GROUNDSKEEPER OPS - 60955479

Requisition No: 824689 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: GROUNDSKEEPER OPS - 60955479

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 60955479 

Salary:  $15.75 - $16.80 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 01/02/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 613-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility. 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS IS A MULTI-HIRE OPPORTUNITY.

This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as Groundskeeper – OPS at the Northeast Florida State Hospital. This position will collaborate with each section within the state facilities and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Performs lawn maintenance by mowing, pruning, edging, and hoeing. 
• Takes care of plants, flowers, trees and shrubs by planting and transplanting, fertilizing, and trimming. 
• Grind stumps and assists in tree removal to ensure a secure, safe and comfortable environment for the individuals we serve.
• Assists in the maintenance and repair of grounds maintenance equipment such as edgers, mowers, and small engines to ensure the most cost-effective methods of operation.
• Pick up trash, paper, branches and dispose of in proper receptacle. 
• May assist in garbage hauling, disposing of trash and removal of sludge from the water plant.
• Operates various grounds maintenance equipment such as mowers, tractors, and edgers.
• Assists in the maintenance of parking lots, roads, and walks.
• Assists in the supervision of residents assigned to the ground’s maintenance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of groundskeeping techniques.
• Skill in using lawn mowers, tree trimmers and cutters and other garden tools.
• Ability to maintain lawns and grounds.
• Ability to keep records.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of experience in groundskeeping and/or landscaping.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for Other Personal Services (OPS) employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• State Group Insurance coverage options (for OPS employees who are reasonably expected to work 30 hours or more per week on average), including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Savings & Spending Accounts;
• 401 (a) FICA Alternative Plan administered through VALIC
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.