Lead Groundskeeper

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

• How to Apply
• Troubleshooting
• Tips for Applicants
• FAQ's

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 04-13-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Colleges, Housing and Educational Services (CHES) is a multi-funded organization of the Division of Student Affairs and Success at UC Santa Cruz. CHES provides leadership in the areas of college student life and residential services, housing services, facilities, capital planning, business and financial analysis, dining services, conference services, and early education services. Through these units, educational and developmental programs and services are offered to all members of the campus community including students, faculty, staff, children and external constituents.

The Facilities unit of CHES provides comprehensive facilities support to over 9,500 student residents in ten colleges and six associated residential communities, as well as seven Dining facilities. The department maintains 191 buildings of 2 million square feet. Facilities employs 45 represented, non-represented career staff, and over 100 student staff positions, and manages an annual budget of approximately $9 million.

The mission of Facilities is to plan for, develop, and maintain a comfortable and safe physical environment for our residents and cost effectively maintain the assets of the campus in a manner that meets the highest standards of the housing and facilities management profession in coordination with other campus facilities units.

Affiliated Residential Community Housing (ARCH) at University of California, Santa Cruz provides a diverse set of residential communities designed to support students across a range of living needs, including families, graduate students, upper-division undergraduates, transfer students, re-entry students, and commuters. ARCH includes Family Student Housing (FSH), The Village, University Town Center (UTC), Graduate Student Housing, Delaware Apartments, and the Leonardo Lane Commuter Lounge. Together, these locations offer a mix of on-campus and off-campus apartment-style housing and commuter support spaces that emphasize affordability, access to academic resources, and community-building outside of traditional residence halls.

ARCH communities offer varied housing models, including family-oriented apartments with childcare and support services, graduate-focused housing near academic centers, independent living for continuing and transfer students, downtown housing with transit access, and modern apartment communities for upper-division undergraduates. Collectively, these locations expand UCSC's housing capacity, support student persistence and well-being, and provide flexible residential options aligned with the diverse needs of the campus population and surrounding Santa Cruz community.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Senior Building Maintenance Supervisor, the Lead Groundskeeper maintains the grounds and provides supervision and scheduling of student crews. The incumbent works as a team with the Groundskeeper and other staff in performing routine grounds maintenance tasks, assisting in special projects and assisting with the on-going development of the grounds Landscape Master Plan. The Lead Groundskeeper reports directly to the Family Student Housing Senior Building Maintenance Supervisor.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $25.32/hourly
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Service Employees (SX)

Job Code Classification: GROUNDSKEEPER LD (008132)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

30% - Grounds Maintenance

• Performs daily grounds maintenance. Mows lawns and all grass areas; edges around walks, flower beds, and similar areas. Trims and prunes shrubs, hedges and trees. Fertilizes soil for planting and hoes, weeds, rakes and vacuums lawns and common areas.
• Clears storm drains and gutters.
• Collects ground litter and refuse and maintains garbage dumpster areas as needed.
• Performs pest management functions; places and monitor traps, and performs removal of pests.

30% - Irrigation Maintenance

• Maintains, inspects, installs, services, designs, modifies, and repairs irrigation systems, (automatic and manual), made of various materials such as Transite, PVC, galvanized pipe, etc.
• Maintains manual irrigation systems, laterals and valves, and all aspects of automatic systems, including for athletic fields, residential and building landscape areas.
• Investigates, excavates, and corrects problems such as leaks, broken pipes, improperly connected fittings, damaged materials, malfunctioning equipment, etc.
• Adjusts controllers, valves, and the heads to ensure correct coverage and precipitation rates and periodically operates and inspects remote control systems.
• Installs and relocates irrigation systems including controller wires, pipe valve, quick coupler valves and sprinkler heads.
• Conducts and documents annual planned maintenance for all irrigation systems at designated housing sites and keeps records of irrigation system inspections.
• Identify major deficiencies, correct minor deficiencies, and records findings on work orders and submits paperwork in a timely manner.
• Maintains time records and work accounting for several separate accounts. Tracks and records material usage for individual projects.

20% - Student Staff Direction & Training

• Hires, trains, supervises 8-12 student staff in the performance of grounds maintenance tasks. Assigns daily tasks, monitors work and provides training and guidance as needed.
  Works directly with student staff and leads them in the safe use and maintenance of tools. Provides training in landscape techniques such as pruning, trimming, weeding edging, planting, erosion control and in small construction projects.
• Establishes processes and coordinates tool maintenance and training programs for student employees.
• Conducts ongoing training sessions in the proper installation and repair of irrigation systems.
• Models and promotes quality customer service when interacting with residents and University personnel.
• Attends training to upgrade skills and knowledge of landscape development and maintenance for both professional development as well as to provide ongoing training of student and professional staff.

10% - Special Projects/Programs

• As directed, assists with master plan grounds projects.
• Assists Facilities staff in small construction projects which can include loading, transporting and lifting heavy construction materials.
• Coordinates and maintains a residents' tool loan program.
• Coordinates and maintains a hazardous waste program and also assists with the UCSC recycling program as needed.

10% - Other Groundskeeper Duties

• Maintains inventory supply levels and recommends supply and equipment/tool purchase needs to supervisor.
• As directed, purchase supplies and equipment/tools, adhering to purchasing and inventory tracking procedures.
• Responds to residents' grounds related questions and concerns and informs supervisor as needed of resident concerns and issues.
• Conducts on-going inspection of residents' grounds', notifying supervisor of policy violations. Posts notices to residents as directed.

• Will drive campus owned vehicles and/or a personal vehicle to perform various duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Substantial experience in ground maintenance, landscape development and planning.
• Demonstrated experience in the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems, with a knowledge of older and current irrigation hardware and materials.
• Experienced in simple carpentry work
• Experience and knowledge of the design and construction of complete irrigation systems.
• Knowledge, ability and experience with mechanical, electrical and plumbing machinery, including electronic fault and pipe locators, power pipe threaders, multi-testers, power saws, generators, compressors, etc.
• Ability and experience in reading and working from landscape, mechanical, electrical, and architectural blueprints.
• Knowledge of state and local codes regarding backflow devices, pipe requirements, etc. in the installation of new sprinkler systems and the renovation of old systems not conforming to code.
• Knowledge of the water requirements of landscape planting and lawns.
• Ability to work in a cooperative (team) situation as well as independently with varying levels of supervision.
• Interpersonal skills to work effectively with staff, students and residents with a variety of background and experiences.
• Organizational skills sufficient to plan, develop and implement grounds maintenance and landscape projects
• Writing skills sufficient to develop policies, procedures, informational brochures, flyers and other written correspondence.
• Sufficient computer skills to produce word documents, spreadsheets and landscape design plans
  

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.\
• Ability to perform vertebrate pest control such as trapping, baiting, or other types of rodent control.
• The incumbent will be required to work with a variety of fertilizers and environmentally safe chemicals and must have the ability to work safely in areas where hazardous materials are present or stored.
• Must possess the ability to operate a power mower, edger and other hand powered and motorized equipment.
• Must possess a pest applicator license, or have the ability to obtain one, within six months of hire.
• Must have the ability to stoop, dig and perform repetitive tasks.
• Must have the ability to perform work overhead, including the ability to work from a step ladder and extension ladders.
• Must have the ability to lift up to 100 lbs. of work/construction materials, with accommodation and/or the assistance of co-workers.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.