Irrigator

UNIT DESCRIPTION

TITLE:    Irrigator

GROUP: Grounds

 

General Purpose:

The Irrigator is expected to maintain the irrigation systems on assigned campuses to ensure that each campus or sports field receives the proper quantity and quality of moisture to maintain a healthy stand of turf.

 

Essential (Primary) Functions:

 

• Performs all work safely, efficiently and effectively with good quality, including wearing protective clothing as required by the work environment or government regulations.
• Directly responsible for the maintenance of irrigation systems on assigned campuses and sports fields.
• Must ensure that each campus or sports field receives the proper quantity and quality of moisture to maintain a healthy stand of turf.
• Responsible for maintaining the valves, wiring, hydraulics, etc. of the irrigation equipment so that it is in a constant state of readiness and in proper working condition.
• Ability to read and interpret blue prints.
• Ability to install new irrigation systems.
• Must be able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure.
• Must comply with Sodexo and client policies as well as those of all applicable regulatory agencies at all times.
• Hours may fluctuate based on business demands and mandatory overtime may be required.

Secondary Responsibilities:

 

• Occasionally must use a tractor, backhoe, or ditcher.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

 

               Educational Requirements:

• High school diploma or G.E.D. preferred.
• Must maintain a valid Texas driver’s license.
• Must maintain a valid Texas Irrigator’s license.

 

Experience/Abilities

• Two years experience in irrigation field.
• Ability to use hand, power, and machine tools.

 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to regularly use hands to finger, handle or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Also must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to frequently stand, walk, climb, and balance. Also must frequently list and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Ability to work while frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions including extreme cold and extreme heat.

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  It is not intended and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Position Summary

The Groundskeeper - Senior position is responsible for assigning and overseeing the work of Groundskeepers, ensuring that all of work for the shift has been completed in an acceptable manner, and assists in landscaping and maintaining assigned areas. Maintenance of the assigned areas includes keeping the grounds in clean and orderly condition. The Groundskeeper-Senior position is also responsible for general maintenance and upkeep of grounds areas and sports turf areas, as well as specific detailing of the landscape and flowerbeds. The general responsibilities of the position include those listed below, but Sodexo may identify other responsibilities of the position. These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.

 

General Responsibilities:

• Mows lawns and trims grass around walks, flower beds, trees and walls.
• Prunes shrubs and trees to shape and improve growth.
• Removes fallen or damaged leaves, branches, and twigs using mowers, tractors and other hand and power tools.
• Lays out and maintains flower beds, mulch beds or other decorative vegetation.
• Maintains and sharpens tools and makes minor repairs on equipment, as needed.
• Plants, fertilizes, waters, repair/replace parts on irrigation system and uses control products to maintain grass, flowers, trees and shrubs.
• Removes snow and ice from walks, roads and driveways, utilizing hand tools, machines or vehicles.
• Spreads salt, picks up litter, rakes, bags and removes debris from hard surfaces.
• Cleans drainage ditches and culverts, , including, but not limited to the filling of potholes and the sweeping of accumulated debris along curb lines
• Maintains driveways and parking lots.
• Repairs fences, gates, walls, walks and outbuildings using carpentry, masonry and painting tools.
• Performs routine cleaning and maintenance on gardening and grounds equipment.
• May participate in the setup and tear-down of event furniture, such as tables, chairs and tents.
• May participate in the movement of furniture, supplies and material.
• May operate trucks and assorted power equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.
• Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) as designated.
• Complies with all company safety and risk management policies and procedures.
• Reports all accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
• Participates in regular safety meetings, safety training and hazard assessments.  
• Applies all applicable OSHA and related local safety requirements to all assigned work.  
• Performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures.
• Serves as a lead groundskeeper mowing lawns and trimming and edging around walks, flower beds and walls.
• Assists in training, assigning and checking the work of lower level employees.
• Mows, aerates, overseeds, fertilizes, grooms infield skinned surfaces, strings goals, irrigates and marks sports fields.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

 

Qualifications & Requirements

• Willingness to be open to learning and growing.
• Maturity of judgment and behavior.
• Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Must comply with any dress code requirements.
• Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
• Attends work and shows up for scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity in light of Sodexo time and attendance policy and/or client operating hours.

Experience/Knowledge:

• High School diploma, GED or equivalent experience.
• 2 or more years of related work experience.
• Horticultural training required.

Skills/Aptitude:

• Ability to present self in a highly professional manner to others and understands that honesty and ethics are essential.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.
• Ability to communicate with co-workers and other departments with professionalism and respect.
• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with all coworkers, vendor representatives, supervisors, managers, customers and client representatives.  
• Ability to use all relevant electronic and communication devices.
• Adapts procedures, processes, tools equipment and techniques to accomplish the requirements of the position.
• Ability to effectively communicate policies, and/or procedures in a manner easily understood by fellow employees.
• Knowledge of and proficiency in all OSHA and local requirements related to all assigned work.
• Ability to provide clear directions and respond accordingly to employees.
• Must be able to coordinate the routine responsibilities of staff and resources.

License/Qualifications:

• Pesticide and herbicide application license(s)
• May require certification/license for certain Heavy Equipment

Physical Requirements:

• Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus, with or without corrective lenses.
• Significant walking or other means of mobility.
• Ability to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 40 pounds.

Working Conditions (may add additional conditions specific to defined work location):

• Work is performed in an outdoor setting.
• Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends, and extended hours as business dictates.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to heat/cold.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Wears protective clothing and/or Personal Protective Equipment required by the work environment or governmental regulations.

 

Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.

Benefits Eligibility

Full Time Benefits: At Sodexo, we believe every employee should have the resources to be their best. As part of our overall rewards, we offer benefits programs designed to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle including health, dental and vision insurance. Eligible employees can enroll in their benefits, which will be effective beginning on their first day with Sodexo. We also offer other benefits like paid time off, financial and savings programs and access to our employee assistance program and other discounts (eligibility varies by unit and may not be available to all employees).