Groundskeeper - Caretaker, Full Time

**Caretaker/Groundskeeper, Full-time (40 hours per week), Day Shift (7:00am-3:00pm), Monday through Friday**

**General Summary**:
The groundskeeper/caretaker reports to the plant manager or designate. This individual is to work cooperatively with other staff to ensure that the maintenance of the grounds, flower gardens and orchard grounds and produce are taken care of. Knowledge of minor building maintenance is also needed. ABOUT 90% OF THE WORK IS OUTDOORS, THEREFORE, THE PERSON NEEDS TO HAVE PROPER CLOTHING FOR WHEN IT RAINS, IS COLD OR HOT OUTSIDE.

**Duties and Responsibilities**: Following proper safety procedures the groundskeeper/caretaker carries out the following:
**1. Ground/Orchard Maintenance**:

- Planting and maintenance (weeding, watering) of flower gardens and grotto
- Removal of leaves, fallen branches, debris
- Pruning and trimming of trees and shrubs
- Waste removal including taking out compost materials, cleaning containers and maintain compost
- Other maintenance work as required to keep the grounds clean and safe
- Plant and soil management of already established perennials, bulbs, bushes, small trees on the extensive grounds of HNM convent (including necessary pruning of these plants, bushes, mulching, and soil maintenance, regular watering and weeding)
- If needed, make decisions about replacement, rotation of some plants/trees, bulbs
- Purchase and assembly of some annual plants and plan maintenance of these
- Prepare gardens, bushes, etc. for winter
- Take care of any pest control management if needed

**2. Orchard Maintenance**:

- Pruning of trees
- Fruit picking and sorting
- Placing apples in cold storage
- Maintenance of crate boxes for apples

**3. Snow Removal**
- Clearing all the entrances
- Clearing the driveway
- Clearing snow off the parked cars
- Coming to do this whenever snow falls, even if it is after hours or on weekends

**4. Some of the following might be required**:
**5. Equipment maintenance**:

- Clean machinery after use
- Report any problems to supervisor
- Taking larger machinery for maintenance checks and tune-ups
- Taking cars for maintenance and changing tires for summer to winter and vice versa
- Ensure the safe handling and storage of tools, cleaning supplies, chemicals for orchard and related materials.
- Pool maintenance:

- As required by supervisor

**6. Building Maintenance**:

- Cleaning of grease traps, kitchen stove hood, fans, water tanks
- other maintenance work as required
- Cleaning of windows, eavestroughs as requested
- Oiling of equipment
- Changing of lights
- Repairs to small equipment
- Minor plumbing and electrical repairs
- Minor painting work as requested

**7. Taking care of dogs, dog-pen in the orchard**

**8. Driving**:

- Using truck or tractor to drive as required (eg obtaining supplies, maintaining grounds, taking apples to cooler etc.)

**9. Other**:

- Any assignment given by supervisor

**Qualifications / Attributes / Skills**
- Good physical health and sufficient strength to perform the maintenance tasks which include the ability to: climb ladders, lift heavy objects weighing up to 25 Kilograms, stand for long periods of time,
- Has knowledge of all aspects of horticultural maintenance, landscape design, knowledge of orchard work and maintenance, pruning of fruit trees, pruning plants, ornamental trees and bushes, soil and plant management, seasonal plantings and assembly of plant materials
- Has knowledge of IPM (integrated pest management)
- Ability to work independently with mínimal supervision.
- Ability to accept orders, follow instructions, and flexibility to do jobs as required
- Ability to take initiative in seeing and responding to needs without direct supervision or specific instructions
- Ability to organize work so that tasks are completed on a regular basis
- Ability to work cooperatively with supervisor and other staff and sisters.
- Ability to read labels, installation and operational manuals, and follow directions as appropriate, by which to perform job duties and responsibilities
- Ability to communicate effectively with direct reporting to supervisor and others, so as to provide desired customer service levels to occupants, visitors and staff.
- Dependability
- Safety and security - the individual actively promote and personally observes and complies with all safety and security procedures including using equipment and materials properly.
- All procedures in the Policies Handbook for Employees must be followed.

**Education and Experience**:

- High school graduate or equivalent required.
- Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
- Minimum of two years of experience in garden work.
- Knowledge and experience of working in an orchard would be preferred.