Grounds Maintenance Worker (Sport Turf Specialist)

Grounds Maintenance Worker (Sport Turf Specialist)

Salary

$19.94 Hourly

Location

Main Campus, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA

Job Type

Full-Time Board-Approved

Job Number

03037

Division

Operations

Department

Facilities & Security

Opening Date

10/14/2026

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB GOAL:

To advance the college's mission, vision, principles, values and strategic initiatives through continuous decisions and improvements to the College Learning Environment.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

Under limited supervision, provide grounds maintenance activities with the Facilities & Public Safety Department. The Grounds Maintenance worker will focus on the responsibilities in sports turf maintenance.

The work schedule for this position will be 1st shift from 7 am to 3:30 pm.

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with planning, prioritizing, delegating, supervising, implementing, and following up on work assignments for full-time and part-time staff.
• Maintain natural athletic playing fields through mowing, edging, fertilizing, aeration, and irrigation to ensure optimal turf health, safety, and playability.
• Monitor turf health, conduct soil testing, and evaluate turf conditions for diseases, pests, and cultural or environmental issues. Apply approved fertilizers, soil amendments, and other treatments as needed.
• Prepare athletic fields for game days and sporting events, including lining fields to meet regulatory standards, setting up athletic equipment, and repairing high-wear areas such as pitching mounds, goal areas, and other playing surfaces.
• Supervise part-time grounds crew members, maintain equipment and supply inventories, and coordinate maintenance schedules and athletic field preparation with athletic directors and coaches.
• Calibrate application equipment and safely apply restricted-use pesticides in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and established safety procedures.
• Maintain accurate records of campus chemicals, including inventory, use, handling, and proper storage, in compliance with state and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor equipment use, troubleshoot operational issues, and perform routine maintenance and repairs to ensure equipment remains safe and functional.
• Perform general campus grounds maintenance, including mowing and trimming turfgrass, maintaining campus irrigation systems and landscape beds, managing waste, removing snow, and completing other tasks necessary to maintain a clean, safe, and attractive campus environment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Shift differential- Additional $2.00 per hour of compensation is provided for hours worked between 6:00pm-6:00am including Saturday and Sunday hours.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Be able and willing to always represent the College in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve.
• Assume responsibility; deal effectively with problems, and exercise independent judgment when making decisions.
• Thorough knowledge of Kirkwood policies and procedures with the ability to understand and interpret clearly and accurately.
• Read, understand and express oneself clearly and effectively in both written and oral form.
• Attention to detail and an ability to multitask in completing complex tasks with accuracy.
• High level of skill in the application of collaborative, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and accurately in an atmosphere with frequent interruptions. Maintain a high degree of flexibility.
• Possess strong computer skills and be proficient with various software programs.
• Ability to perform manual labor in warehouse conditions along with various outdoor weather environments. Ability for continuous physical effort.
• Welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as support and promote an environment that accepts differences.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH/WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Light to medium work. Position involves exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally (10-33%); up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66%), and up to 10 pounds constantly (67-100%) to move objects. Physically able to perform routine reaching, grasping and repetitive motion constantly (67-100%); stooping, kneeling, walking, bending, lifting, talking, climbing and balancing frequently (34-66%); and crouching, crawling, standing, sitting, pushing and pulling occasionally (10-33%). Work activities occur most frequently (34-66%) outside and occasionally (10-33%) inside.

Persons working in this position will be subject to extreme heat (temperatures above 90 degrees for periods of more than one hour); and extreme cold (temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour).

Potentially subject to bio-hazardous waste; chemicals; moving mechanical parts; electrical current; working on scaffolding and high places up to 25 feet; bucket truck lift up to 55 feet; atmospheric conditions that may affect the respiratory system or the skin; fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation, noise, and vibration.

Person in this position must satisfactorily complete the college's safety program; Blood Borne Pathogens training; OSHA 10, FERPA training program and CPR/First-Aid training as a member of the Emergency Response and Control Team.

Hepatitis B immunization is offered to all employees who have the potential exposure risk to blood or body fluids at no cost to the employee. Employees who choose not to receive immunization must sign a waiver.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two-year degree in horticulture or related field and 1-3 years of sports turf or grounds maintenance experience.
• Ability to work under physical/environmental demands.
• Valid driver's license required.
• This position requires a valid drivers license and participation in continuous Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) monitoring. Your driving record will be verified initially and monitored on an ongoing basis as a condition of employment.

PERFERRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• State of Iowa Pesticide Applicators certification (i.e. Core, 3OT, Roadway, Aquatics) obtained within the first 60 days of employment.

EEO/AA STATEMENT:

It is the policy of Kirkwood Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact the Vice President, Human Resources and Institutional Effectiveness (employees) or the Vice President of Student Services (students), 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, 319-398-5572,equity@kirkwood.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: (303) 844-5695 FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339 Email:OCR.Denver@ed.gov.

WHY KIRKWOOD:

Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Kirkwood offers a wide range of employee benefits. Read more about them here!

01

Do you have a two-year degree in horticulture or related field and 1-3 years of sports turf or grounds maintenance experience?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Kirkwood Community College

Address 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52404

Phone 319-398-5572

Website http://www.kirkwood.edu