What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grounds Foreman position at Lake Forest Academy?
Lake Forest Academy seeks to hire one experienced grounds maintenance foreman to contribute to and help lead our grounds team toward maintaining the grounds within our historic 150-acre campus. Ideally, the candidate will speak fluently in both Spanish and English, and held at least one previous leadership position in a similar grounds, lawn, landscape, or golf course management role alongside a Manager for leadership and task guidance, and with responsibilities of effectively delegating and ensuring the completion of tasks with the greater team. The individual will be expected to already possess a baseline knowledge of seasonal core grounds maintenance practices, and if not working directly with the team toward our collective goals each day, the foreman will be utilized for advanced technical skill sets to maximize productivity and meet the fluid grounds needs of each work day.
Such examples include, but are not limited to; experienced heavy equipment operation, athletic field maintenance practices, irrigation repair and maintenance, grounds equipment repair and maintenance to assist our technician at times, the ability to possess an Illinois pesticide operator’s license and apply plant protectants, snow removal and salting operations within a demanding and low tolerance setting, previous experience in landscape design, construction, and installation practices, plant health and aesthetic needs within turfgrass, trees, annual and perennial flowers, watering practices, working within a work order system, and setting up/breaking down for events, and proficiencies working with hand tools and carpentry equipment.
Additionally, soft skill sets that we are looking for include effective time management, the ability to multitask their own tasks while knowing where the teams are throughout the day, the ability to think independently and remain adaptable to needed changes within the core foundation of safety and overall best management practices, possess excellent written and oral communication across many audiences, someone who is results-driven, has an excellent attendance history, works well with others, self-motivated, and possess sound character and integrity traits.
Employment Type: Full time, benefits eligible. 40 hours/week
Hourly Rate: $26-30 per hour with overtime opportunities
Great Benefits:
We offer a very competitive benefits package that includes 15 days of PTO, full medical and dental coverage, generous retirement benefit match, meals, paid holidays, additional incentives provided when working within our required snow removal activities, and more. For more information, visit www.lfanet.org/employment.
Job Description:
The grounds maintenance foreman will report to and work very closely with the Grounds Manager in the completion of tasks throughout the day with the crew. It will be the responsibility of the foreman to assist the Grounds Manager with assigning and delegating daily tasks among our grounds maintenance laborers and ensure all work has been completed in an acceptable manner each day. The foreman will work alongside our laborers as well in the same day-to-day grounds maintenance operations, yet a larger emphasis will be performing more experienced and detailed responsibilities. These include; chemical applications, irrigation repair and maintenance, operating heavy equipment including specialized equipment for sport field line painting and agronomic practices, and being in charge of special landscaping projects with our grounds maintenance laborers.
Examples of grounds maintenance work that would be performed with general laborers includes any combination of the following: mowing, trimming, edging, planting, tree work, laying sod, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, irrigation, sweeping of parking lots and sidewalks, general grounds maintenance, specific detailing of the landscape and flowerbeds, snow and ice removal management, and sports field setup and maintenance.
The grounds maintenance foreman/crew lead will also serve a large role in the repair and maintenance, troubleshooting, diagnosing, and preventative maintenance practices on our modest fleet of equipment.
Working Hours: 6:00 am – 2:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Some weekends and varying schedule changes will be required at times to ensure business needs are met within special events and snow removal needs.
This position requires on-call snow removal responsibilities in the winter months that will be in addition to the normal working hours. Additional incentives provided when working within our required snow removal activities.
Winter Months: We are an active campus with students, sporting events, and faculty living on site that sometimes requires snow removal duties to be performed in shifts at all times of the day and on call for the weekends. Please only apply if you live within a reasonable distance to drive in when you are on call and only if you have the ability to work before or after 6:00 am – 2:30 pm when needed.
Spring, Summer, and Fall Months: 6:00 am – 2:30 pm, Monday - Friday with occasional requests for overtime or extra hours on the weekends.
Job Responsibilities:
- Perform as the assistant to the Grounds Manager sharing similar ownership with frequent check-ins toward our goals of campus grounds aesthetics and performance of the athletic fields
- Effectively manage and work alongside laborers toward the completion of specialized landscaping projects and tasks
- Assist in the assigning and delegating of daily tasks among the general laborers
- Help oversee the work being performed throughout campus grounds to ensure the completion of tasks each day
- Application of pesticides using various types of sprayers. Training will be provided.
