GROUNDSKEEPER

OVERVIEW

The Facilities Maintenance Department is responsible for the oversight and maintenance of County buildings and properties and provides maintenance and groundskeeping services for over 17 County buildings, including the main campus in Port Orchard, Givens Community Center, the Kitsap County Coroner's Office, and the Sheriff's Office Silverdale precinct.

Kitsap County Facilities Department is currently recruiting for a grounds crew member! You will perform a variety of work in the areas of lawn maintenance, planting beds, and natural areas, as well as inspecting grounds to ensure maintenance of groundskeeping and safety standards. You will also be responsible for daily upkeep to maintain functional outdoor space, including landscaping, pressure washing, cleanliness of walkways and entry ways, and debris removal.

You should have knowledge of proper use of insecticides, chemical sprays, fertilizers, and mulches to optimize the condition of the grounds.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Required Education and Experience

• At least six months experience with landscaping/maintenance of grounds, including experience with pruning, mowing and application of herbicides and pesticides

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic horticulture or landscape maintenance knowledge

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Pass a pre-employment physical.
• Pass a criminal history background check (fingerprinting) through law enforcement agencies.
• Submit a copy of their State employment driving record abstract to verify their eligibility to drive for Kitsap County.

Driving Requirements

• The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver's License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy.

This position is categorized as:

• Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle.

Criminal Conviction Standards:

• The successful incumbent will or may have unsupervised access to children under 18 years of age, a vulnerable adult, or a vulnerable person, or access to a secured/confidential facility or computer system(s). As a result, Kitsap County will be conducting an extensive criminal background check by law enforcement agencies, which will include fingerprinting.
  • Please review the following list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions to determine if you meet our standard for this position: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/disqualifying-list-crimes-and-negative-actions

Working Conditions/Physical Activities
(The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Kitsap County provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Walking and balancing (short or long distances)
• Climbing
• Bending, stooping, twisting
• Reaching above and/or below shoulder
• Handling/grasping equipment
• Standing for short or extended periods of time
• Hearing audible signals including traffic, equipment.
• Hand-eye coordination to utilize power tools and equipment
• Repetitive motions for tool and equipment use
• Requires exertion of force of up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 35 pounds frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds continuously to lift/carry/move objects, tools and equipment
• Incumbents may be exposed to physical hazards when working using hand and power tools, climbing ladders and lifting tools, equipment and materials or performing duties on the County correctional grounds.
• Incumbents will work outside year round and will be exposed to all types of weather conditions.
• Occasionally requires exertion of force of 75 pounds
• Incumbents in this position are considered "Essential Employees". Essential employees are expected to report for duty on time and remain at work until the end of their scheduled shift even if an inclement weather event or emergency is declared.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

• Mowing, edging and weeding landscaped areas and ongoing maintenance of landscaped areas after regular and seasonal clean up
• Applying and raking beauty bark/mulch to the assigned grounds
• Picking up and hauling yard debris and cuttings
• Regular rubbish and garbage removal
• Operating string trimmers, mowers, blowers and other landscaping equipment
• Applying insecticides, chemical sprays, fertilizers, mulches, herbicides and pesticides
• Maintain landscape and garden areas by planting grass, trimming/pruning trees/bushes/shrubbery, and applying fertilizer to flowers and other plants
• Maintain safety of outdoor walkways and entry ways, especially during inclement weather, to include application of ice melt, shoveling/blowing snow
• Clean exterior areas of assigned buildings on a daily basis as well as seasonal cleaning tasks such as pressure washing. Keep grounds free from trash, litter, debris, weeds, plant diseases, and harmful insects.
• Maintain equipment and supplies
• May assist with moving furniture or painting interiors during the winter months

OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

• Who May Apply: This position is open to the public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process.
• This position is classified as eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions. Employees who join the union will be required to pay union dues through payroll deduction. Membership in the union is optional.
• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position, and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
• Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental -Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
MetLife Long Term Disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Wellness.aspx
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Benefits.aspx or the Kitsap County Digital Benefits Guide .

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:

Upon completion of 3 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)
Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will beprorated***

Additional compensation that you may be eligible for:
Shift differential
Overtime
Stand by pay
Call-back pay

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

Union Membership
This position is covered under AFSCME Local 1308 Courthouse Employees collective bargaining agreement. To view the bargaining agreement please visit our website: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.aspx

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Personnel-Manual-2019.aspx

Closing Date/Time: 3/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• KITSAP COUNTY

• 360.337.7185

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