Reporting directly to the Grounds Supervisor or their designee (Working Grounds Supervisor). The Lead Groundsperson is responsible for working with and overseeing 2 – 3 groundspersons in the safe, timely and professional maintenance of landscape and hardscape areas throughout the campus.

1. Grounds Management: Provide timely, professional routine maintenance of Central Florida turf, shrubs, groundcover and bedding plants keeping them in optimal condition through the use of proper horticultural practices and manual and power landscape equipment. Minimum of 3 years’ experience using gas pruners/shears, stick edger’s, backpack blowers, z-turn and walk-behind mowers, chain saws, hand pruners, hand saws, hedge trimmers and other equipment common in the maintenance of aesthetically pleasing and safe ornamental and native landscapes. Removing weeds, invasive plants, and miscellaneous debris from beds and tree rings. Scouting and reporting any physical, pest, or cultural damage and assisting in removing and replacing plant material and installing new landscape projects.

2. Hardscape Management: Utilize hand and power equipment to maintain clean and safe hardscapes throughout campus including parking lots, sidewalks, patios, building entrances and streets. Reporting damage to sidewalks and streets and assisting in the repair of concrete and paver hardscapes as needed. Perform routine pressure washing to maintain vertical and horizontal hard surfaces in clean condition. Removal of graffiti, stickers, signage, etc. to maintain pleasing and safe environment.

3. Supervisory Assistance: Setting the example of excellence and compliance to procedure and policy and ensuring that co-workers are staying on task; utilizing time management to complete tasks in a timely fashion; producing quality results in keeping with expectations; communicating any personnel, safety, or property concerns to the appropriate person. Ability to mentor and, if needed, assist in the disciplinary process through documented oral warnings.

4. Policing/Solid Waste Removal/Recycling: Remove litter, debris, and miscellaneous items from turf, beds and hardscapes throughout campus. Service trash receptacles by replacing garbage bags and depositing refuse into dumpsters. Ensures that recycling is retrieved and placed in the proper receptacles for collection.

5. Irrigation: Assist with irrigation monitoring, inspection, installation and repairs as needed. Hand watering of areas not covered by automatic irrigation.

6. Meetings/Education: Attend department meetings intended to present operational, safety and horticultural topics to all Grounds Department members, and participate in meetings to communicate any personnel, safety, property or operational concerns. Attend other continuing education opportunities including field trips, on/off site presentations, etc.

7. Equipment Maintenance: Proper usage and storage of all equipment. Report any needed repairs for malfunctioning or damaged equipment and removing them from the equipment inventory until they are functioning properly: Experienced in sharpening blades, changing trimmer string, maintaining fluid levels and other basic routine maintenance on all power equipment.

8. Safety: In addition to personal safety, ensure that co-workers are using Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and equipment and supplies are being used in a manner that prevents personal injury, injury to others or damage to property.

9. Emergency Preparedness/Clean Up: Ensure the campus is ready for, and cleaned up after weather-related emergencies.

10. Furniture Moving: Move furniture, event set up related items as needed.

11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Must possess a valid driver’s license from any state at the time of hire, and able to acquire a State of Florida Driver’s License within sixty (60) days of hire. The FLDL must be maintained in good standing to meet essential requirements of job
Must possess a Limited Turf and Ornamental Pesticide Applicators License from the State of Florida or the ability to acquire license within six (6) months of employment.

1. Ability to identify common Central Florida plant material and experienced in installation and maintenance of trees, shrubs, groundcover/turf.

2. Knowledge of common landscape and hardscape construction and maintenance equipment, tools, tasks and procedures and the ability to drive company utility vehicles;

3. Customer service driven with a desire to exceed expectations and support the vision, mission, goals and objectives of Valencia College.

4. Utilize time management to complete personal tasks in a timely fashion while striving for quality results and overseeing those same goals for 2-3 coworkers.

5. Ability to communicate effectively and follow written and oral instructions.

 6. Consistently achieve productivity and quality expectations.

This job primarily operates throughout the College’s worksites and grounds. The employee may be exposed to elements including but not limited to wet/humid weather, extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, and unpleasant odors. The role may also involve hazards or physical risks, which require comprehending and following basic safety precautions and may require Personal Protection Equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.

Typical physical competencies include but are not limited to remaining stationary, moving, ascending/descending, positioning self, reaching, lifting/moving objects weighing between 5-100 pounds. This job also entails communicating, discerning and exchanging information, detecting and perceiving objects up close, at a distance, and the ability to adjust focus. Cognitive abilities include but are not limited to discretion, judgment, reasoning, memory, learning, maintaining confidentiality, comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making.

The typical work environment, physical and cognitive demands listed above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The College has a process to identify and make available reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.