Groundskeeper

Primary Purpose/Scope

Reporting to the Director of Maintenance and Operations, the Groundskeeper will be responsible for maintaining the appearance, cleanliness, and safety of campus grounds and outdoor facilities. This position supports the daily upkeep of landscaping, sidewalks, parking areas, athletic fields, and other exterior spaces to ensure a welcoming environment for students, employees, and visitors.

The essential duties, responsibilities, and functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Passionately and enthusiastically communicate and represent the mission of Bluefield University as a Christ-centered faith, living, and learning community.
• Maintain campus grounds, including mowing, trimming, edging, weeding, and pruning.
• Plant, water, fertilize, and care for flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawns.
• Remove leaves, trash, debris, and snow/ice from sidewalks, parking lots, and campus roadways.
• Operate and maintain groundskeeping equipment such as mowers, trimmers, blowers, and utility vehicles.
• Assist with setup and breakdown for campus events and activities as needed.
• Monitor campus grounds for safety hazards and report maintenance concerns promptly.
• Perform minor repairs to outdoor fixtures, fencing, signage, and landscaping features.
• Follow all safety procedures and properly use personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Support Facilities and Operations staff with additional duties as assigned.
• Comply with all rules, policies, and procedures as established by Bluefield University.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position has supervisory responsibilities of our student workers.

• A vibrant and authentic Christian faith and worldview consistent with the University’s mission and values is required.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous groundskeeping, landscaping, or maintenance experience preferred.
• Ability to operate landscaping and grounds maintenance equipment safely.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Strong work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proof of valid driver’s license, required.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, lift, and perform physical labor for extended periods. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly. Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and inclement weather conditions.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is not necessarily a physically demanding job and generally requires no specific physical demands other than those typical in a modern office environment.

Normal responsibilities should not afford risks of accidental injury.

The use of specialized equipment listed here is representative of equipment an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires equipment typically used in a modern office environment, including personal computers, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the duties, responsibilities, and functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties, responsibilities, and functions. This position has no specific working conditions; the work environment is typical to that of a small private residential institution of higher education, with physical remote site locations within 500 miles of the main campus in Bluefield, Virginia.

This position is subject to at least an annual evaluation based upon the job duties, responsibilities, and functions as set forth above.

Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs.

This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.