Grounds Keeper

Overview

Shift: April 1st - October 31st:
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM;
November 1st - March 31st:
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

The Department of Facilities Services is responsible for the efficient and cost effective operations, maintenance and management of all Tufts University facilities consisting of approximately 5 million square feet of space on three campuses (Somerville/Medford, Grafton, and Boston).

A broad range of services are provided to support the University campuses including facility maintenance by all trades, capital maintenance, information technology systems for operations (work control, time capture, preventative maintenance), energy and utilities systems, recycling and waste management, event services, residential facilities coordination, grounds maintenance and facility condition assessment and tracking. Facilities Services plays a critical role in planning for the $30 M/year deferred maintenance investment.

Related functions, which require close coordination with this department, are public and environmental health and safety, planning, design and construction of capital and deferred maintenance projects including major repairs, renovation and new construction.

Reporting to facilities management the Groundskeeper is responsible for the tasks associated with the care and maintenance of the lawns, grounds, roadways, sidewalks and other areas surrounding the university campus as needed to sustain the high quality aesthetic appearance and safety of the campus for the Tufts community.

The Groundskeeper provides labor and grounds services which may include but are not limited to: grass cutting, snow removal, weeding, pruning, sanding, seeding, fertilizing, de‑icing and plowing. This position also provides services for university events, including set‑ups, building maintenance tasks, installation of lawn furniture and landscaping tasks.

This position drives various types of vehicles including but not limited to trucks, automobiles, front‑end loaders, skid‑steers and vans and uses various types of equipment and tools to move University furnishings and equipment, and to provide set‑ups and take‑downs for events and special activities. This position performs similar or related duties as required.

This position is considered essential as defined in the Tufts University Employee Handbook.

• Responsible for operating and maintaining in a safe, knowledgeable and confident manner all related tools, equipment and vehicles to include and not limited to hand and riding mowers, seeders, rototillers, aerators, lawn sprinklers, etc. for preparing and maintaining hard and soft scape.
• Instructs Utility workers and work groups in the safe and confident use of tools, equipment, and vehicles as necessary and proper and appropriate methods and techniques to provide necessary soft and hard scape services.
• Responsible for leading Utility workers and work groups assigned to specific projects.
• Responsible for plowing and removing snow and ice from sidewalks, patios, ramps, lots, athletic fields and drives using hand tools, skid steers, truck mounted snow plows, snow blowers, front‑end loaders and small and large vehicles.
• Responsible for removal and disposal of dirt, debris, yard waste and rubbish and recyclables from campus. Seeds, weeds, irrigates, aerates, fertilizes, sods, grades, and mows campus grounds using requisite tools, equipment, and vehicles.
• Operates, maintains, and when necessary, directs the use of all related tools, equipment and vehicles employed in grounds care and labor services.
• Maintains hardscape including playing surfaces, parking lots, drives, walks, ramps. Removes and plows snow using various tools and materials, provides sanding and salting operations.
• Operates irrigation controls and systems; ability to winterize irrigation systems.
• Driving vehicles / using tools necessary to do the job.
• Capable of leading small teams on assignments as necessary.
• Creates and maintains timely and accurate maintenance logs utilizing the university's continuous maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Recommends spare parts for replacement as necessary.
• Understands and adheres to university…