Description

General Maintenance and Groundskeeping

About Einstein Charter Schools:

Einstein Charter Schools (“Einstein”) is a nonprofit Charter Management Organization whose mission is to empower all students to achieve financial well-being and embrace the power of choice through equitable educational experiences. Founded in 2005, Einstein Charter Schools is a top performing, tuition free, open admissions network of 4 schools in New Orleans East, serving grades PK-12. Our schools are: Sherwood Forest, Village De L’est, Einstein Middle School, and Sarah T. Reed High School. Authorized by the Orleans Parish School Board, we service the needs of more than 1,600 students, over 30% of whom receive ELL services.

At Einstein, we know our people actualize our mission for our students. We strive to create work environments and a total rewards package that promotes the hiring and retention of highly effective staff. We offer our staff an opportunity to impact the lives of our students and their New Orleans East community, a culture that prioritizes growth and collegiately, and a competitive compensation and benefits package.

About You

Above all else, you come to Einstein because you believe in our mission to empower all students to achieve financial well-being and embrace the power of choice through equitable educational experiences. You believe in EVERY child and their capacity to learn, grow, and achieve their dreams.

You are focused on…

• Our students. In all your actions, you act in the best interest of our students. You embrace and protect their individuality and diversity. You seek to ensure they have access to an equitable future.
• Our goals. You are laser focused on our goals and strive to meet them efficiently. You know acting on data and feedback is an essential skill and aren’t afraid to innovate..
• Our people. You hope to work for an organization that is both result-driven AND relationship-driven. You seek an environment where our staff can engage authentically, collegially and have fun. You value diversity and prioritize inclusion. 

Reports to Facilities Manager

Position Overview

The General Maintenance and Groundskeeper performs semi-skilled work in the maintenance, care, and modification school campus buildings and school grounds and landscapes which includes the operation of electrically-powered and gasoline-powered groundskeeping equipment and machines, and the use of small hand and power tools or equipment in planting, cultivating, and trimming grounds and landscaping. The Groundskeeper also performs maintenance on groundskeeping equipment and tools, and makes minor repairs (within demonstrated capability) as directed. The Groundskeeper/General Maintenance Worker changes light bulbs, paints walls, woodwork, furniture, and equipment, makes minor carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repairs, delivers supplies, materials, and equipment as needed, retrieves and documents transfer of accountability of surplus property, provides custodial services, etc.

Key Responsibilities

1. Performs tasks common to the care of grounds and landscapes by seeding, watering, mulching, fertilizing, and applying chemicals to outside plantings, lawns and turf, as well as inside flowers and cuttings used in transplanting; inspecting plant materials for insects, disease, physical and mechanical damage and identifying replacements; transplanting, pruning, trimming, and cultivating trees, shrubs, ground cover, and flowers; and storing and caring for bulbs and cuttings in the winter season.
2. Performs regular and directed grounds and landscape maintenance by mowing lawns with riding or push mowers; trimming and edging around trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, sidewalks and buildings; weeding, thinning and cleaning flower beds and other grounds by hand or utilizing proper tools and equipment; and setting up, adjusting, repairing, and cleaning irrigation systems.
3. Performs campus-wide general maintenance and repairs by installing, removing, repairing and maintaining landscape lighting, signs, cables, chains, barricades, gates, bicycle racks, posts, fences, and repairing parking lots, athletic fields, as applicable.
4. Removes unsightly trash and debris from public areas by regularly inspecting grounds, drains, manhole covers, etc., for debris; raking, sweeping and bagging leaves, debris, dirt and trash from streets, sidewalks, parking lots, tunnels, and transporting the trash to designated central collection points on a daily basis.
5. Reduces the likelihood for the spread of diseases and unsightly appearance of trash containers in public areas by emptying, cleaning and disinfecting trash and cigarette receptacles on a regular basis, and removing, repairing and installing trash and cigarette receptacles on school property on an as needed basis.
6. Prepares outdoor locations for use by visitors, vendors, and the public as needed by campus operations and, if applicable, painting and marking athletic fields, moving bleachers and seating, and erecting portable goals or other athletic equipment.
7. Applies chemicals used in groundskeeping (horticulture, turf management, and floriculture) properly and safely by wearing prescribed protective clothing, masks, and/or rubber gloves and boots, following either written or verbal directions for mixing chemical compounds according to specifications, applying the chemicals properly on grounds and landscapes designated for their use, and disposing of residual chemical products as directed or storing and labeling them for future use.
8. Safely operates light vehicles such as riding mowers (if applicable) and portable power tools and equipment such as saws, grass trimmers, snow/leaf blowers, sprayers, paint machines and other groundskeeping equipment by obeying applicable traffic laws and following operator instructions, and wearing appropriate safety items such as goggles, gloves, or other appropriate protective clothing.
9. Ensures that grounds maintenance equipment and building maintenance equipment are operational by performing routine and preventative maintenance and cleaning of tools, equipment and machines within reasonable capabilities.
10. Replaces and disposes of light bulbs in interior building settings using ladders, lifts, or other tools.
11. Performs painting work in the preparation, patching, finishing, and maintaining of building structures, walls, woodwork, furniture, and equipment.
12. Performs delivery services by identifying supplies, materials, and equipment to be delivered from invoices or order forms, safely loading items on the delivery vehicle, safeguarding items during transit, delivering items to the correct department, and obtaining the appropriate signature for the receipt of the delivered items.
13. Performs custodial services following established procedures and guidelines in buildings, classrooms, offices, lavatories, restrooms, etc. including their furnishings, using manual tools and powered machines.
14. Performs minor maintenance work using hand and power tools by making carpentry repairs such as nailing down loose boards, or replacing worn or rotten floor boards, performing minor plumbing repairs, and replacing defective electrical switches, light bulbs, fuses, and fluorescent ballasts.
15. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
16. Contributes to the overall success of the campus by performing all other related duties as assigned.
17. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education: A high school diploma or the equivalent is required.

Experience: At least two years of experience in groundskeeping is required, where 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 has been gained; an Associate’s degree in horticulture or a related field may be substituted for the two years of experience required. Knowledge of the use and proper disposal of chemicals used in groundskeeping (horticulture, turf management, and floriculture) is preferred. A minimum of two years in General Maintenance maintenance is required where knowledge of building maintenance, custodial services, minor carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repairs has been gained.

Skills: The ability to read English language sufficiently to understand written work orders and instructions as well as directions for the proper mixture, use, and disposal/storage of cleaners, solvents, chemicals, fertilizers and similar products used in groundskeeping is required. Skill in the proper operation and maintenance of grounds maintenance tools, equipment, and machinery is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

The ability to identify and eradicate disease or insect damage to plant and turf materials is preferred.

Effort: Requires the ability to lift and carry groundskeeping supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis and up to 100 pounds on an occasional basis, prolonged walking or standing, and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching on a daily basis. Requires a full range of physical motion in order to operate manual, electrically-powered and/or gasoline-powered groundskeeping equipment and machines. Requires the ability to access facilities and areas which may only be accessible by climbing stairs or by climbing ladders to a height of 20 feet (e.g., for tree trimming). Must be able to move throughout assigned areas, as the work is performed primarily out-of-doors, year round. Employees in this job classification (job title) are designated as essential employees and must report to work as scheduled when school offices are closed due to severe weather.

Other: Scope of the position requires 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 their mixture, application, use and disposal/storage are not properly followed.

Evaluation

• Analysis of Building and Grounds Maintenance
• Evaluated by the Facilities Manager

Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Einstein Charter Schools welcomes all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other protected grounds in any of its activities or operations, including hiring.