Grounds Worker

The Johnston County Building and Grounds Department has an immediate opening for a Full-Time Grounds Worker.

Employee in this class performs a variety of equipment maintenance and repair activities. Work is performed on a large number and different styles of grounds. Work requires significant independent initiative and advanced knowledge of trade practices and skills. Position includes mowing grass, pruning, weed eating and general grounds maintenance. Work is assigned daily, is supervised by the Maintenance Supervisor and is reviewed by observation of quality and quantity of work completed and timeliness of completion.

• Mows lawns
• Trims and edges around walkways, flower beds and fences
• Operates and maintains lawn mowers and some power and hand tools
• Cleans parking lots and walk ways
• Picks-up trash and debris and hauls to appropriate area and/or receptacle
• Plants trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers, grasses and other plants
• Maintains, by way of pruning, weeding, irrigating and cutting, etc: trees, bushes, shrubs, grasses and other plants
• Moves furniture in/or between offices
• Lifts and moves heavy boxes or containers upon request
• Hauls old records to the landfill
• Participates in the County's safety program and adheres to safety procedures and policies of the department

Employees are subject to working in inside and outside environments, in extreme cold and hot weather, and hazards in the work including exposures to loud noises, vibrations, proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working in high places, and exposure to chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and oils. Workers are also subject to work in close quarters such as crawl spaces and small rooms and are subject to the final OSHA standards on blood borne pathogens.

• Working knowledge of the principles and techniques of grounds maintenance.
• Thorough knowledge of the methods, tools, and equipment used in the assigned trades.
• Thorough knowledge of safety regulations, occupational hazards and related safety precautions in the work.
• Considerable knowledge of methods, cleaning chemicals and supplies, and equipment used in grounds maintenance work.
• Skill in the use and care of assigned tools and equipment.
• Ability to diagnose and repair problems and plan and organize appropriate corrective action.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to exercise independent initiative.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and other County employees.

Graduation from high school or GED supplemented with 3 years of experience in landscape or grounds maintenance field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.