A Grounds Worker performs a variety of routine manual tasks
in maintaining the appearance and condition of grounds, walkways
and roads at State facilities. Such tasks at times require medium
to heavy physical effort but require little
planning or special knowledge.
Most positions in this class are located in the State University system, the Department of Mental Hygiene and the Office of General Services.
A Grounds Worker usually works as a member of a crew performing
gardening and general grounds maintenance at a State facility.
In performing a wide variety of manual tasks a Grounds Worker
typically uses a variety of hand and power
tools including saws, lawnmowers, shovels and snow blowers and
on occasion operates riding lawnmowers, dump trucks and tractors.
This class is distinguished from the Laborer class in that the latter performs routine manual duties on a variety of construction and maintenance projects requiring sustained medium and heavy physical effort in all kinds of weather. However, many of the tasks performed are identical to those performed by a Grounds Worker. In many cases the major distinction between these two classes is the work setting.
The activities and tasks assigned to a Grounds Worker vary according to the seasonal and daily weather conditions.
Maintains the appearance and conditions of grounds at State facilities.
Maintains roads, walkways and parking lots at State facilities.
May perform routine maintenance on greenhouses.
May assist in greenhouse planting by performing a variety of routine manual tasks.
May maintain athletic fields.
May be assigned a variety of manual tasks at a State facility.
As a member of a work crew, one may supervise a group of Institution Workers at a Mental Hygiene facility.
The nature of a Grounds Worker's activities generally restricts relationships to employees working within the same organizational section. Relationships are characterized by frequent verbal communications with the supervisor and to a lesser extent with other members of the work crew. Where Grounds Workers supervise a group of Institution Workers, they orally assign work and provide advice and assistance to the workers to aid them in completing the assigned work. Written and verbal communication with the general public is not typical of this class. The tasks assigned to this class are predominantly thing-oriented and the involvement with others is not a factor in determining its classification.
Generally a Grounds Worker has no supervisory responsibilities but an incumbent may at times act as a lead worker in a work crew. Positions in this class are supervised by higher level grounds worker or maintenance positions usually either a Senior Grounds Worker or a Supervisor of Grounds who assigns tasks giving detailed verbal instructions. A Grounds Worker is subject to supervision during and upon completion of work, although repetitive duties may be performed more independently. Where Grounds Workers supervise a crew of Institution Workers, they are assigned work, workers and tools by their supervisor and in turn assign the work and tools to their crew. They watch the crew during performance of the tasks to insure the work is being done safely and according to instructions.
A Grounds Worker uses hand tools such as shovels, lawnmowers, clippers and rakes; power tools such as snow blowers, chain saws, salt spreaders and power mowers and may operate riding mowers trucks and tractors.
There are no education or experience requirements for this class. When required to operate a motor vehicle, applicants must possess a valid New York State driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.