Student Groundskeeper

Job Status: Student Groundskeeper 
Union: Non-Union 
Number of Positions: 2 
Hours of Work: 35 hours 
Location: Riverview Gardens, 550 King St. West, Chatham ON 
Closing Date: February 9, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted. 

The Student Groundskeeper position is responsible for maintaining the grounds, parking lots and open space areas in a clean, neat and safe environment for the enjoyment of Riverview Gardens residents, staff and visitors.

Essential responsibilities:

• Demonstrate Chatham-Kent's core values and competencies
• Assist in preparations for special events
• Assist courtyard users
• Assist with grounds maintenance; weed trimming, general yard clean up and maintenance, planting and upkeep of gardens, etc.
• Grounds and parking lot cleanup and garbage control
• Assist in maintaining pathways and parking lots that are associated with Riverview Gardens
• Occasional duties inside as required

Essential Qualifications:

• To qualify for this summer student position, students must currently be enrolled in school full-time for the 2025/2026 winter term (normally ending April, May or June) and/or returning to school full-time in the 2026 fall term (normally starting in August or September)
• Because of the responsibilities required, preference will be given to those students that are enrolled in programs such as landscape horticulture, landscape design, greenhouse and nursery technician, arbor culture or horticulture technician
• Preference will be given to students who possess:
  • Previous grounds keeping/grounds maintenance experience (taking care of weeds, removing garbage, painting, etc.) landscaping, gardening or nursery experience
  • Experience with use of small equipment (weed eaters, gardening tools etc.)
• All employees will be required to complete their Health & Safety and other online mandatory training on or before their first day of employment; other training (including Health & Safety policies) may also be required

Work environment/hours of work

• This position works primarily outdoors
• This position works weekday hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm)

 Background check requirements

This position works with vulnerable residents in a position of trust and authority, on a sustained and regular basis, in a largely unsupervised capacity. A Vulnerable Sector Screen is required (Fixing Long-Term Care Act section 252 O. Reg. 246/22) prior to being accepted for employment. You must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a vulnerable police check.

All staff members shall promptly provide the employer with a signed declaration disclosing new charges, convictions, orders and restraining orders, consistent with Ontario Regulation section 253 O. Reg 246/22 made under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, with respect to the period since the date the person's last criminal reference check under subsection (2) was conducted.

Essential physical and/or safety requirements:

• Because of the responsibilities of this position, students should have physical strength and ability to perform moderate to heavy lifting, up to 50 pounds kg), enjoy working outdoors, and be able to work outside in all weather conditions
• Bending: frequent stooping (exercise caution and utilize proper bio mechanics) (stooping & twisting are not recommended, however, some duties lend themselves to awkward postures (mopping, power washing); kneeling required for weeding, edging; crouching may also occur during some activities)
• Walking: constant walking on level surface, rough surface (walking surfaces inside are level; walking surfaces outside are regularly uneven; stairs are rarely an obstacle; ladders are used frequently for cleaning windows, painting and performing maintenance items)
• Reaching: frequent reaching below shoulder, handling; constant reaching forward, backward (up to 9.09 kgs or 20 lbs) (window/glass cleaning, janitorial duties; weeding, raking, sweeping, mopping, general cleaning)
• Lifting: frequent lifting waist to shoulder, above shoulder, pushing below shoulder, pulling at or above shoulder, pulling below shoulder (up to 28.6 kgs or 63 lbs) (garbage handling, moving & lifting picnic tables, nets, shovelling, moving supplies such as 50 lb. bags of grass seed, cleaning supplies; pushing edger, lawn mowers; 5' dumpster for garbage; garbage handling)
• Standing: constant standing outside (standing varies from seldom to constant depending on the activity; outside activities are dependent upon weather conditions; candidate is usually walking)
• Hands: frequent gripping (opening doors, supplies, completing forms, checking equipment, changing light bulbs, carrying supplies and washing glass; gripping mops, brooms, shovels, rakes, steering wheel, edger saws, power tools)
• Foot action: frequent two foot action (staff do a lot of walking throughout the day)

Other physical and/or safety requirements:

• Bending: infrequent twisting; occasional kneeling, crouching, squatting (exercise caution and utilize proper bio mechanics) (stooping & twisting are not recommended, however, some duties lend themselves to awkward postures (mopping, power washing)
• Walking: infrequent balancing (Walking surfaces inside are level. Walking surfaces outside are regularly uneven)
• Sitting: infrequent sitting in a chair (utilizes office chair while completing time sheets and other paperwork is required)
• Reaching: occasional reaching above shoulder; frequent reaching below shoulder, handling (up to 9.09 kgs or 20 lbs) (janitorial duties; general cleaning)
• Lifting: infrequent lifting overhead; occasional lifting floor to waist, at shoulder, carrying, throwing (up to 28.6 kgs or 63 lbs) (garbage handling, moving & lifting picnic tables, shovelling, moving supplies such as grass seed, cleaning supplies; pushing edger, lawn mowers; 5' dumpster for garbage)
• Standing: occasional standing inside (standing varies from seldom to constant depending on the activity; candidate is usually walking)
• Hands: infrequent fine finger dexterity (movement), pinching (opening doors, supplies, completing forms, checking equipment, changing light bulbs, carrying supplies and washing glass; gripping mops, brooms, shovels, rakes, steering wheel, edgers saws power tools)
• Climbing: infrequent climbing stairs

Benefits

This summer student position has an hourly wage of $17.60 and will receive vacation and statutory benefits in accordance with Employment Standards Act

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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.