The Grounds team at Saint John's University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), benefit eligible position of Lead Groundskeeper.

Why Join Us?

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• 18 Paid Holidays Annually

• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave

• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Tuition Remission for Eligible Dependents

• Employer Contributions to a Retirement Plan

• Employee Assistance Program with access to free or discounted counseling, legal guidance, financial coaching, and more

Join a committed team dedicated to safety, community, and service in a supportive and values-driven work environment.

To learn more about our benefits, visit csbsju.edu/jobs.

The Lead groundkeeper is responsible for the care and maintenance of all campus and monastic lawns, hedges, and trees, as well as all other duties associated with providing a well-maintained appearance to the campus and monastic grounds. This role performs routine maintenance and repair of all department tools and equipment. In addition, this person will be responsible for the day to day planning and the supervision of student employees, and provisional staff.

As essential staff, the Lead groundskeeper participates in snow and ice removal from roads, sidewalks, paths, and other areas. This position assists in snow removal planning and dispatch and responds to emergency situations outside of normal working hours.

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John's University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information). For further information regarding our institutions, visit CSBSJU.

• Responsible for day to day operations, planning tasks for student workers and provisional employees with the assistance from the Grounds Director and other full time staff.

• Assist in supervising and training student employees in daily grounds tasks, including the proper and safe operation and preventive maintenance of equipment and power tools.

• Perform routine repair and maintenance of departmental tools and equipment as well as proactive maintenance and organization of the grounds shop and storage areas.

• Mowing, trimming, and raking of lawns.

• Assist with proper planting, pruning, trimming, and general care of trees.

• Assist with snow and ice removal to ensure safety of sidewalks, stairs, and parking lots, including hand shoveling.

• Assist with snow removal from roofs and set barricades and signage to protect areas from falling snow and ice as requested.

• Maintain and mark athletic fields for practices and events.

• Install and repair of pavers as needed.

• Routine maintenance of cemetery including, mowing, weeding, opening and closing of graves, leveling headstones and other duties as requested.

• Collect and remove campus refuse as assigned including disposal of furniture and other large items as requested.

• Perform other duties as assigned to help with the daily operation of the Grounds department.

Minimum qualifications:   

• High school diploma or equivalent; two-year technical college degree in Horticulture, Landscape, or Grounds Maintenance preferred.

• Three or more years of experience in nursery/greenhouse operations, grounds maintenance, or landscape construction preferred.

• Hold or have the ability to obtain a DOT health card.

• Demonstrated working knowledge of basic equipment maintenance and repair; formal training in mechanical or small engine repairs preferred.

• Working knowledge of OSHA safety standards.

• Knowledge of horticulture methods and materials, landscaping, fertilizer and pesticide applications, and the cultivation of trees and woody plants, or a willingness to gain expertise in these areas.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills to help supervise student employees and work efficiently with staff, faculty, and members of the college and monastic communities.

• Hold current driver's license and maintain satisfactory driving record.

• Availability during off-duty hours for campus snow removal, special events, and unexpected situations.

Physical requirements:

• Safely operate a variety of maintenance equipment, including chain saws, pole saws, mowers, leaf blowers, tractors, loaders, bobcats with different attachments, power equipment, trucks, snowplows, lifts, utility vehicles, field markers, ladders, and hand tools.

• Use appropriate safety equipment, such as harnesses, when climbing trees, working on ladders, or operating lifts.

• Perform physical tasks for extended periods, including lifting, pushing, pulling, stooping, reaching, squatting, and standing.

• Regularly lift or push objects up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 80 pounds.

• Work safely with and around hazardous chemicals and materials.

• Work outdoors year-round in varying and extreme weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, and cold, as well as on uneven terrain and over long distances.

Travel requirements:

• Occasional travel between the campuses of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

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About College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB), a liberal arts college for women, and Saint John's University (SJU), a liberal arts college for men, are located in the central lakes area of Minnesota, surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of pristine forests, prairies, and lakes. The campuses are minutes away from St. Cloud, an increasingly diverse regional center with a population of over 100,000, and 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some CSB/SJU faculty and staff choose to reside locally, while others commute from the Twin Cities. Both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities offer a wide range of fine arts, cultural, dining, recreational, and sporting opportunities. CSB and SJU are Catholic colleges in the Benedictine tradition enlivened by values of community, hospitality, stewardship, and justice. The schools are dedicated to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons. Students, staff and faculty from many diverse belief systems and backgrounds collectively bring a rich dimension to the academic, cultural, and religious experience at CSB/SJU. We welcome faculty who devote themselves with passion and integrity to their disciplines and to a transformative ed...ucation of their students. With a total enrollment of approximately 3600 students, faculty members develop relationships with students in small classroom settings and have opportunities to work closely with students on research projects, experiential learning experiences, and study abroad programs. Recent initiatives to create a dynamic general education curriculum and to develop plans for a new teaching and learning center demonstrate strong institutional support for faculty development. CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program.

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