Senior Lead, Grounds Services

Senior Lead, Grounds Services

Under the general supervision of the Manager or Assistant Manager of Grounds, the Senior Lead, Grounds Services, performs skilled and specialized grounds maintenance work across district properties. This position coordinates and guides the activities of grounds staff, providing technical advice and on-the-job training to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality upkeep of athletic fields, landscaped areas, playgrounds, and other outdoor facilities. The Lead Groundskeeper assists with planning, scheduling, estimating, and monitoring work assignments, and ensures adherence to safety protocols and maintenance standards. This role is designated as an "emergency employee" under the AFSCME negotiated agreement, requiring availability to respond to inclement weather and other emergencies. Additional responsibilities include operating and maintaining equipment, overseeing seasonal projects, ensuring proper care of tools and materials, and performing hands-on grounds maintenance tasks as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Education:

• High School diploma or GED (must scan and upload to the online application). Foreign credentials must be evaluated as U.S. High School diploma or above.

Certification/Licensure:

• Valid Class A, CDL driver's license with air brake endorsement. Certification from the MD Department of Agriculture for pesticide application in at least one of the following categories of Turf, Ornamentals, or Industrial Weed Control. Certification from the Maryland Department of Agriculture in turf grass nutrient management within one (1) year of employment.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of experience as a groundskeeper including experience in woody plant material and turf grass management.

Preferred Education:

Completion of a two-year program in Horticulture, Agronomy, or Turf Management.

Essential Position Responsibilities:

This is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

This Lead position performs the regular duties of their job classification but has the responsibility of guiding and overseeing the work of other employees within the same or related classifications. This involves assigning tasks, offering guidance and instruction, reviewing completed work, and providing motivation to ensure efficient and effective workflow. This position also is responsible for distributing work to others, checking the work of others, training subordinate employees, evaluating performance, establishing unit policy and procedures and other duties as assigned.

Employee Safety:

• The employee is responsible for the use of safety devices and protective equipment in order to minimize the frequency and severity of work-related accidents. The employee is responsible for using safe practices and methods in the operation and supplies related to their job.
• The employee is further responsible for correcting any conditions within the building or grounds that may be hazardous to employees, students, or staff assigned to the building and reporting same to the appropriate administrator.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skilled in calibrating spray and fertilizing equipment for precise applications.
• Knowledge of landscape plant installation, turf and grass management, irrigation installation, and nutrient management.
• Knowledge of the operation of landscape grading and digging equipment including the ability to operate a transit.
• Skilled in preparing detailed reports documenting time and material usage.
• Knowledge of safe driving practices and proven safe driving habits by verifying driving records.
• Ability to interact with the general public as well as professional and classified employees of the school system in a pleasant and business-like manner.
• Knowledge of storm water management and bio-retention pond maintenance.
• Working knowledge of transit operations to determine grade for wall construction, drainage, etc.
• Knowledge of the care and maintenance of ornamental plant materials and turf grass.
• Ability to read and comprehend scale drawings for landscape and irrigation plans.

The person selected for this position must meet all requirements of the physical examination administered by a medical service selected by the Howard County Department of Education.

Licensure:

• Possession of a Maryland Class C driver's license and satisfactory driving record with 2 or less points on your record.
• Requirement to advance to a Class A Commercial Driver's License with air brake endorsement within one year.
• Current holders of a Commercial Driver's license must register with, allow background query and receive clearance from the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.

The person selected for this position must provide a copy of their complete driving record.

Working Hours and Conditions:

• Work hours are normally 6:00am to 2:30pm.
• This position is designated as an "emergency employee" under the AFSCME negotiated agreement and may require a response during inclement weather and other emergencies. When work cannot be scheduled during the school year during normal hours, weekend/evening and shift work may be required as allowed by the AFSCME negotiated agreement. Maintenance employees are issued a school system cell phone to receive calls from their supervisor and respond to emergency events as needed.
• This position is classified as "essential" and requires the ability to be on call and respond to calls 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Individuals in this position are issued an HCPSS mobile phone for these purposes. Accepting this position would require that you meet these requirements during your tenure with HCPSS.
• This work may involve exposure to uncomfortable or unpleasant surroundings such as rain, snow, ice and other outdoor conditions.
• This work involves exposure to hazardous conditions which may result in injury.
• Work involves special physical demands such as lifting 50 pounds or more, climbing ladder, etc.
• This work requires use of protective equipment such as goggles, gloves, mask, etc. This position may/will be required to work outside of normal working hours, occasional evening hours and weekends.

Application Requirements:

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

Employment Information:

Compensation:

This is a 12-month per year position in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade X on the TITLE salary scale. Step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the AFSCME Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is not exempt from overtime.

Retirement:

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee's annual salary.

Benefits:

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on