GROUNDSKEEPER I

About the Department

This position performs manual labor tasks associated with routine landscape and grounds keeping maintenance.   Work is performed under general supervision with detailed instructions given in cases involving new and more complex tasks. This position reports to the Supervisor of Grounds Maintenance, and in their absence, may take direction and work assignments through the Assistant Supervisor and/or delegated lead staff. The position requires reliability, dependability, and accountability in all aspects of the defined role.

Position Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Performs routine landscape and grounds keeping maintenance including general mowing, pruning,  weeding, raking and mulching.
• Operates gas-powered equipment such as mowers, trimmers, clippers, string trimmers and chain saws.
• Makes minor repairs to irrigation systems.
• Inspects equipment before and during work, reports malfunctions, and checks equipment after servicing.
• Performs daily routine preventive maintenance and servicing (e.g., refuels, checks fluid levels, hoses, signal operation, brakes, and lights) and refers major repairs).
• Performs minor mechanical maintenance work including daily lubrication and cleaning of equipment.
• May drive or operate a variety of light equipment or vehicles.
• Other job-related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY   
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• General knowledge of the practices, methods, tools, equipment and materials required for basic grounds keeping.
• Ability to work with hands and to work in mechanically oriented situations.
• Ability to operate and comprehend the mechanics of mobile and stationary grounds keeping equipment.
• Ability to learn to operate commercial lawn mowers, specialty mowers, utility tractors, brush hog rotary mowers, bucket trucks, flatbed trucks/trailers, small dump trucks.
• Ability to handle chemicals in a safe and effective manner and to adhere to all safety regulations.
• Ability to follow verbal instructions and to provide written and verbal communications with supervisors and co-workers.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, peers, and subordinates; to respond to inquiries, and to create reports, which reflect information, gathered.

Minimum Qualifications

The ideal candidate possesses the education and experience listed below.

• Minimum 8th grade education: High school diploma or an equivalent recognized certificate preferred.
• A minimum of six (6) months grounds keeping experience.
• Any combination of experience, education and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES 

• Valid Florida Driver’s License required. 

Other Qualifications

The physical demands and work environment described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job and the environment the employee will be exposed to.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit, stand, walk, climb and balance, stoop, twist and turn body, kneel, crouch or crawl, bend, talk, hear and smell. The employee is also routinely required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, push and pull or lift objects up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The duties of this position are performed outdoors where the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions including extreme heat, wet and/or humid conditions. The employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to; high, precarious places; steep slopes; uneven ground; extreme cold; risk of electrical shock; explosives; and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

We're the governmental agency that manages all materials discarded within Palm Beach County. We provide collection through contracted haulers in unincorporated Palm Beach County. We create energy, commodities and fertilizer pellets from the waste we receive. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County was established in 1975 by the Florida State Legislature under the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Act, Chapter 2001-331. Its purpose was to establish a governmental agency responsible for providing an economical and environmentally conscious integrated solid waste management system for Palm Beach County, Florida. With approximately 400 employees, the SWA provides solid waste disposal and recycling services and programs to the county's 1.5 million residents and businesses. The SWA is a Dependent Special District governed by the seven elected County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, Florida. It is the policy of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County not to resolve customer complaints or respond to inquiries on social media. We take customer service seriously and aim to provide stellar service. If you have a collection-related issue in unincorporated Palm Beach County, please contact our Customer Service team at 561-697-2700 or contactcis@swa.org to ensure proper resolution in a timely manner.