What are the responsibilities and job description for the Semi Skilled Laborer (Grounds, Bloomsburg) position at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
- For full consideration, applications must be received by December 4, 2025.
- Finalists for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process.
- Completing this search is contingent upon available funding.
Posting Details
Posting Details
Posting Number
S336
Classification Title
Semi-Skilled Laborer
Working Title
Semi Skilled Laborer (Grounds, Bloomsburg)
Department
Non-Tech Trades BL
Home Campus
Bloomsburg
City
Bloomsburg
State
Pennsylvania
Zip Code
17815
Bargaining Unit
AFSCME - Agreement
Work Location
Home Campus
Position Type
Staff
Temporary/ Permanent
Permanent
Full-time/ Part-time
Full-Time
If Part-time, specify percentage (Examples: 0.75; 0.50; 0.25)
Benefits
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education provides a comprehensive package of employer benefits to eligible employees and their enrolled dependent(s), which include*:
- Medical and prescription drug benefits.
- Generous retirement plans, two options:
- Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP)
- State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS)
- Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
- Paid time off.
- Employer-paid dental and vision benefits.
- Employer-paid life insurance.
- Voluntary insurances and additional retirement programs.
*Specific benefits may vary based upon university, employee group and/or collective bargaining unit. Visit: http://www.passhe.edu/inside/HR/syshr/healthcare/Pages/Summary-of-Benefits.aspx for additional information regarding benefits.
To be eligible for most benefits, you must be a permanent, full-time employee (including temporary, full-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) or a permanent, part-time employee (including temporary, part-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) who is scheduled to work every pay period for at least 50% of full-time hours.
Start Time
600
End Time
1400
Hours Per Week
37.5 hours per week
Days Worked (Check all that apply)
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat
Salary
$36,108.00/annual in accordance with the AFSCME CBA
Anticipated Start Date
ASAP
Anticipated End Date
N/A
Position Summary Information
Position Purpose
An employee in this job performs semi-skilled work alone, assists a skilled trades worker, or functions as lead worker for a small crew of manual workers performing routine tasks. Work involves the use of a variety of construction, grounds keeping and maintenance equipment and tools, which frequently requires the application of skills acquired on the job. Minor repairs and routine grounds keeping and custodial duties are performed with considerable independence and reviewed upon completion. More advanced construction or repair work is performed under the direction of a skilled trades worker or supervisor.
This position is considered an essential personnel position.
This position is considered an essential personnel position.
Description of Duties
- Maintains the cleanliness of buildings, comfort facilities, pavilions, and outdoor recreational areas.
- Clears walkways and roadways of debris or snow.
- Drives vehicles to transport personnel, residents, or materials.
- Operates mechanized and motorized grounds maintenance equipment such as 1 ton dump truck, loaders, gang mowers, rollers, and roto-tillers.
- Performs all work in a responsible manner to insure the use of a minimum amount of materials while maintaining high quality of workmanship.
- Maintains vehicles and equipment by changing the oil, checking fluid levels, changing filters and checking tire pressures.
- Prepares reports and keeps records of vehicle mileage, gas and oil usage.
- Tracks inventory items, including tools and equipment.
- Lays out and participates in planting, watering, sodding, spraying and trimming and cleaning work on lawns, gardens and walks.
- Prunes shrubs and trees with chain saws and hand operated pruning equipment.
- Prepares seed beds and sows grass seed; plants shrubs and trees; weeds and applies mulches to shrub beds; spreads fertilizer; cuts and removes brush; and rakes and gathers leaves.
- Mows grass, trims grass and operates weed-eaters.
- Removes dirt, rubbish, snow, leaves and other refuse and maintains roads, lawns, sheds, benches and parking places.
- Participates in filling, surfacing, hauling and fertilizing operations.
- Participates in the maintenance and marking of athletic fields.
- Diagnoses plant pest and diseases on trees and shrubs and treats by determining the proper chemical formulation and correct method of application.
- Applies restrictive chemicals on campus, which requires PA pesticide license, category 23.
- Operates power and hand tools of the carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and other building trades in the performance of maintenance work.
- Performs minor carpentry tasks such as assembling and repairing prefabricated picnic tables, signs, furniture, shelving, partitions and storage bins.
- Paints or stains building walls, ceilings, signs, and gates by scraping and removing old finish and rolling or using brushes to apply paint or stain.
- Makes minor electrical repairs such as replacing light bulbs, lighting fixtures, replacing switches, and adjusting electrical motors.
- Performs minor roofing tasks by repairing shingles, soffits, flashing, and spouting.
- Clears blocked drains and repairs faucets and drinking fountains.
- Performs project work (non-maintenance) working with construction materials such as landscape timbers, stone and cement in constructing landscape beds, retaining walls, sidewalks, post and chain and installation of sign posts.
- Patches asphalt roads, measures yardage, pours and finishes concrete using masonry tools. Maintains records of time and materials for assigned projects.
- Assists skilled trades workers with more complex tasks in the maintenance and construction of buildings and structures.
- Assists skilled trades workers with maintenance and repairs to pools, water systems, boiler plants, and sewage treatment systems.
