Groundskeeper - Full-Time

Walnut Hill School for the Arts has an immediate opening for a Groundskeeper. Come join our team!

The Groundskeeper assists with the general maintenance and upkeep of Walnut Hill buildings, grounds, and facilities and is responsible for the cultivation and care of the School’s landscaping and grounds including planting and maintaining flower beds, seeding, mowing, weeding, repairing structures, snow removal, de-icing, plowing, and maintaining the outside of buildings.

The Groundskeeper also provides services for events and performances, move-in/out, and other facilities tasks as needed. The Groundskeeper works collaboratively with the facilities team to proactively assess and rectify issues relating to the overall physical plant and functioning of the school.

Schedule:

Regular hours are 7:00 am-3:30 pm, Monday-Friday, with rotating on-call responsibilities as required. This position is classified as “essential,” meaning employees are required to report to their designated work location to ensure the operation of essential functions or departments during an emergency or when the school has otherwise suspended operations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform groundskeeping and building maintenance;
• Mow lawns using hand, power, or riding mower; trim edges around walks, flower beds, and walls;
• Maintain landscape; plant annual and perennial flowers, grass, shrubs, trees, and bushes; rake, mulch, water;
• Prune trees and shrubs as needed or directed by supervisor;
• Consistently monitor grounds and remove debris, waste, litter, and other hazards as needed;
• Shovel and/or plow snow from walkways and roadways; sand, salt, de-ice, and treat walkways, steps, and roadways as needed;
• Perform minor repairs and preventative maintenance on groundskeeping equipment;
• Assist facilities team with other tasks (building maintenance, setup/breakdown of events, move-in/out, removal of waste and recycling, cleaning and organizing the facilities shop, etc.) throughout the year as needed;
• Perform additional duties as needed and assigned by your supervisor, the Head of School, or their designee.

Collaboration, Professional Development, and Training

• Complete required paperwork, forms, surveys, employment documents, background checks, fingerprinting, online training programs, request and report absences, accidents, and injuries, and follow other school policy and legal requirements by established deadlines;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment for students and employees to support the school’s mission, vision, and core values;
• Attend and participate in required faculty and staff meetings and department meetings; participate and engage fully in individual reviews and evaluations; be open to feedback and work with supervisor to set goals and expectations for the future;
• Attend and participate in required Professional Development (PD) days, training programs, orientation programs, benefit meetings, mandatory seminars, team-building exercises, and safety training/drills as directed; and
• Display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in landscaping or related field;
• Knowledge of landscaping, equipment maintenance, and repair techniques;
• Ability to safely operate power and hand tools, equipment, vertical lift, ladders, dollies, and other basic maintenance, loading, and unloading equipment;
• Excellent decision making skills; ability to assess a situation and diagnose issue and escalate as necessary;
• Knowledge of safety codes, regulations, and procedures;
• Ability to safely operate motor vehicles and follow safety laws, regulations, and school policies;
• Effective written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to work with a wide range of people –students, parents, faculty, staff, vendors, and community members;
• Commitment to working in and fostering an inclusive community;
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a changing, fast-paced environment;
• Current driver’s license is required; and
• Valid 2A/1C hoisting license or willingness to obtain license within 90 days of hire; ability to pass a routine DOT physical per license requirements.

All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field.

Benefits: Great benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life/Disability, Retirement Match, Generous Time-off (3 weeks vacation & 10 sick days per year with 4 weeks vacation starting in year 2), Meals in the Dining Hall, Tickets to Performances, and Professional Development Opportunities.

Physical Demands

Physical demands include dexterity for mechanical and supply operation including but not limited to driving, writing, typing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, office machinery, tools, lawn and maintenance vehicles, copy machine, fax machine, and printers. Walking, ascending/descending stairs, stooping, bending, reaching, carrying, lifting, pushing/pulling, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common. Ability to move continuously during work hours and ability to lift and/or carry 50-70 pounds is required. Work environment may include extreme temperatures both inside and outside, precipitation due to the New England weather, and machinery noise. Proper use of applicable personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

About us:

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, located in Natick, Massachusetts and 20 minutes from Boston, is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience designed for student artists in grades 9–post graduate. Walnut Hill combines a comprehensive college-preparatory academic curriculum with intensive, pre-professional artistic training in theatre, dance, music, visual art, and writing, film & media arts. Walnut Hill is committed to creating and enhancing an inclusive environment, and welcoming and celebrating a wide range of cultural, artistic, and educational backgrounds that compliments and supports our diverse community.

Commitment to the school’s Core Values, of Community, Growth, Excellence, Creativity, and Respect are imperative to the success of all Walnut Hill faculty, staff, and administration members. All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events, supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice.

To Apply: Submit resume and cover letter through the Walnut Hill School for the Arts online Career Center.

Note: All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of state and federal background checks. Walnut Hill does not provide visa sponsorship.