Groundskeeper

Job Summary

Facilities Management at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Groundskeeper! Outdoor Services provides high quality, professional grounds and landscape services to enhance a safe, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally conscious campus. Facilities Management provides a physical environment that promotes the advancement and transfer of knowledge. This role will perform emergency and routine landscape oriented tasks for areas associated with the University of Colorado-Boulder Research Park, East and South Campus locations.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Facilities Management (FM) provides outdoor services to general fund areas and several auxiliary funded facilities. FM Outdoor Services is responsible for grounds maintenance and irrigation system operation and maintenance for the general fund areas on campus.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Turf Maintenance

• Perform turf management practices ensuring turf in assigned service areas meets campus standards for appearance. Practices may include mowing, edging along hardscape, leaf removal and chopping, string trimming of unmowable grass around plants and structures and hand removal of weeds from turf areas. May assist turf management personnel in other cultural practices. May serve as a work leader for student or temporary employees.

Grounds Maintenance

• Perform daily maintenance procedures to ensure East Campus grounds areas are free of trash, recyclable materials, and litter that would negatively impact the Campus' appearance. Monitor and maintain sidewalks, stairways, building entryways, loading docks, bus stops, ADA structures, fences, retaining walls, bicycle paths and landscape structures (benches, flag poles, memorials, trash and recycle receptacles, and public art works) to ensure a safe and aesthetically pleasing appearance for campus occupants and visitors. Monitor and take appropriate actions for the removal of any signage, graffiti, markings and/or transient camps on campus property in violation of University Policy. May serve as a work leader for temporary or student employees.

Plant and Shrub Maintenance

• Perform routine and technical maintenance procedures for shrubs, perennial and annual herbaceous plant material. Assist with appropriate eradication procedures for plant disease, insect and weed problems. Assist with installations of all types of plant material and assist with providing appropriate cultural practices to ensure successful establishment. Assist in planting bed maintenance, including fall/spring cleanup and renovations. May serve as a work leader for temporary or student employees.

Snow Removal and Ice Abatement

• Perform snow removal and ice abatement on campus sidewalks, bike paths, stairways, ADA accessibility structures and building entrances and exits. Work requires hand shoveling, operation of power snow removal equipment and vehicles, and the application of ice abatement products. May assist and direct other Outdoor Services employees in snow removal and ice abatement activities. Snow removal activities may require early and late arrival times, extended shifts, and after-hours call-ins. As an essential services position, this employee is expected to be available for regular, overtime and call-in/back hours as needed to perform snow and ice mitigation activities.

Crew Member Responsibilities

• Be a crew (team) member by coordinating daily activities with supervisor, team leader, and coworkers to ensure overall campus appearance and safety consistency. Complete timecards, charging appropriate work order(s) and other documents in an accurate and timely manner. Follow State Personnel Board Rules and Facilities Management and Outdoor Services Policies and Guidelines. May be a work leader or train other Grounds & Nursery I's, students, and seasonal employees. Make requests or suggestions for purchases.

Equipment Maintenance

• Be accountable for the maintenance and inventory of all CU issued/owned tools and equipment required for assigned tasks. Equipment includes gas and electric power tools, high pressure power washers, pick-up trucks and utility vehicles. Perform the appropriate daily, weekly and monthly preventive maintenance and scheduled maintenance activities such as service oil and grease fittings and sharpening blades required for tools and equipment assigned or required to perform work.

What You Should Know

• This position is eligible for our Facilities Management Employee Referral Program.
• This in-person role will work five (5) eight-hour workdays per week, Monday-Friday between the hours of 6:00am and 5:00pm, based on staffing requirements of the department.

What We Can Offer

• The annual salary for this role is $43,932.
• If you have prior state-classified experience in the same class series as this position, your pay may be set at a higher amount per the state Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be driven. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• One year of grounds care and maintenance, greenhouse, or plant nursery general labor work experience.
• Must be a Colorado resident to apply.
• Must have a valid CO driver's license.

What You Will Need

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• An ability to work independently and in a team setting.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Training, experience and/or certification in horticulture, institutional landscape maintenance, turf management, nursery management, arboriculture, weed management, or pesticide application.
• Two years of institutional or commercial landscape maintenance.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume that includes date ranges for each position held and whether the position was full-time or part-time.
2. Optional: A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
3. DD-214 for veteran applicants.

Qualified veterans are eligible for veteran's preference points within the State classified system. If you are a veteran and would like to have your DD214 evaluated to determine your eligibility for preference points, please attach a copy of your DD214 to this posting. If you do not wish to upload a DD214, please email a copy to recruiting@colorado.edu and reference the job to which you are applying

We may request references at a later time. Please apply by March 4, 2026 for consideration.Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

Select here for additional information regarding Classified Staff positions: www.cu.edu/cu-careers/special-instructions-classified-staff-applicants

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Essential Services

This position is designated "essential services." The incumbent is required to respond to requests for work during campus emergencies (snow, wind, rain, flood and any other natural or man-made event) and report to work for his / her regularly assigned shift during emergency campus closures.