Grounds Technician

The Grounds team aims to maintain a diverse and healthy landscape on the campus to enhance the learning environment and ensure a safe and beautiful environment in which students can thrive. The Ground Technician will perform semi-skilled and skilled work in the maintenance, care, and modification of the award-winning grounds and landscapes on Taylor's campus.

Mission and Commitment

Taylor's mission is to develop servant-leaders marked with a passion to minister Christ's redemptive love, grace, and truth to a world in need.

As a community, Taylor faculty, staff, and students commit to living out Christ's love and truth in the here and now. We worship together, serve one another, and grow in faith as we learn in the classroom, on the field, at chapel, and anywhere else we're doing Life Together.This position is primarily responsible to:

• Testify to personal experience of salvation in Jesus Christ, affirm belief in the University's Statement of Faith, abide by and practice our Life Together Covenant, and both personally agree with and support the Foundational Documents of Taylor University.
• Perform tasks common to the care of grounds and landscapes, including seeding, watering, mulching, fertilizing, mixing and applying chemicals for weed and pest control, transplanting, pruning, edging, trimming, mowing, and seasonal plant care.
• Prepare beds and install landscapes; install and plant trees according to landscape blueprints and horticultural standards.
• Monitor turf, plant, and tree irrigation needs.
• Install hardscapes.
• Perform seasonal snow removal, including operating snow blowers, tractors, or snow shovels; use shovels to spread sand and salt on snow- or ice-covered surfaces.
• Pick up and empty rubbish and recycling.
• Assist with greenhouse maintenance and care.
• Maintain tools, equipment, and materials.
• Maintain chemical application records.
• Other duties as assigned.Education and Experience
• High school diploma, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the proper operation and maintenance of grounds maintenance tools, equipment, and machinery, required.
• Knowledge of the methods, materials, and equipment used in planting, cultivating, and trimming a variety of types of trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, and grasses.
• Knowledge of the use and proper disposal of chemicals uses in grounds keeping, preferred.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Skills and Competencies

• Working knowledge of practical application of basic electronics, plumbing, carpentry, and mechanics.
• Proven experience in and knowledge of applicable safety procedures.
• Ability to follow instructions, perform standard procedures, operations, and/or operate specific equipment and light-duty vehicles.
• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment.
• Ability to understand written work orders and written and verbal instructions in English.
• General proficiency in the use of personal computers and related software applications, including Microsoft Office suite; ability to learn new software applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively.Physical Demands
• Extensive physical activity required; requires strenuous physical work: heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects over 50 pounds.
• Requires a full range of physical motion to operate manual, electric-powered and/or gasoline-powered groundskeeping equipment and machines.

Work Environment

• Requires periodic exposure to and use of chemical compounds for application on trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, and grasses, which may be hazardous and cause injury if specific instructions regarding mixture, application, use, and disposal/storage are not properly followed.
• Employees considered as essential employees, and must report to work as scheduled or called in when University offices are closed due to severe weather.

Environmental Conditions

• Work is primarily performed outdoors, year-round; involves considerable exposure to unusual elements including extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant orders and/or loud noises.