Location: Carlsbad,TX, USA
Groundskeeper IV
Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence.
The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers
The state of Texas offers many benefits to employees. HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. We also offer excellent health benefits, a lifetime monthly retirement annuityas well as 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you!
The Groundskeeper IV, Senior Groundskeeper, performs highly complex senior-level groundskeeping work at a State Supported Living Center or State Hospital. Maintains and improves the appearance of grounds and flower beds for the facility, including mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and ensuring the effective operations of sprinkler systems. Removes, plants and trims trees and shrubs. Assigns and prioritizes the work of other groundskeeping staff to accomplish daily and weekly tasks most effectively. Serves a team lead on groundskeeping projects and maintains the schedules for routine work. Safely and efficiently operates power- and gas-operated equipment to complete duties and trains others to use the equipment. Ensures grounds keeping tools, supplies, and equipment are well maintained and accounted for. Performs minor repairs on equipment in accordance with training and skill level. Ensures parking lots, roads, fences and sidewalks are free from obstructions and in good repair. Minimizes the presence and impact of nuisance animals at the facility, including snakes, rodents and feral cats. Performs some maintenance duties as needed in conjunction with maintenance staff. Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the overall safe operations of the facility. As needed, works some weekend and/or after-hours callouts, to respond to situations impacting safe facility operations. Works under general supervision of the Maintenance Technician Supervisor or other appropriate staff depending on facility structure, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. May serve in an on-call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.
Performs grounds keeping maintenance duties at the facility including mowing, trimming, fertilizing, removing and planting trees and shrubs. Ensures the safe and effective use of gas- and power-operated tool to complete work efficiently. Trains other staff to use tools commensurate with skill and ability.
Implements the daily, weekly and monthly scheduling of work in the grounds section/department such as schedules for treating insects around buildings, trimming of hedges, litter control, and mowing. Assigns, prioritizes and leads the work of other groundskeepers to ensure all tasks are completed as required on a daily, weekly and monthly basis in accordance with the groundskeeping schedule. Designates and assigns mowing and weed eating areas (zones of the campus) to other groundskeepers.
Oversees the quality of work for other groundskeepers and assists as necessary assuring proper results. Reports any significant issues to the supervisor for handling.
Initiates and executes projects for facility beautification, such as designing and planting new flowerbeds, with the approval of the supervisor. Ensures sprinkler systems are in working order.
Operates tractors with implements such as front end loaders and backhoes for digging out tree stumps, cleaning up debris, moving large amounts of gravel, sand, mulch and other landscaping materials, and to help dig out areas for tree planting or if there is a water line break.
Ensure roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are safe and free from debris and reports any major issues to supervisor. Assists with conducting sidewalk surveys and documents on a plot plan as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) in an effort to reduce slips, trips and falls. Works beyond normal duty hours during inclement weather to remove ice/snow from sidewalks, roadways, clear debris from catch basins during heavy rain, and other related duties.
Minimizes the presence and impact of nuisance animals, including snakes, rodents and feral cats. Takes action to safely and humanely trap and remove live animals, disposes appropriately of dead animals and takes proactively measures to abate future issues.
Performs general maintenance, repairs and construction work for the facility in collaboration with maintenance staff commensurate with skills and abilities.
If the facility has a cemetery, performs cemetery duties to include maintaining grounds, setting head stones, excavating graves for funerals, setting up casket devices and tents. Maintains burial logs, ensures proper lifetime retention of logs in a secure location with backup log on server.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge, skills and ability to safely fell and remove large trees in and around buildings and other infrastructures.
Knowledge, skill and ability associated with minimizing the presence of nuisance animals such as rodents, snakes and feral cats.
General knowledge of horticulture and landscape design; and the skill and ability to apply that knowledge to landscape projects.
Skill in safely operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoes, and/or pruning shears, and a variety of a variety of hand and power tools used in construction/repair) and ability to teach/train others to safely use this equipment.
Ability to meet facility driver requirements.
Ability to speak and read English.
Ability to read, understand and apply a variety of inter-related instructions such as those found in guidelines, regulations and policies.
Ability to perform basic mathematical computations.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to train and lead others.
Ability to stand/walk for extended period of time.
Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions.
Ability to work harmoniously and productively with co-workers and residents.
Ability to lift and carry 50 to 100 lbs.
Ability to withstand long periods of standing, bending and walking.
Ability to maintain and care for hand and power tools and equipment.
Ability to teach other groundskeepers to detect diseases in plants and grasses.
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
May require a valid driver's license.
Must possess valid Texas driver's license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date. Applicants with an out-of-state driver's license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.
Chemical application (herbicide) license is preferred.
Pesticide license is preferred.
Initial Selection Criteria:
Experience in groundskeeping work. Graduation from a standard senior high school or equivalent is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for one another.
Experience operating power equipment such as mowers, power clippers, tractors, chain saws, backhoe and/or pruning shears.
Prefer nine (9) months of work experience in professional groundskeeping.
Additional Information:
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities.
Males between the ages of 18 - 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
MOS Code:
There are no Military occupations that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For additional information see the Texas State Auditor's Military Crosswalk at
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-###-####. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
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