Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

Provides for the care and maintenance of lawns, trees, shrubs, flower beds, walks, roadways, and parking lots. Reports directly to Head of Grounds Services section. Functional supervision received from the Maintenance Working Foreman.

Essential Functions

• Practices and promotes excellent customer service in the workplace. Meets routinely with customers and Customer Service Representatives to determine their needs. Implements new approaches to promote and assure quality improvements and exhibits a clear commitment to the diverse needs of customers.
• Switches and installs attachments such as mowers, plow blades, forks, leaf catcher buckets, and vacuum cleaners to tractors, trucks, and other multi-purpose vehicles in order to equip vehicles for grass cutting, roadway cleaning, snow removal, and other grounds operations.
• Organizes tasks and disseminates work assignments for various grounds operations.
• Implements horticultural and landscape designs for special events and campus plant displays.
• Identifies repair and replacement needs by observing and evaluating equipment, sprinkler systems, parking areas, fields, and various grounds and landscape areas.
• Ensures that adequate materials are available to complete assignments in a timely manner by requesting materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Performs a variety of groundskeeping tasks including identifying and troubleshooting issues with plants, shrubs, turf, and trees; trimming, pruning, planting, seeding, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and spraying vegetation; and assisting in the design and planning of floral beds for landscape beautification.
• Cuts lawns using hand mower or power mower. Uses string trimmers and edgers for lawn maintenance.
• Performs related duties such as emptying rubbish barrels; sweeping walks; picking up litter; cleaning ditches, drains and catch basins on grounds or roadways; shoveling snow; and raking leaves.
• Operates lawn and grounds equipment such as power saws, power brooms, backpack blowers, and bucket loaders and other similar power equipment for landscape maintenance.
• Operates light trucks to transport tools and equipment and to travel to the worksite; uses light to moderate heavy equipment to move soil, dig holes, relocate trees, and re-sod lawns for landscape maintenance.
• Performs snow removal operations by operating light trucks, snow blowers, power shovels, shovels, etc.
• Assists in the backfilling and grading of various materials on slopes and level grades, paying attention to detail and working in a neat and orderly manner.
• Supports campus events (Commencement, Founder’s Day, Move-In) and approved student activities as needed.
• Uses power washer in the removal of graffiti from sidewalks and other landscape elements.
• May be required to assist pest control section.
• Ensures safe work area and uses safe work practices.
• Adjusts, cleans, and performs minor mechanical work on landscape equipment.
• Performs job duties in an environmentally compliant and reasonable manner reflective of Facilities & Campus Services policies, procedures, and goals relative to environmental compliance and stewardship.
• Provides functional supervision to employees of an equal or lesser grade.

Other Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Massachusetts Class 2B Hoisting License.
• Class D Driver’s License.
• Must possess at least one (1) year of work experience in landscape maintenance.
• Must possess at least one (1) year of full-time or equivalent part-time experience in operating multi-purpose vehicles with large, complex attachments and/or in organizing tasks and implementing designs for horticultural and other grounds projects.
• Ability to functionally supervise other employees.
• Working knowledge of types and uses of common hand tools.
• Ability to use and make minor repairs to small tools and simple mechanical equipment.
• Ability to operate tools used in landscape maintenance, including chain saws, string trimmers, etc.
• Ability to operate light dump trucks and related equipment.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to perform manual labor for extended periods and under varying climatic conditions.
• Ability to operate landscaping equipment.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Massachusetts Pesticide Applicator’s License.
• CDL Class B with Air Brake Endorsement.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Ability to dig, climb ladders, and perform repeated heavy lifting.
• Ability to balance, carry, push, pull, stand, bend, drive, reach, sit, twist, lift and perform repetitive movements.
• Ability to perform manual labor for extended periods and under varying climatic conditions.

Additional Details

• This position is essential. This includes the obligation to work overtime, to return to work between scheduled shifts when directed, and to report to work during any delays, early departures, and closures.  Incumbent is responsible for updating the service desk with current phone number. 

Work Schedule

Sunday-Thursday; 7am-3pm. 

Salary 

AFSCME Non-Exempt Grade 12.

Special Instructions to Applicants

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.