boundaries of the park.
• Cleans and maintains equipment used in grounds and facility maintenance.
• Inspects equipment to identify equipment to be repaired or replaced and notifies the supervisor accordingly.
• Performs equipment preventative maintenance. This includes, but is not limited to, maintenance on augers, skid loaders, turf, agricultural, and construction equipment.
• Performs heavy manual labor in various conditions such as on ladders and lifts. This includes repairing and replacing equipment parts; hand digging, building fence, tree work, and miscellaneous cleaning of equipment.
• Operates a variety of power tools.
• Performs tree removal and pruning.
• Sets up traffic control devices around the work site to ensure safety of workers and the public.
• Maintains and cleans the work area to ensure a positive public image.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience:

• Candidates must have at least three years' experience in grounds maintenance; or an equivalent combination of education and experience enough to successfully perform essential duties of the job.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Must possess a valid State of Iowa Driver's License with a good driving record and obtain a Class A CDL with air brakes within 90 calendar days of appointment.
  • This position requires Driver remain insurable under the Company's coverage.

Age:

• Must be at least 21 years old for this position.
  • • Candidates under 21 years old must have an acceptable driving record to be selected.

HARDWARE/SOFTWARE/EQUIPMENT/TOOLS NEEDED TO PERFORM JOB:

• GIS
• EAM (Enterprise Asset Management)
• ADP
• Microsoft Outlook
• Cell Phone
• Radio
• Personal Computer, Laptop, Notebook, or Tablet
• Hand Tools
• Hand Power Tools
• Ladders/Scaffolding

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Frequently walk on uneven ground; stand for prolonged periods; bend, kneel, climb, and perform repetitive motions.
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs unassisted; push/pull equipment and tools as required.
• Work at heights up to 40 feet using ladders, lifts, and scaffolding.
• Operate vibrating and motorized equipment for extended periods.
• Must be able to read, write, and understand English to perform essential job duties safely and effectively.
• Ability to hear audible warnings and communicate clearly in noisy environments.
• Frequently walks, stands, balances, crawls, grasps, squats, bends, kneels, and reaches above and below shoulder heights, twists, pulls, pushes, and endures repetitive motions.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Frequently works outdoors in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, and humidity.
• Regular exposure to traffic, loud noise, dust, fumes, and mechanical hazards.
• Works near moving machinery, sharp tools, and chemicals including pesticides.
• On-call duties for plant watering and emergency flood response; may work extended or irregular hours.
• Occasionally works in an office or similar indoor environment, construction site, the community or shop environment.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Des Moines Water Works is an Equal…