- Assists trades in laying electrical conduit, water pipes, valves, and installs curb boxes as needed.
- Loads, hauls, sets up and removes various equipment utilized in classrooms, picnics, conferences, offices and other University functions.
- Gathers broken or damaged furniture and delivers to repair shop, and returns it after repairs have been completed.
- Participates in education and training courses as requested.
- Practices safety measures to prevent accidents and injuries, and to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
Decision Making
N/A
Fiscal Responsibility
N/A
Supervisory Responsibility
N/A
Minimum Requirements Profile
One year of experience in laboring work including the use of tools and equipment used in maintenance or construction;
OR
an equivalent combination of experience and training.
OR
an equivalent combination of experience and training.
A valid PA non-commercial Class C driver’s license or equivalent.
Preferred Qualifications
- One years experience doing grounds maintenance
- Experience operating grounds equipment
- Experience preforming snow removal
- Category 23 pesticide license
Applicant Rating Criteria
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of the tools and methods used in construction and maintenance of buildings, structures, roadways, and trails.
Ability to read and interpret written material, including road or other types of maps and instructions.
Ability to understand and follow oral instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Knowledge of care of lawns, flowers, trees, and common shrubs
Essential Functions
1. Performing duties directly related to but not limited to maintenance of the lawns, shrub beds, athletic fields, walkway and roadways
2. Working outdoors – 95% Indoors – 5% Sitting 20%, Walking – 50%, Standing – 30%
3. Frequent lifting of objects weighing 50 pounds or more
4. Working in inclement weather
Posting Detail Information
Open Date mm-dd-yyyy
11/25/2025
Close Date mm-dd-yyyy
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
- For full consideration, applications must be received by December 4, 2025.
- Finalists for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process.
- Completing this search is contingent upon available funding.
Background Clearances
Offers of employment are conditional, pending successful completion of the background clearances mandated by Act 153 of 2014 and Board of Governors Policy 2014-01-A: Protection of Minors. In order to qualify for a provisional appointment, the Applicant Acknowledgement Consent Form, Provisional Hire Form, Pennsylvania State Police and Justifacts portion of the clearance process must be successfully completed prior to your start date. The remaining PA Child Abuse History Clearance and FBI Clearance must be successfully completed and returned as soon as possible within the first 90 days of employment.
Diversity Statement
At Commonwealth University we recognize our responsibility to continuously support a living, learning, and working environment that values the diverse contributions from all members of our campus community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion enriches our campus community and is instrumental to our institutional success. Commonwealth University strives to cultivate a campus climate that allows all members to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as we achieve success both in and out of the classroom, in our work responsibilities, and in our professional lives beyond Commonwealth University. We uphold our commitment to DEI by:
- Actively supporting and promoting the intellectual and personal growth of our students, inside and outside of the classroom.
- Providing workshops, trainings, programs designed to broaden the knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within our campus community.
- Ensuring that all learning and living environments throughout our campus are welcoming and capable of serving all individuals.
Title IX/Clery
The University prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital or family status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in any decision regarding admissions, employment, or participation in a University program or activity in accordance with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
The University also complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Title IX prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination. VAWA imposes additional duties on universities and colleges to investigate and respond to reports of sexual assault, stalking, and dating or domestic violence, and to publish policies and procedures related to the way these reports are handled. The University has designated the Title IX Coordinator (Jennifer Raup, Elwell Hall, ORL, 570-389-4808, jraup@commonwealthu.edu or titleixcoord@commonwealthu.edu), to coordinate the University’s compliance with Title IX and VAWA and to respond to reports of violations. The University has directed the Police Department to coordinate the University’s compliance with the VAWA-related Clery reporting requirements. For information on the University’s crime statistics, which is available in a publication called “Annual Security Report”, please contact Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg Police at 570-389-2211, Commonwealth University – Mansfield Police at 570-662-4900, or Commonwealth University – Lock Haven Police at 570-484-2278 or by accessing the following website: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/university-police/annual-security-report. Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region III, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East – Suite 505, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: (215) 656-6010; Fax: (215) 656-6020.
About Commonwealth University of PA
The Power of Three Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities have joined forces to boldly transform higher education in our region and beyond. While we are uniting as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, you can expect a college experience that is anything but common.
We’re Honoring our History by preserving the founding principles of each campus and continuing our vibrant on-campus student experience, serving as pillars of our communities, supporting students and our neighbors alike.
We’re Investing in Today by answering the greatest challenges facing higher education: accessibility, cost, quality, and relevance through the combined strength of our storied institutions.
We’re Building a Powerful Tomorrow by boldly changing the trajectory of public education to position ourselves for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce development needs in our region, across Pennsylvania and beyond.
We’re Honoring our History by preserving the founding principles of each campus and continuing our vibrant on-campus student experience, serving as pillars of our communities, supporting students and our neighbors alike.
We’re Investing in Today by answering the greatest challenges facing higher education: accessibility, cost, quality, and relevance through the combined strength of our storied institutions.
We’re Building a Powerful Tomorrow by boldly changing the trajectory of public education to position ourselves for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce development needs in our region, across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Quick Link
https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/4785
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Optional Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Salary : $36,108
