Groundskeeping workers make sure that the landscapes outside homes and public buildings are kept in good order for the health of the vegetation and the attractiveness of the environment. They complete a variety of tasks for landscape upkeep according to the season.
When you write your groundskeeping worker job description, you will want to point out the physical stamina needed to carry out the job. A groundskeeping worker will be standing most of the day and performing tasks that will have them bending, lifting, pushing and pulling. There is frequent exposure to the sun, rain and perhaps snow.
Groundskeeping workers must also be able to work independently, as they are often working on-site without supervision. Use the groundskeeping worker job description as a guide for writing a job description for the position you want to be filled.
Groundskeeping Worker Job Summary
Enjoy the outdoors, interact with nature and have fun at your job! Positions are now open for permanent full-time groundskeeping workers. If you enjoy staying busy throughout the day but could never sit behind a desk for 40 hours a week, this position is for you. Responsible for keeping landscaping neat, healthy and well maintained, the year-round cycle of planting, lawn care, tree trimming and snow removal tasks will have you on the move all four seasons of the year. You will coordinate with your groundskeeping supervisor at the beginning of each shift and then complete your tasks independently. If you are a hard worker who loves the outdoors and is self-motivated, apply for this groundskeeping worker position today.
Job Responsibilities
- Plants flowers, shrubs and trees to beautify the landscape and benefit the environment
- Prunes trees and shrubs, rakes leaves and cleans up debris from all walkways in order to present a well-maintained and safe area
- Keeps lawns at a proper length by using large standing lawnmowers and edging equipment, and monitors the functionality of the irrigation system in order to keep the landscape well-watered
- Removes snow from parking lots and walkways to keep them accessible in the winter by shoveling or using a snow plow
- Operates vehicles, such as pick-up trucks and dump trucks, in the course of groundskeeping activities in order to haul equipment, plants or refuse
- Maintains and repairs equipment and tools in order to extend their lifetime and usefulness
- Performs weed control activities by either spraying herbicides or installing weed barrier cloth during the planting phase
- Assists in the repair of walkways and parking lots on an as-needed basis to reduce tripping hazards
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record
- Skill to operate ground maintenance equipment
- Able to lift up to 65 pounds and climb a 12-foot ladder
- Desire to work hard with a customer service orientation
Preferred:
- Knowledge of how to use fertilizer
- Previous equipment repair experience
Groundskeeping Worker Job Responsibilities
If you’re having trouble attracting the right candidates, the first place you should look is that eyesore of a job description. Outdated practices can leave your job description a landfill of excess verbiage and passive writing, when you really only need a job responsibilities section with 8-10 bullet points to convey key points of the role, the organization and the basic expectations. Any more than that is either unnecessary detail or stating the obvious. Tell candidates just enough to let them make a decision regarding the job and your company. Clean up your groundskeeping worker job description, and do the trimming necessary to keep your recruitment efforts neat and simple.
If you really want to capture jobseekers’ interest, draw them in using action-oriented writing. Our sample groundskeeping worker job responsibilities below demonstrate the basics of what action-oriented writing looks like. To break it down further, action-oriented writing uses strong action verbs to improve your groundskeeping worker job description with more dynamic, vivid prose. Take a look for yourself:
- Manage grounds maintenance, cleanliness and landscaping for two small community college sites with 10-15 buildings each
- Gather and dispose of refuse, debris and litter in the appropriate receptacles
- Trim and water hedges, grass and floral installations on a weekly schedule
- Perform necessary repairs to exterior structures and parking areas
- Respond to reports of safety hazards by implementing protective and corrective actions
Groundskeeping Worker Job Specifications
Give your groundskeeping worker job description a little fine grooming by adding a list of job skills and qualifications. These qualifications further refine the job description so candidates not only understand what you’ll expect them to do, but also understand the requirements for eligibility. Cover these qualifications in 5-6 bullets that consist of things such as education, experience level, physical capacity and any equipment or driving requirements and certifications.
While you don’t necessarily need to use action-oriented language for this list, you should still keep the qualifications and skills section of your groundskeeping worker job description short, tight and punchy. Get right to the point and don’t waste time over-explaining; this should read like a checklist applicants can rapidly scan through to determine if they’re a good fit. You can use it that way as well when screening resumes. Scan new applicants against these requirements to rapidly eliminate the unqualified or otherwise unsuitable.
Take, for example, our groundskeeping worker job specifications:
- High school diploma or GED required
- 6 months or more experience in janitorial or groundskeeping work
- Able to lift heavy loads up to 50 lbs.
- Clean driving record and valid driver’s license
- Criminal background check a must