Groundskeeper

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

Groundskeeper

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Groundskeeper

Position Summary:

The Groundskeeper will work in an extremely collaborative educational environment to care year-round for the 326 acres that make up campus grounds.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies and acts to remedy plant diseases and insect damage

• Implements and monitors chemical and fertilizer programs

• Installs, propagates, and maintains the health of new and existing plants and landscape using a variety of vehicles and equipment

• Maintains clean and clear lawns, walkways, roadways, and parking lots to ensure they are free of debris, litter, snow, and ice

• Constructs lawn and landscaping projects including soil grading, seeding, and sodding

Position Summary:

The Groundskeeper will work in an extremely collaborative educational environment to care year-round for the 326 acres that make up campus grounds. Which includes approximately 100 acres of athletic fields, lawn, and manicured landscaping, 150 acres of woods and prairies, and 65 acres of sidewalks, parking lots, and streets as well as 90 acres of land at the Platte Mound (the lands surrounding and extending beyond the “Big M”).  

Essential functions of the position include maintenance of the grounds, snow removal service, maintenance of equipment and signage along with the distribution of all university freight from Central Stores and Receiving.

This full-time position comes with excellent fringe benefits-medical, dental, paid leave, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) retirement benefits, and more! The starting pay for this position is $19.00 an hour, commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities:

Maintenance and Modification of Grounds

• Installation and restoration of lawn, landscape beds and prairie areas
• Use appropriate equipment to maintain lawns, athletic fields, prairie areas, landscape beds, etc.
• Application of fertilizer and pesticides as needed
• Plant trees, shrubs and flowers as needed
• Trim trees and shrubs and maintain flower beds and water as needed
• Collect trash from grounds, empty trash and recycling containers and dispose of properly
• Maintain grounds accessories to include picnic tables, benches, receptacle containers
• Installation and maintenance of signage
• Maintain bituminous and concrete pavements
• Assist carpenters with material handling, demolition, hanging drywall, etc.
• Assist electricians with installing light poles, underground conduit, trenching, and pulling wires
• Provide Snow Removal Service and Respond to Emergency Repair Situations
• Remove snow and ice from campus/city streets, parking lots, sidewalks, etc. using provided equipment and hand tools
• Work with custodial to create safe entry into facilities
• Pre-treat paved surfaces to keep free of ice by applying salt, limestone chips and brine as needed
• Mount snowplows on designated equipment each fall and remove and store each spring. Maintain plows as necessary
• Inspect campus for storm damage and report to Grounds Crew Lead or Supervisor

Equipment Operation and Maintenance

• Operate campuses owned and leased light and heavy-duty equipment
• Provide material and equipment trucking services as directed
• Operate bucket truck and lift to trim trees, put up banners, etc
• Maintain good working order of equipment, hand tools, etc. and perform maintenance as needed
• Return and properly store all equipment at the end of shift
• Maintain inventory of grounds supplies and equipment repair parts
• Report necessary repairs to supervisor and schedule equipment for repairs

Administrative

• Complete assigned trainings in a timely manner
• Follow Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements
• Record keeping
• Be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations, including necessary training and drills
• Other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• High School diploma/GED
• Experience with landscape maintenance (mowing, trimming, planting, spraying, tree management, etc.)
• Experience with snow removal
• Basic computer skills
• Basic equipment maintenance
• Be able to lift 50 lbs.
• Valid Driver’s license

Why It’s Great to be a Pioneer:

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, founded in 1866, offers 47 baccalaureate and 10 master's programs. It possesses institutional strengths in middle level education, engineering, industrial technology, agriculture, criminal justice and business. The campus is located in Southwest Wisconsin's largest and most historic community. The region offers excellent school systems, high quality medical and hospital facilities, outstanding recreational opportunities, and vibrant businesses and industries. UW-Platteville is a cultural and educational center for the Tri-State region of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Application Deadline:

Applications must be submitted through our online applicant portal by October 12, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. 

How to Apply:

The following documents are required for applicant consideration:

• Cover letter addressing all required qualifications
• A current resume
• Contact information (name, telephone number, and email address) for 3 professional references.
• Additional documents as needed

Legal Notices and Important Information: 

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University ensures physical accessibility to work environments for persons with disabilities and will provided reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to employment. Upon request, the University will provide reasonable accommodations for religious observances and practices.

The University is committed to a program of affirmative action for women, racial minorities, persons with disabilities, disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. While the Chancellor assumes overall responsibility for the success of the program, university administrators and supervisors are responsible and accountable for implementation. Authority for monitoring the program is delegated to Human Resources.

Each individual associated with the University is called upon to pledge a new and revitalized commitment to build and maintain a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination, an environment that fosters mutual respect, recognizes the dignity and worth of all people, and promotes to the fullest, equal employment opportunity through affirmative action.

In compliance with the Clery Act of 1998, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Annual Security & Annual Fire Safety Report is available for review. Call the UW-Platteville Campus Police Office at 608.342.1584 for a paper copy of the annual report.

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Required Postings:

Labor Law Poster - English
Labor Law Poster - Spanish
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Update