Landscape Crew Member

Grand Canyon University! One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University. 

Join a dedicated Landscaping team that takes pride in keeping our campus beautiful and inviting. Our team works together to maintain safe, attractive outdoor spaces while supporting the overall campus experience.

What you will do:

• Performs seasonal grounds duties as directed.

• Operates mowing, portable blowers/vacuums, and lawn trimming equipment with related implements, chain saws, brushing saws, chipper and numerous hand tools.

• Maintains high standards of beautification and cleanliness and inspects grounds for needed maintenance and picks up and disposes of any accumulated debris, removes and repairs graffiti, ensures seating areas and public gathering spots are in good condition, cleans drains, gutters and troughs.

• Plants, trims and prunes shrubs, bushes, hedges, trees, ground cover, cacti, flowers, turf, etc.; may water trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns and perform irrigation activities.

• Assists in the maintenance of parking lots and other surfaces, including asphalt repairs and minor masonry or plastering work as required.

• Loads or unloads dirt, timber, pavements, sand, gravel and related landscaping materials by hand.

• Operates landscaping vehicles including Gators, pick-up trucks, flat-rack trucks, vans, golf carts or other motorized vehicles as needed for hauling purposes and/or trash and debris removal.

• Removes weeds by various means including by hand and tool or uses unrestricted herbacides and pesticides.

• Places fertilizer, mulch or gravel where needed and directed and ensure soil is kept in good condition.

• Digs up and/or transplants, replaces/plants various species of vegetation, plants, flowering plants, bushes, hedges, ground cover, trees and the like according to specifications or as directed.

• May perform repair and rehabilitation of stone walls, pavements, paved stone, etc.

• May dig ditches by hand, using hand tools to accommodate various needs such as irrigation, pipes, electrical, etc. as related to landscaping.

• May use power wash equipment.

• Installs and removes outdoor signs, parking and traffic control barriers and overhead banners as required.

• Ensures hand tools are kept clean and in good condition.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledgeable in the proper operation of equipment, tools.

• Knowledge of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides used in grounds care and gardening.

• Skill in operating grounds maintenance equipment.

• Customer service oriented.

• Knowledge of horticulture or agronomy is helpful but not required.

• Reliable and dependable and self-motivated with an interest in landscaping and plants preferred.

• Must be able to work harmoniously with a team of landscape workers.

• Must be able to perform heavy physical labor on a daily basis and in extreme desert temperatures.

• Knowledgeable of and willing to follow all safety precautions and security procedures.

• Basic arithmetic skill when mixing chemicals.

• Willingness to work overtime, weekends or holidays as needed.

• Must pass a background check.

• This position requires a 40-hour work week schedule; also, may request over time as needed.

Education and/or Experience:

What you will need:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Previous commercial licensed grounds maintenance/lawn care experience.

• Valid Driver's license preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The following physical demands are estimated by the amount of time spent. Usually, the amount of time spent will be estimated on a daily basis, but depending on the position could be estimated on a weekly basis or a monthly basis.

Constantly: 60%+ or 5-8 hrs/shift             Occasionally: 10%-25% or 1-2 hrs/shift

Frequently: 25%-60% or 4-5 hrs/shift      Rarely: Less than 10% or less than 2 hrs/shift

• Work is characterized as physically demanding and performed outdoors (80%).

• Work involves frequent reaching overhead and below the knees and bending, turning, twisting, pulling, pushing, stooping, kneeling, grasping, holding, swinging tools of various sizes and weights vertically and horizontally, and crouching.

• Work involves frequent the use of power tools (trimmers) which entails carrying either with the arms or fastened to the back such as gas blowers.

• Work involves frequent standing and walking for an extended period of time outdoors.

• Work involves frequently manipulating other objects and tools of varying size and weight for a variety of purposes such as weeding, digging, trimming, pruning, etc..

• Work involves occasionally hauling, lifting, carrying, moving, transferring and placing up to 50 pounds without assistance.

• Work involves occasionally operating vehicles and the ability to visually inspect grounds.

• Work frequently involves the ability to visually inspect tools, equipment or machines.

• Work involves occasional exposure to various chemicals related to landscaping/grounds maintenance duties such as pesticides, herbacides and insecticides which may include breathing in vapors and potential for splashing on skins, eyes and clothing while mixing.

• Work involves frequent exposure to dirt, allergens, pollen and insects.

• Work involves frequent exposure to extreme desert heat.

Why work at GCU:

• Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan.

• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays

• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events.

• Free covered parking

• We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program

• Free on-site gyms on campus.

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