FHS & Sports Fields Groundskeeper/Utility 

 

The School & Sports Fields Groundskeeper will care for and maintain the grounds (including driveways & parking lots) and sports fields located at Fitchburg High School (or as assigned) with a goal to create and maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for our students, staff, and community members. 

 

The physical demands of this position range from LIGHT to MEDIUM- HEAVY. This position involves grounds, athletic field, and tennis court preparation and maintenance procedures including field and surface markings, field grooming, lawn mowing, trimming, edging, seeding and fertilization, irrigation control, surface and bleacher clean-up, and trash removal.  Attend all required training. 

 

 Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience and general knowledge in the preparation and maintenance of athletic fields, including measuring, marking, and grooming preferred.  Experience in using the equipment necessary to accomplish the task preferred.
• Must be physically able to perform the essential duties of the position as outlined in this Position Content Description Document.
• Must hold a commercial Massachusetts applicator’s pesticide license or be able to obtain it within 6 months of hire. 
• Must be able to read, write, and interpret documents in the English language, e.g. safety rules, material safety data sheets (MSDS), operating repair, installation, and procedure instruction manuals.
• Must be able to effectively interact and communicate with co-workers and supervisors.
• Must be available for emergency call-in situations. 
• Related agricultural degree preferred.

SCHOOL GROUNDS 

Utilizes department equipment in the maintenance of all improved and unimproved grounds areas at Fitchburg High School or assigned area.  To include: Cutting of grass, trimming of hedges, shrubs, and trees, cutting and removing brush and overgrowth, clearing and maintaining walking surfaces, picking up litter, string and edge trimming, weeding of designated areas, sweeping or blowing of sidewalks, raking or blowing and removal of leaves and landscape debris, cold patching of small potholes, applying fertilizer, operating of irrigation systems.  During winter inclement weather; operate snow removal equipment.  Assists with the moving of equipment and furniture throughout the district.  Maintains all assigned ground equipment.  

SPORTS FIELDS 

Utilizes department equipment in the maintenance and preparation of all sports fields, dugouts, benches, bleachers, fences, nets, and fences.  This work involves coordination with the school athletic department regarding field use and ready requirements. Requires knowledge of MIAA game field standards and the plotting and laying of game lines for practice and competition.  Other tasks involve field turf management, dragging of infields, setting of bases, installing infield mix, setting of flags, pins, and goals, hanging of nets, and sweeping or blowing of tennis courts.  

Essential Duties

•  Prepares and maintains all athletic fields and tennis courts for events during the appropriate athletic seasons and summer sports camp programs. Maintains designated landscape areas. To include all grounds at Fitchburg High School. 
• Works with Athletic coaches to coordinate maintenance schedules around practices and games.
• Maintains all ground areas such as mowing, weeding, field grooming, seeding, fertilization, trash removal, irrigation control, field marking, walkway, parking lot, and field bleacher clean-up in assigned areas. 
• Operates mechanized equipment such as mowers, blowers, weed whackers, rollers, sod cutters, tillers, utility trucks, and tractors.
• Controls and regulates all athletic field irrigation systems; selects suitable watering times and adjusts as necessary; winterizes (blows out) and repairs the irrigation system for all the athletic fields as needed.
• Responsible for care and inventory of all field and grounds maintenance equipment, materials, sprayers, bases, nets, and paints within the assigned area. 
• Participates in training to keep and acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities to remain current with standard operational practices and revised standards.
• Properly uses and cares for department tools and equipment.
• Provides appropriate support in major campus activities.
• Responds to emergency call-in situations.
• Interacts professionally with members of the community.
• Assist Grounds employees in all facets of Facilities operations including, but not limited to, furniture moves, responding to work order requests, snow removal, and setting up & breaking down for district events.

• Follows proper clean-up and recycling procedures as well as observes all safety rules and regulations 
• Reports building damages, malfunctioning equipment, needed maintenance, and/or repairs in assigned work areas.
• May be required to assist other department members as directed by Facilities Manager
• Performs all other related duties necessary to meet Facilities Management requirements.

Location: Fitchburg High School & As Assigned 

CBU: Fitchburg School Custodians Assocn.  / Unit B 

Supervision of Others: No 

Reports To: School Building Maintenance Facilities Manager 

Working Hours: M-F  (7:00 am – 3:00 pm) 

 

Terms of Employment/Salary/Work Year:

 

12-month work year. As negotiated by the Fitchburg School Committee and the Fitchburg Education Association (FEA).

 

Competitive and comprehensive health benefits are offered through the City of Fitchburg; www.fitchburgma.gov/benefits

 

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of NCBC (fingerprinting) and CORI prior to your start of employment. 

 

The responsibilities and duties listed are illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties may be assigned as required.

 

Notice of Non-Discrimination
The School Committee’s policy of nondiscrimination extends to students, employees, and the general public with whom it does business. Fitchburg Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability in admission to, access to, employment in, or equal treatment in its programs and/or activities in compliance with state and federal law.
Questions related to this policy must be addressed to: The Office of Human Resources, 376 South Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, HR@Fitchburg.k12.ma.us