- Application of painting lines on our athletic fields. Training will be provided.
- Familiarity of irrigation repair and maintenance practices.
- Operation of heavy equipment and other specialized equipment
- Mows lawns and trims grass around walks, flower beds, trees and walls.
- Prunes shrubs and trees, at the direction of the immediate Supervisor, to shape and improve growth.
- Removes fallen or damaged leaves, branches, and twigs using mowers, tractors and other hand and power tools.
- Lays out and maintains flower beds, mulch beds, or other decorative vegetation.
- Maintains and sharpens tools and makes minor repairs on equipment, as needed.
- Plants, fertilizes, waters and uses weed and insect control products at the direction of the immediate Supervisor to maintain grass, flowers, trees and shrubs.
- Removes snow and ice from walks, roads and driveways, utilizing hand tools, machines or vehicles.
- Spreads salt, picks up litter, rakes, and removes debris from hard surfaces.
- Cleans drainage ditches and culverts, including, but not limited to the filling of potholes and the sweeping of accumulated debris along curb lines.
- Maintains driveways and parking lots.
- Repairs fences, gates, walls, irrigation systems, walks and outbuildings using carpentry, masonry and painting tools.
- May perform marking and maintenance of sports fields.
- Performs routine cleaning and maintenance on gardening and grounds equipment.
- May operate trucks and assorted power equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.
- May participate in the setup and tear-down of event furniture, such as tables, chairs and tents.
- May participate in the movement of furniture, supplies and material.
- Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) as designated.
- Complies with all company safety and risk management policies and procedures.
- Reports all accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
- Participates in regular safety meetings, safety training and hazard assessments.
- Applies all applicable OSHA and related local safety requirements to all assigned work.
- Performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures.
- May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Working Conditions:
- Work is performed in an outdoor setting.
- Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends, and extended hours as business dictates.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to heat/cold.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
- Wears protective clothing and/or Personal Protective Equipment required by the work environment or governmental regulations.
Physical Requirements:
- Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus, with or without corrective lenses.
- Significant walking or other means of mobility.
- Ability to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).
- Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 40 pounds.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Willingness to be open to learning and growing
- Maturity of judgment and behavior
- Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance
- Ability to work a flexible schedule
- Must comply with any dress code requirements
- Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays
- Attends work and shows up for scheduled shifts on time within attendance policy and/or client operating hours
Experience/Knowledge:
- Prefer 4 years working in related landscaping, golf course maintenance, athletic sports fields, or as general grounds maintenance worker
- Verbal fluency in both Spanish and English
- Previous experience working as a foreman or supervisor role in related field required
- Previous experience on repair and maintenance of small engine equipment preferred
- Previous experience with snow plowing and salting procedures preferred
- Experience in athletic fields or painting sports field lines a plus preferred
- High School diploma/GED
- Must possess valid driver’s license and have reliable form of transportation
- Maintains high standards for work areas and to think on their own
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including some nights, weekends, and holidays
- Attends work and shows up for scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity
- Effective working either individually or in a crew setting throughout the day
About Us:
Founded in 1857, Lake Forest Academy is a coed boarding school serving 450 academically bright and motivated students in grades 9 to 12 from across the globe. The Academy offers a rigorous curriculum focused on academic excellence and characterized by small classes and close faculty/student interaction. The school's mission of educational excellence is founded on the four pillars of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility. Please visit our website http://www.lfanet.org/ for more information about us.
Limitations and Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
Employment at Lake Forest Academy is "at-will," which means either you or Lake Forest Academy may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason without prior notice.
In accordance with Lake Forest Academy’s policies and state and federal law, receipt of this position is contingent upon the individual’s successful completion of all requirements to establish the legal right to work in the United States, as well as a background check. In the event Lake Forest Academy has not received a complete background check prior to the first day of employment, employment will be on a temporary basis until such results are successfully completed.
Non-discrimination Policy:
Lake Forest Academy is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. This means Lake Forest Academy will not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, transitioned, transitioning or perceived to be transitioning), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), marital status, domestic partner status, pregnancy and breastfeeding, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.
Lake Forest Academy reasonably accommodates employees and/or applicants with disabilities provided the individual is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the job. If you believe that you need a reasonable accommodation, you must inform Lake Forest Academy’s Director of Human Resources.
Salary : $26 - $30