Come join an amazing team where the work you do will make a difference in the lives of young people for years to come.  Middlesex School values our employees and all staff start with 4 weeks of paid vacation, 6 days of sick time, 13 paid holidays, and a 10% contribution to your retirement account!

Summary/objective

The Assistant Foreperson of Grounds is responsible for the day-to-day operations and supervision of a team within the Grounds group of the Facilities Department. Under the supervision of the Foreperson of Grounds and Director of Facilities, provide daily leadership and direction on all matters related to grounds, landscaping, athletics fields/facilities, and natural resources for a team of 3-4 groundskeepers across a 350-acre campus with buildings totaling over 500,000 square feet.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Organizes and oversees the workflow, job assignments, schedules, and work of assigned team.
• Prepares and conducts training for new hires and current staff on assigned team.
• Provides input to performance evaluations in partnership with the Foreperson of Grounds. 
• Refers discipline of supervised employees to Foreperson of Grounds.

Essential functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Participate in the development of standards for the Grounds Team; ensures compliance with these standards
• Leads and participates in the execution of routine maintenance schedules for grounds, landscaping, athletics fields/facilities, and natural resources on campus.
• Maintain and improve the integrity of the School’s grounds, playing fields, forests, ponds, undeveloped lands, etc.
• Deploy the team’s human resources to accomplish the overall team and department goals and the School’s mission in the most efficient manner possible.
• Executes a system of work practices for recurring work that maximizes the use of the resources provided.
• Collects and discards litter or other waste materials.
• Operates a variety of maintenance equipment such as shovels, rakes, or saws to complete assignments.
• Operates power equipment and other vehicles such as tractors, mowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, or other similar machines.
• Ensures proper hydration of lawns, trees, and plants using sprinkler systems, hoses, watering cans, or irrigation systems.
• Trims trees and vegetation and maintains flower beds.
• Maintains sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, memorial sites, or other features; performs general cleaning and snow removal.
• Plans and cultivates lawns, turf, or gardens and, based on landscaping designs, determines further work that should occur.
• Delivers and spreads topsoil and/or straw over newly seeded areas.
• Prepares chemicals as needed for application by mixing according to directions.
• Applies fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees by spraying or spreading.
• Where artificial turf is used, periodically replaces cushion pads; vacuums and disinfects turf after use.
• Performs regular and seasonal maintenance on irrigation systems including any necessary winterizing procedures.
• Installs and maintains specialty features such as rock gardens, retaining walls, decks, or playground equipment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to partner and coordinate with other teams and departments to accomplish the School’s goals.
• Developing analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer focus.
• Respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency in all aspects of School life.
• Organized with attention to detail.
• Developing managerial skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of community groups including students, parents, staff, faculty, and city/state officials.
• Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize work.
• Sufficient ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to complete work efficiently, effectively, courteously, and to coordinate with other leaders within the department and across the organization.
• Ability to analyze emergency situations accurately and take prompt action.

Work environment

• Out of doors in all weather conditions known to the New England environment.

Physical demands

• Remain standing and walking for 8 hours per day regularly and up to 12 hours per day as needed seasonally.
• Ability to go up and down flights of steps.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull heavy objects.
• Ability to stoop, squat, bend, kneel, crouch, and lift.
• Ability to walk behind and safely operate complex mobile machinery.
• Ability to sit and safely operate complex mobile machinery.
• Must be able to lift and/or move, without assistance 10 pounds at a time regularly, 50 pounds frequently, and 100+ pounds occasionally.
• Ability to traverse various areas of the facility (including unpaved areas, dirt paths, uneven terrain, etc.) to conduct inspections and execute grounds maintenance.
• Ability to withstand exposure to inclement weather (rain, snow, sleet, freezing temperatures, etc.).
• Communication skills using the spoken and written word.
• Ability to see with normal parameters.
• Ability to hear within normal range.
• Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.

Travel required

• None

Required education and experience

• Education sufficient to read, write, and speak as needed for the job.
• 5 years of experience in grounds maintenance with additional 2 years of supervisory experience or 10 years of experience in grounds maintenance with ability to demonstrate leadership qualities.
• Possess and maintain valid driver’s license. 

Additional eligibility requirements

• Able to successfully complete CHRI, CORI, and SORI checks.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

FLSA Classification

Non-Exempt

Employment Category

Administrative Staff

Reports to

Foreperson of Grounds

Benefits Eligibility

Full time benefits eligible

Schedule

Generally, Monday through Friday 7am – 3:30pm with some Saturday work as needed.  Seasonally respond to need for snow removal, athletic field support, emergency closings, and other special circumstances.

JOB CODE: 1000048