Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest

Title: TemporaryService Grounds Worker

Schedule: Seasonal, up to 40 hours per week. Holidays and weekends are required.

Status: Non-Exempt

Salary:$9/hour

Schedule: Seasonal (March 13– October 31, 2018), minimum of 25 hours per week. Certainevent weeks may require 40 hours. Holidays and weekends are mandatory.

Reports to:Grounds and Facilities Manager or Groundskeeper

Supervise:This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Position Overview: This position is part of a team that is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest grounds including landscape, roadways, walkways, buildings, and signage. This position performs basic grounds maintenance and custodial duties for the Arboretum under general supervision.

Primary Functions:

  • Maintains trails, roads, paths, turf and other outdoor areas of the property
  • Trims and edges around walkways, flower beds, and walls
  • Prunes shrubs and trees to shape and repairs trails, paths and fencing
  • Sprays lawns, trails, roads, shrubs, and trees with fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides
  • Rakes and bags or burns leaves
  • Cleans grounds and removes litter
  • Plants grass, flowers, trees, and shrubs
  • Waters lawn and shrubs
  • Repairs fences, picnic tables, benches, gates, walls, and walks
  • Paints fences and out buildings
  • Cleans out drainage ditches and culverts
  • Sharpens tools such as weed cutters, edging tools, and shears
  • Makes minor repairs on equipment such as lawn mower, spreader, grass trimmer, and snow removal equipment
  • Performs custodial functions of Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest facilities
  • Performs event set-up and break down and assists event and facility rental staff as needed
  • Cares for live animals
  • Adheres to all safety regulations while operating equipment or using tools
  • Opens and closes the arboretum daily
  • Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
  • 3+ months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Must be able to maneuver loaded wheelbarrow weighting up to 50 pounds.
  • Excessive walking, lifting, stooping, pushing, and bending.
  • Ability to operate small equipment for long periods of time.
  • Must maintain a valid state issued driver’s license.

Physical Demands: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 stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters performing 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 exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Purdue University is an EEO/AAA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.