Groundskeeper

ONSITE - Berkeley, CA

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

$33 per hour with benefits

Groundskeepers are responsible for maintaining the upkeep of the Laboratory grounds which includes performing a variety of semi-skilled and skilled grounds maintenance and gardening tasks. Maintains grounds by performing combination of cutting lawns, trimming and pruning shrubs and trees; raking up leaves and litter; planting grass, flowers, trees, and shrubs; watering lawns and shrubs. This positon works independently on routine tasks, minimizing the needs for supervision, while notifying the Supervisor and/or Groundskeeper, Lead of changed conditions or hazards.

• Perform routine grounds maintenance including site clean-up, planting, cultivating, mowing, hedging, raking, watering, weeding and debris removal.
• Use appropriate power tools, such as power trimmers and leaf blowers to clear weeds and grass and maintain walkways and landscape. Clean, maintain and organize tools, trucks, shops, and equipment.
• Perform other duties as required which may include traffic flagging service, parking notices/barricades, and etc. Drive pickup trucks and passenger cars to and from work site.
• Comply with LBL implementation of DOE health and safety policies and other applicable Federal, State, and local fire, health, safety, emergency-preparedness, pollution-prevention, and environmental-protection policies.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing, utilize mechanical safety equipment, and post hazard signs where necessary.
• Plan and perform all work safely and be particularly aware of potentially hazardous operations or conditions.
• Immediately stop work in the event of danger to people or property and notify the appropriate supervisor and, when appropriate, the building manager and when appropriate the Environmental Safety Hazards Control Department.
• Report promptly and correct when appropriate any hazardous conditions that are discovered.
• Proceed with work only after having ensured that appropriate safety procedures have been implemented.
• Ensure that all unique activities that involve potentially hazardous conditions are carried out in conformance with a current Operational Safety Procedure (OSP) to ensure that risks are acceptable.
• Keep operating and quality-assurance records, such as daily log book and equipment entries, that are adequate to meet DOE Order 4330.xx requirements.
• Ensure that personal exposure to toxic chemicals, ionizing radiation, and contaminants is maintained within prescribed standards and is as low as reasonably achievable.
• Minimize the volume and toxicity of all LBL-generated wastes and maintain chemical inventories as low as reasonably achievable.

• 1 year minimum demonstrated experience working on landscaping.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of plant identification, horticultural practices, irrigation systems, and the safe use of pesticides. Ability to maintain plants, shrubs, trees, hedges, flowers and lawns. Working knowledge of sprinkler systems.
• Must have a high level of physical fitness, including the ability to climb up and down while working on steep hillsides, and to carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolds, work at heights; work in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, under florescent lights; able to bend, stoop, kneel, crawl, have manual dexterity in both hands; lift 50 lbs. to chest height and carry object up to 100 feet up/down inclines/stairs. Ability to stand for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).
• Ability to operate power mowers and a variety of grounds-keeping equipment or tools. Ability to communicate clearly in writing, orally, over telephone and by two way radio.
• Must have a valid California Driver’s license.
• Ability to drive a pick-up truck, passenger cars or other similar vehicles.
• Demonstrated ability to use computers effectively for record-keeping and communication; ability to quickly write presentable reports and memoranda on computer.