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Grounds Worker (3351)

Employer
Northern Illinois University
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
May 31, 2023
Position Summary

To maintain and beautify the campus grounds as well as work in conjunction with other departments of the Physical Plant to perform other related tasks.

The Grounds Superintendent, or designee, will determine priorities for the department. The Assistant Grounds Superintendent and /or Assistant Grounds Gardeners, and/or Grounds Gardeners, and/or Maintenance Equipment Operators will issue oral and/or written instructions to this individual. This individual will operate a variety of vehicles and equipment required to perform various landscaping duties during all seasons of the year. Application of herbicides and pesticides will also be required by this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Campus-wide snow removal -30%
  • Remove snow and ice by shoveling, plowing, blowing, sweeping, or breaking into pieces. Spread salt and sand by hand spreader and/or motorized salt/sand spreaders on assigned building steps, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots surrounding University buildings. Haul snow from parking lots to designated areas using various size trucks. Assist Maintenance Equipment Operators in ice-planning the lagoon. Install snow fences.
Mowing and Trimming -30%
  • Mow and trim, by hand or on rider, lawns adjacent to buildings, around signs, poles, fences, etc. Edge/weed sidewalks, flowerbeds, and around signs and poles.
Excavation -13%
  • Dig and refill holes in order to transplant trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses, and other miscellaneous vegetation. Excavate and haul earth away from sites to locate utilities, both indoors and outdoors, so the utilities can be repaired. In some instances, digging a ditch by hand or using an air hammer to remove concrete sidewalks and floors may be required
Campus-wide grounds maintenance -12%
  • Assist Maintenance Equipment Operators, Assistant Grounds Gardeners, and Grounds Gardener in over-seeding and fertilizing all university lawns in the spring and fall. Remove leaves where it is not feasible for large equipment to do so. Prepare beds by digging, rototilling, mulching, etc. Apply herbicides and other pesticides to flowers, shrubs, and trees. Prune flowers, shrubs, and trees as needed. Spray weeds where needed.
Pick up Debris -10%
  • Pick up litter, trash, wastepaper, and all other debris on all campus grounds on a daily basis.
Other Duties as Assigned -5%
  • Other duties as may be assigned.
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

  1. High school diploma or equivalent.
  2. Any one or combination totaling six (6) months from the categories below:
    1. Coursework or vocational training in horticulture, landscaping, or a closely related field, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
      • Fifteen (15) semester hours equals six (6) months
    2. Work experience in grounds maintenance, landscape maintenance, nursery, agriculture work, grounds construction, and/or tending to lawns, turfs, trees, flowers, bushes or other shrubberies, ornamental plants, and other grounds-related work.
  3. Valid/current driver’s license as required by the State of Illinois for the type of motor vehicles(s) to be operated by the incumbent.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

  1. Knowledge of grounds maintenance equipment, machinery and hand and power tools, including their designs, uses, maintenance, and repairs.
  2. Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer services, including meeting quality standards for services and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  3. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  4. Ability to perform general physical activities required by the job.
  5. Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
  6. Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
  7. Ability to manage one’s own time and to complete tasks in a timely manner.


Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
  • 12 months experience in grounds work/landscaping.
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

This individual must be able to work in extreme cold and hot conditions. Must also be able to work on various pieces of equipment and construction site conditions. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and carry various items to support operations.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

06/15/2023

Anticipated Appointment End Date

Percent of Staff Year

1.00

Standard Hours Per Week

40.00

Salary

$37,315.20/annual

Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range

$17.94/hour

Earn Type

Hourly

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

  1. Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
  2. If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
  3. After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
  4. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
  5. Applicants must be a current citizen or resident of the State of Illinois to move forward in the hiring process.



Credentials Assessment Examination:
  • The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant’s/employee’s education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
  • Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver’s license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
  • After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.
Additional Details:
  • Click on Grounds Worker for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
  • Please click on Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.
  • Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Special Instructions

Quick Link to Applicant

https://employment.niu.edu/postings/71522

Is Background Check Required?

Yes

EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at ada@niu.edu .

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Safety and Security Report. Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-1649 for a hard copy.

Read the Fire Safety Report . Contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at 815-753-0404 for a hard copy.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Optional Documents
  1. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Certifications/Licensure #1
  4. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience or training using hand and power tools such as but not limited to, chain saws, power hedge trimmers, string trimmers (weed eaters), rototillers, hand sprayers, power blowers/vacuums, air compressors, hand mowers.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently.
  2. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume.

    (Open Ended Question)

  3. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience or training with reading, understanding, and following written instructions regarding the use of and application of fertilizers, pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), fencing materials, paving materials, etc.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently.
  4. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume.

    (Open Ended Question)

  5. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience or training operating the following equipment/machinery: trucks, tractors, tractor mowers, power riding lawn mowers, snow plows, snow blowers, power sprayers, field marking or striping equipment, tree movers, trenchers, stump grinders, chippers, sod cutters, skid-steer loaders, slit seeders, tricksters (scooters), turf sweepers, irrigation controllers, aerifiers, etc.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently.
  6. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume.

    (Open Ended Question)

  7. * Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?
    • Yes
    • No
  8. * What is the highest level of education attained?
    • GED
    • High School Diploma
    • Associates Degree
    • Bachelors Degree
    • Masters Degree
    • PHD
  9. * Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?
    • Yes
    • No
  10. * If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Not Applicable


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