Job Information
Minnesota State Groundskeeper in Bemidji, Minnesota
All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).
Working Title:
Groundskeeper
Institution:
Bemidji State University
Classification Title:
Groundskeeper Inter
Bargaining Unit / Union:
203: AFSCME - Service
City:
Bemidji
FLSA:
Non Job Exempt
Full Time / Part Time:
Full time
Employment Condition:
Classified - Unlimited
Salary Range:
$20.21 - $28.79
Job Description
Bemidji State University (BSU) invites qualified applicants to join our team as the Groundskeeper.
The Groundskeeper maintains all grounds areas that are owned, leased, or maintained by Bemidji State University and assists in other maintenance areas as needed. Under general supervision this position performs lawn, garden and road maintenance to ensure the grounds are safe and aesthetically pleasing.
Responsibilities of the Groundskeeper include:
Performing general grounds maintenance work so that the grounds are well-groomed and neat in appearance. Landscaping (trimming, pruning and fertilizing) and operating loaders, tractors, sod cutter, broadcast spreader, mowers, and blowers. Maintaining roads and parking lots by removing snow (hand and mechanical equipment); installing parking lot signs; cleaning parking lots and parking lot drains; assisting with steaming frozen drains. Percent of Time: 40 %
Preparing athletic fields and facilities so that they are ready for use when scheduled; layout, marking, and painting. Athletic fields and facilities are prepared to their best possible condition for use at the schedule time. Placing and operating sprinkling systems so that all areas are properly watered, along with maintaining the sprinkler system. Repairing the sprinkler system, including sprinkler heads; keeping records on well pump water usage; recommending purchase of new parts to minimize downtime and so that major repairs can be made off-season. Percent of Time: 20 %
Training and providing work direction for student workers so that the task they are asked to carry out are done so in a safe and efficient manner. Percent of Time: 15 %
Performing general maintenance activities and additional tasks as assigned to maintain the grounds area of Bemidji State University. Securing necessary equipment and supplies needed to fully perform assigned duties. Assisting skilled trades’ personnel as assigned. Percent of Time: 10 %
Repairing and maintaining grounds equipment in order to perform scheduled duties and minimize downtime. Performing routine maintenance and repairs to hand and power equipment, including: diesel engines, mowers, plowing mechanisms, and markers. Mounting snow blower and mower units and installing cabs. Assisting machinery repair worker with mechanical repairs on equipment, including welding and some metal fabrication. Percent of Time: 10 %
Performing other duties as assigned by supervisor which include but are not limited to: assisting in BSU remodeling projects; erecting scaffolding for workers; assisting in the demolition and construction of stud wall partitions, ceilings, and walls; removing concrete walks in preparation for remodeling and forming for walls and slabs as needed. Percent of Time:5 %
Salary Range
Depends on Qualifications; current pay range is $20.21 - $28.02 per hour.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and knowledge of horticulture techniques and practices (planting schedules, germination intervals, and transplantation procedures) sufficient to maintain and improve facility grounds/landscape and recognize and/or treat plant diseases and pests; experience working with native plants.
Experience with the safe use of and simple repair of handheld tools and machinery (lawn and landscape equipment) and snow removal equipment (hand and heavier equipment).
Maintenance and groundskeeping experience including the removal of trash; mowing, planting, seeding, pruning, trimming, watering, and care of lawns, trees, and various plantings.
Knowledge of basic chemical fertilizer and pesticide applications and related safety practices.
Ability to train and direct the work of less experienced groundskeepers and student workers sufficient to assign responsibilities and inspect finished work.
Ability to read, interpret and follow oral and written instructions sufficient to independently complete assignments timely using accepted practices and safe techniques.
Must be able to work in inclement weather conditions.
Must possess a active, valid and applicable Class D (basic) MN Driver’s License.
Must have the ability to lift, move and/or transport up to 80 pounds on a regular basis and occasionally move and/or transport up to 100 pounds.
Preferred Qualification
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
Ability to work effectively alone or in a team environment.
Grounds keeping experience on a multiple building complex including the care of lawns and horticulture practices.
Experience with lawn and garden care sufficient to prune and trim shrubs, trees, and other plants.
Experience working with irrigation/sprinkler systems.
Ability to identify different plants species to diagnose potential diseases and resolve problems with generally accepted standard practices.
Ability to work with agriculture tractors with mowers, chippers, etc. on a large scale.
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
Other Requirements
Environmental Conditions:
More than 20% of the time: Exposure to weather and extreme cold.
Less than 50% of the time: Extreme heat, moving mechanical parts; noise; wet/humidity; and vibration.
Physical Factors:
Constant: Communicate with staff, students, and faculty. Traverse campus to accomplish assigned tasks.
Frequent: Transport tools, supplies, and equipment. Observe projects and issues that need to be addressed, including unsafe situations that need to be rectified.
Occasional: Position self to be able to move tools, equipment, and supplies to the proper location (height or distance).
Other considerations:
All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit, which can be found at: https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor/afscme.jsp .
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to motor vehicle records check annually.
BSU is a tobacco free workplace ( see policy ) .
Inquiries about the position :
Jim Hansen, Facilities Building and Maintenance Supervisor
Phone: 218-755-3755
Email: jim.hansen@bemidjistate.edu
If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application or bid, contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu .
Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)
Unlimited Full-time; Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. or as needed in emergency situations.
Telework (Yes/No)
Telework not available for this position.
About
UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY
WHY BEMIDJI:
It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.
On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.
Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.
As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.
BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.
For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.
The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.
Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.
At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.
The City of Bemidji
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district.
The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.
Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year.
Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.
Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter.
Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.
For further information About BSU (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/president/search/presidential-search-profile/about-bsu/) visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu
Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0 (http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2017/february/bemidji-2-0)
Other Resources:
Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/
218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/
Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji
Statement of Notice:
Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1 , all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.
Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator
Email: TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu or Megan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu
Phone: (218) 755-2502
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601
Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.
Benefits Information:
At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.
Desired Start Date:
06-16-2025
Position End Date:
Open Date:
04-24-2025
Close Date:
05-21-2025
Posting Contact Name:
Mary Miller
Posting Contact Email:
sg9312lx@minnstate.edu