Grounds Technician

St. Paul Academy and Summit School seeks candidates for the position of Grounds Technician.

About St. Paul Academy and Summit School:

St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA) is a coeducational, non-sectarian, college preparatory day school serving more than 920 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Our two campuses are located approximately a mile apart in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving Grades K-5 on our Goodrich Campus and Grades 6-12 on our Randolph Campus. The school draws students from St. Paul, Minneapolis, and throughout the eastern and western suburbs.

Our mission-shaping the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world-is a promise to our students and our families, and it pushes us to be thoughtful about everything we do. It inspires us to be our best and reminds us that we have the responsibility to respect the unique potential in every child. Our mission gives us purpose and represents our greatest aspirations and values. But most of all, it reflects our deep belief in the talents and capabilities of our students.

For additional information about the school's curriculum, community, and culture, please visit our website at www.spa.edu.

Position Begins: Immediately

Status: Full time: non-exempt

Department: Grounds/ Maintenance

Reporting to the Grounds Supervisor, the Grounds Technician is responsible for completing tasks and projects in the Grounds department on the two St Paul Academy and Summit School campuses. The Grounds Technician assists in performing essential services including landscape maintenance, landscape construction and implementation, installation and ongoing care of woody and herbaceous plant materials, ornamental and athletic turf, and a variety of athletic performance surfaces, irrigation system operation, repair and installation, tree care, and primary snow and ice management while maintaining high standards of site presentation excellence. This position will also assist other Facilities Services personnel as directed.

Essential Functions:

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  Collaborate on various land care and exterior site maintenance and management, including plants, trees, turf, and hardscapes.

  
  
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  Participates in the maintenance and repair of campus hardscapes, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots.

  
  
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  Ensure the disposal of garbage and recycling is conducted in the proper manner to maintain cleanliness in all areas of the grounds.

  
  
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  Help perform spring planting, mulching, watering, and weeding of planting beds throughout the growing season.

  
  
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  Assist with landscape construction and implementation including a variety of equipment operations and irrigation systems.

  
  
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  Perform critical snow and ice removal including large equipment operation.

  
  
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  Athletic fields, track, and court maintenance and preparation, meeting all playing requirements and safety standards.

  
  
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  Operate and maintain equipment and vehicles used in operations and irrigation.

  
  
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  Assist with coordinating necessary operations and grounds services for special events

  
  
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  Assist in the training and supervision of new and returning part-time employees

  
  
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  Other duties as requested.

  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Key Competencies:

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  Have the knowledge of plant materials and care, including turf management.

  
  
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  Have the knowledge of irrigation systems operations, including installation, repair, and management.

  
  
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  Have the ability to operate a wide variety of landscape equipment, including snow and ice removal equipment.

  
  
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  Have the ability to communicate effectively in various forms and within a team framework.

  
  
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  Have the ability to work and make decisions and exercise judgement independently.

  
  
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  Have the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in diverse work environments.

  
  

Job Specifications/Minimum Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily, and the qualifications include:

1. 
   

   Minimum of a High School Diploma. Preferred - Two year degree in Turf Management, Horticulture, or equivalent experience in a landscape-related field; or three years of directly related work experience in campus land care, athletic turf, or commercial/institutional grounds maintenance

   
   
2. 
   

   Ability to work with employees in an understanding and sensitive manner.

   
   
3. 
   

   Ability to take the initiative on both assigned and unassigned work projects and to complete them independently.

   
   
4. 
   

   Ability to read, write, speak and understand English.

   
   
5. 
   

   Experience and ability to use a desktop computer and software including Microsoft Word, Excel, and security access programs.

   
   
6. 
   

   Possess, or have the ability to obtain, Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications.

   
   
7. 
   

   Valid driver's license, driving record in good standing

   
   

Physical Requirements of the position:

1. 
   

   Ability to stand and walk for an eight (8) hour shift. Grounds work includes standing, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, bending, crawling, crouching, stooping, and kneeling depending on the project being undertaken.

   
   
2. 
   

   Ability to lift, load, and carry up to 50 pounds.

   
   
3. 
   

   Ability type on a computer keyboard and operate other office equipment such as copy machine, computer printer and other hand-operated equipment.

   
   
4. 
   

   Good eyesight, including clear distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception vision.

   
   

Work Environment:

Duties are typically performed outside on the campus grounds in all weather conditions and occasionally indoors for event setups. Tasks will require the ability to use various equipment, including mowers, snow removal machines, utility vehicles, skid loaders, powered hand tools, and other powered equipment. The Grounds Technician is considered "essential personnel" for the Operations department and must work early mornings, evenings, and weekends in the event of snow or other weather events. Exposure exists to hazards that are endemic to grounds maintenance with the use of power equipment. These hazards can be potentially dangerous, including exposure to sharp blades, gasses, fluids, and physical injury.

This job description states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.

SPA is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse faculty and staff, and maintaining a workplace culture in which all are treated equitably.