Groundskeeper I

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Grounds team consists of 30-plus groundskeepers, arborists, and other specialists who develop and maintain our 300-acre tree-lined campus in an environmentally sensitive and aesthetically pleasing manner. This dedicated team works throughout the year in all weather conditions while caring for our trees, fields, gardens, and lawns. Our mission is to create a great first impression and support the university’s mission of teaching and research through our effective and innovative stewardship of the campus landscape.

The Groundskeeper will perform general landscape maintenance, including mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, raking, planting, watering, and weeding turf, trees, shrubs, and flowers on campus. The Groundskeeper will also clean streets, sidewalks, loading docks, and parking lots, and perform trash removal.

The ideal candidate understands that success in this role requires a commitment to teamwork, a willingness to learn, flexibility in work assignments, and a dedication to first-class customer service. 

In addition to joining a meaningful and mission-driven team, employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, health insurance, tuition discounts, and access to campus facilities.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May be required to work overtime 3–4 times a year. Must be available to work occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions, especially during a campus emergency.

Hiring Range 

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed hourly rate is $17.00. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• No formal education
• 6 months of related landscaping/grounds work maintenance experience

Skills:

• Dependability
• Ability to follow instructions
• Basic knowledge of grounds maintenance

Preferences

• HS diploma or equivalent
• One year or more experience in landscape maintenance work
• Willingness to obtain specialized training
• Logical and technical reasoning skills
• Ability to work both independently and/or as part of a team

Essential Functions

• Maintains landscape plants
• Mows, edges, trims, prunes, rakes, plants, waters, and weeds the turf, trees, shrubs, ground cover, and flowers on campus
• Cleans assigned areas after work is complete
• Picks up litter and empties trash cans
• Cleans streets, sidewalks, loading docks, and parking lots
• Fertilizes plants
• Keeps area drain grates clean
• Performs all other duties assigned

Work Conditions

Work Environment: Primarily an outdoor work environment, which includes exposure to temperature and weather extremes (heat, cold, rain, etc.).
Work Hazards: Exposed to dirt, dust, fumes, pollen, noise, and hazardous chemicals such as insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Some work may occur at heightened elevations on ladders and scaffolding. Work with heavy equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, hedge trimmers, etc.

Physical Demands: HEAVY: Exert up to 70 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects. Requires walking or standing up to 8 hours per day and multi-limb coordination to operate heavy equipment and drive a vehicle. Other physical requirements of the job include the ability to bend/crouch/kneel, lift, see, reach, climb, and balance.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.

Salary : $17