District Grounds Assistant 1 

Millard Public Schools is looking for a District Grounds Assistant 1 to join our talented team.  This position is entry-level and can be assigned to a high school or a grounds crew working out of the central maintenance office. A background in grounds along with a current Nebraska pesticide license is preferred but not required at time of hire. Ability to obtain the license is required. Duties for the position of Grounds Assistant 1 include mowing, landscape maintenance, pavement repair, playground equipment repair, snow removal, and completion of work orders of varying complexity. If you are a self-starter with a strong work ethic and drive to improve the landscape of a world-class school district, we want to talk to you! MPS offers a weekday schedule with opportunities for overtime, competitive pay, and a fantastic benefits package including health care coverage, pension, and paid sick and vacation time. Apply today, not for a job, but for a CAREER with Millard Public Schools!  

General Summary:  This position requires routine manual labor associated with grounds maintenance and performs various duties requiring moderate physical strength. This employee performs a variety of skilled landscaping and grounds maintenance duties maintaining District campus grounds, athletic complexes, and landscaped areas.

Essential Job Functions:

Assists and performs maintenance and repair duties on District grounds: 

• -Assists in completing assigned marking and maintenance tasks associated with athletic, activity, playground equipment, and parking areas
• -Assists in completing assigned tasks associated with a prescribed snow removal program
• -Assists in completing tasks associated with the prescribed District-wide beautification program
• -Assists in eliminating rodents.
• -Assists in identifying and reporting needed grounds/exterior maintenance
• -Assists in identifying, reporting, and performing playground equipment problems and repair
• -Assists in laying sod, planting grass, and identifying turf problems
• -Assists in painting parking lots
• -Assists in servicing and operating and making minor repairs on all assigned grounds equipment.
• -Assists in the installation of landscaping projects
• -Assists in the preparation and maintenance of softball, baseball, football, and soccer fields
• -Assists in the repair of sprinkler systems
• -Checks and services power mowers, tractors, trimmers, and all landscaping equipment
• -Cleans drainage and other similar areas
• -Cultivates, waters, fertilizes, and trims lawns, shrubs, hedges, trees, and ground cover
• -Drives District vehicles to haul supplies and equipment to and from work areas
• -Lubricates and sharpens mowers
• -Mounts signs
• -Mows and edges turf grasses using hand and power equipment (72” ZTR or larger)
• -Performs varied duties in the planting, transplanting, fertilizing, and propagation of ornamental plants
• -Performs snow removal, sand, and salt operations, by using snow removal equipment, skid loader, pick-up with blade, and sand/salt spreader mounted pick-up  
• -Sprays pesticides, special weed control, and other turf and lawn chemicals as required
• -Sprays shrubs, trees, weeds, and turf grasses.
• -Sweeps walkways and picks up paper and rubbish, and empties garbage cans as required.
• -Trims trees from the ground, ladder, and aerial lift, using tree saws, chain saws, and loppers
• -Uses hand tools to work the soil and to remove weeds, undergrowth, and debris from grounds and landscaped areas
• -Completes maintenance work orders as assigned.  
• -Performs additional tasks as assigned and associated with the District’s Grounds Maintenance Operations 
• -Possess the ability to react to changing requirements and handle other essential tasks as assigned. 

Marginal Job Functions:

Assists and performs maintenance and repair duties on District grounds to a lesser capacity:

• -May perform general exterior custodial duties either seasonally or incidental to grounds-keeping activities
• -May dig post holes and trenches
• -May install signposts
• -May perform minor asphalt repair work
• -Performs minor fence repair
• -Performs minor maintenance and repair to power mowers, edgers, rototillers, leaf blowers, painter sprayers, field marking equipment and etc.

Qualifications:

Education Level:

• -High School diploma or equivalent

Certification or Licensure:

• -Must possess a valid Operator's License (CDL preferred but not required) and meet all district requirements for driving school vehicles
• -Certification, diploma, and/or license covering grounds maintenance
• -Pesticide applicator certification is preferred

Preferred Background/Knowledge:

• -Background in completing tasks in areas such as mechanics, irrigation, metal-work (welding), landscaping, and turf maintenance
• -Background operating and performing servicing and minor maintenance on grounds and farm equipment
• -Knowledge of landscaping/grounds material, tools, and equipment
• -Knowledge of operation and maintenance of motorized equipment used in grounds maintenance work
• -Knowledge of plant diseases and insect pests, and methods/materials used for controlling and eradicating them
• -Knowledge of safety procedures, methods, supplies, and tools used in planting, cultivating, and caring for turf grasses, shrubs, and trees
• -Knowledge of soil preparation
• -Two years’ experience with District or continuous full-time professional experience performing commercial grounds keeping and landscaping duties required

Environmental Demands:

• -Able to occasionally perform work alone
• -Able to occasionally perform work at an elevated height with noise
• -Able to occasionally use pesticides
• -Able to occasionally work in confined spaces
• -Able to perform work with people
• -Able to use motor vehicle through-out district
• -Able to use moving and vibrating equipment
• -Able to work in adverse weather conditions
• -Able to work in extreme cold, heat, wet and dry conditions
• -Able to work in humid conditions
• -Able to work on turf and with chemicals such as motor lubricants, turf chemicals, and fuels

Other Requirements:

• -Able to operate and maintain power mowers and other grounds maintenance equipment
• -Able to perform skilled grounds maintenance work
• -Able to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff and others
• -Able to safely use the hand and power tools of landscape and grounds-keeping work
• -Able to use motor vehicle (e.g. van, tractor, truck, mower and etc)
• -Able to use Personnel protective equipment(PPE) and clothing
• -Able to weld
• -Demonstrated ability to follow verbal and written directions
• -Prefer abilities to complete complex tasks in areas such as mechanics, irrigation, metal-work, landscaping, and athletic/activity area layout and management as assigned
• -Prefer abilities to perform assigned duties with minimal supervision
• -Must present a neat clean appearance
• -Must be able to work overtime as required

Special Requirements:

FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, please complete our application from the MPS website.  Highly qualified applicants providing at least two references (one supervisory reference) will receive priority consideration. All applicants will receive notifications by email, but only the most qualified will be called for interviews.  Please check your email for status updates.