Groundskeeper

Help Care for Meaningful Grounds – Join Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as a Groundskeeper

Job Title: Groundskeeper 

Job Status: Full-Time / Non-Exempt / Hourly

About Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth:

Established in 1858 in Kansas, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) live their mission in the spirit of their founders, St. Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Mother Xavier Ross. The Sisters, as Gospel-centered women, share a tradition of responding to the needs of the time, ministering to the vulnerable and marginalized, and caring for the fragile Earth. They share their mission in partnership and collaboration with those committed to working for peace and justice.

Position Summary:

The Groundskeeper is responsible for maintaining the landscaping across the Mother House and University of Saint Mary campuses.

Essentials Duties:

• Maintenance of lawn, trees, shrubs, and flowers, trimming of lawn and tree limbs, pruning of shrubs, applications of fertilizer, removal of lawn debris, and cleaning of walkways and streets to maintain a good level of safety for the SCL Sisters, their visitors, and employees.
• Remove snow from roadways, sidewalks, and steps, and treat icy conditions to maintain safe conditions.
• Collection of trash and storm debris and disposal of such debris.
• Have working knowledge and application of landscape and snow removal machinery, such as tractors, manual-transmission trucks, mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, snowplows, and blowers.
• Routine maintenance of equipment and lawn machinery.
• Practice safety procedures when operating equipment and lawn machinery.
• Observe safety rules when using pesticides and other chemicals. Wear protective items such as masks, goggles, rubber gloves, and hard hats as necessary.
• Adheres to a rotating On-Call schedule that requires availability after hours and prompt response time.
• Willingly performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Schedule is generally Monday through Friday, typically 6:00/7:00 am – 2:30/3:30 pm depending on the season. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, as hours and days may vary, and overtime may be required during severe weather conditions.
• Candidates must have a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug screen.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently stoops, kneels, reaches, pushes, pulls, crouches, and crawls.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds.
• Manual dexterity is required to handle a variety of heavy and light equipment, including mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, tractors, and trucks.
• The specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Requires coordinated use of hands, feet, and eyes to safely operate equipment.
• Requires occasionally wearing standard protective or safety equipment.

Work Environment:

• The employee is exposed to extreme temperature changes and works in extreme temperatures in both winter and summer.
• Some jobs require employees to work in an environment that involves exposure to unpleasant fumes and odors, toxic chemicals, and fuels that may cause burns.
• Employees may be exposed to cutting, grinding, and other equipment that can cause eye injuries. It is crucial to always use the appropriate protective equipment in these situations.