Grounds Manager
: Job Details :

Position Type: Administrative Support - Salaried/Grounds ManagerDate Posted: 11/26/2024Location: District Support CenterDate Available: 02/03/2025STARTING SALARY: $70,258+ annually (based on experience) This position is full time, 8 hours per day, year round. The positions come with paid time off, paid vacation, paid holidays and is benefit eligible. SUMMARY: This position supervises and directs the day-to-day activities of Grounds personnel and performs administrative tasks including, but not limited to, conducting shift audits, preparation of reports, assisting with the implementation and execution of operational and capital projects and effective and timely communicating with grounds employees, district staff and community members. This position reports to the Director of Facilities and Grounds. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics). This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.) ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Ensures continuous improvement and performance excellence of all grounds related functions and processes of the school district, including, but not limited to, ornamental landscapes, lawns, sports fields, parking lots, sidewalks, vehicle fleet, playgrounds & equipment, etc.

Schedules grounds personnel to ensure proper grounds and program coverage for all district buildings. Promotes a customer service driven philosophy that focuses on value and satisfaction.

Ensure all grounds personnel provide excellent customer service in relation to students, administrative and school based support staff, department staff, community members, and local community partners.

Provide timely response to school personnel, parental, or community member needs, concerns, or complaints.

Evaluates grounds personnel Frontline absences, approves, and reports to Director of Facilities & Grounds as needed.

Accountable for the successful execution of the work order system and all related processes, auditing, and reporting.

Perform quality performance inspections routinely - develop action plans for any deficiencies and implement improvement plan. Maintain active records of all inspections/action plans and follow up actions to correct deficiencies.

Manage district vehicle fleet including preventative maintenance, routine inspections, driver monitoring, and capital replacement planning.

Be a visionary and mentor in the development of new methods, procedures, and techniques in grounds management.

Acquire appropriate permits where applicable.

Assist in the implementation and execution of operational and capital projects as well as associated budgets and the request for proposal processes as assigned.

Manage applicable cost-control programs and discover efficiencies that improve performance while reducing costs.

Provide orientation and training for grounds staff in proper use of district equipment, methods and standards; Introductions and daily follow up with progress of new employees.

Maintain records for all work and services performed including rigid records for pesticide applications.

Visits and monitors work sites regularly, varying the sequence.

Actively participates in the recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, progressive discipline and succession planning/promotion of grounds staff. Completes reference check process for new employees. Lists job postings on Frontline and completes Skyward accounts upon hiring.

Schedules groundskeeping activities to avoid conflict with facilities use schedules.

Coordinates and follows up to ensure grounds related preventive maintenance activities are completed per frequency and district guidelines.

Oversee the on-call grounds scheduling process.

Attends approved training seminars and in-service days. Schedule meetings on a regular basis with at least one monthly all-staff meeting.

Accepts suggestions and plans meetings to update staff on equipment, work scheduling, ordering, district strategic initiatives, computer programs, etc. relevant to grounds.

Maintains contact with administrators, principals, teachers, students and community to collect information and resolve building and activities pertaining to grounds concerns.

Acts as a liaison with vendors related to grounds department.

Maintains and updates online MSD requirements for the grounds department.

Provides information to the Director of Facilities and Grounds regarding budget development.

Manage and properly maintain the grounds inventory of supplies and tools.

Attends School Board meetings and supports public presentations as related to grounds in the absence of the Director of Facilities & Grounds and as requested.

Keep the Director of Facilities & Grounds informed in a timely manner of potential opportunities, problems or unusual events, including deviations from the approved budget or district policy or procedures.

Investigation and timely reporting of workplace accidents and incidents.

Directs and maintains light duty/work restrictions requirements to meet the needs of maintenance employees.

Establishes and maintains a positive working environment with staff of each building.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervises and directs the day to day activities of district grounds personnel.
• Assists in the selection, discipline and discharge of employees.
• Conducts performance evaluations for district maintenance personnel.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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 eligible individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business, Management, Park Management, Horticulture or a related field .

Six to eight years of management or leadership experience working in landscaping, school grounds, athletic fields, horticulture, or any equivalent combination of training and experience.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including work orders, attendance records, event schedules, building use permits, employee handbook, equipment handbooks, building maps and specifications, etc.
• Ability to prepare a variety of documents including time cards, building specifications, material requisitions, maintenance requisitions, work orders, request for proposal, etc., using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with maintenance staff, principals, teachers, students, parents, sales representatives, the general public, and others verbally and in writing.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate decimals and percents.

ANALYTICAL AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, verbal, or diagram form.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions and deal with problems involving several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to develop positive and cooperative relations with students, staff, vendors, and the community.
• Knowledge of horticulture, turf management, landscape maintenance and development, tree care, plant identification, plant diseases, pest and weed control.
• Knowledge of the theory, principles, practices and methods used in grounds maintenance.
• Ability to operate a variety of grounds and landscaping equipment.
• Ability to use a variety of mechanics tools.
• Knowledge of State and Federal laws pertinent to the use of restricted pesticides.
• Skill in planning, organizing, scheduling and monitoring the work capabilities of assigned staff through team-managed approach.
• Skill in planning and monitoring budgets.
• Knowledge of personnel management practices.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and school board policies.
• Ability to use technology to accomplish job responsibilities, including, but not limited to MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES: 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Position usually demands meeting deadlines with severe time constraints. CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

• Possess valid driver's license
• Pesticide Applicators Certification/License preferred
• Playground Safety Inspector Certified preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Shall complete a physical examination as required by Wisconsin Statute 118.25.Attachment(s):

• 2024-25 YEAR ROUND CALENDAR.pdf