Grounds Maintenance Specialist at Norfolk Redevelopment And Housing Authority – Norfolk, Virginia

NRHA’s Vision and Mission

At the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), we’re proud to be the largest housing and redevelopment authority in Virginia and a leader in real estate development and property management across the country. Since 1940, we’ve been working to revitalize and improve neighborhoods in Norfolk.

We also acknowledge that public housing has a complicated history, tied to issues of social injustice and racial inequality. While we haven’t always gotten it right, we’re committed to making positive change by offering quality housing options that support diverse, mixed-income communities. Our vision is to provide quality housing choices in neighborhoods where people want to live. Our mission is to provide quality housing opportunities that create sustainable, mixed-income communities.

Position Summary

Performs varied seasonal grounds work, generally performing routine and non-routine seasonal groundskeeping activities. Operates moderate-sized machinery and equipment to perform grounds maintenance duties. Operates common grounds maintenance machinery and equipment. Performs routine maintenance and minor repairs of grounds maintenance equipment. Operates truck and trailer to transport crews, equipment, and machinery to work site; may load and unload truck.

Essential Functions

• Performs varied seasonal grounds work, generally performing routine and non-routine seasonal grounds keeping activities, including but not limited to maintenance of lawns and gardens; maintaining trees, bushes, shrubbery, topiaries, and other ornamental horticulture; nursery production; preparing planting beds; mulching beds; providing for water drainage on properties; installing playground equipment; dispersing sand in playground areas; and implementing and maintaining assigned landscaping projects.
• Operates moderate-sized machinery and equipment to perform grounds maintenance duties, including but not limited to front-end payloader, backhoe, tractors, and dump trucks; may be assigned as lead equipment operator for a specific kind of machinery or equipment.
• Operates common grounds maintenance machinery and equipment, including but not limited to grass mowers, sod-cutters, seeders, concrete saws, chain saws, edgers, hedge shears, spreaders, grading boxes, rotary tillers, aerators, leaf blowers, and pulverizers.
• Performs routine maintenance and minor repairs of grounds maintenance equipment.
• Operates truck and trailer to transport crews, equipment, and machinery to work site; may load and unload truck.

• Performs other related work as required.

Performance Standards

• Grounds meet inspection standards ≥ 95% of the time.
• Safely and effectively operates all assigned machinery, including heavy equipment.
• Minimal complaints regarding appearance or maintenance quality.
• Rework required less than 5% of assignments.
• Equipment downtime is minimized due to proper upkeep.
• Maintenance logs completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Works collaboratively with crew members and supervisors.
• Effectively communicates job status, delays, or issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Three to five years of routine grounds maintenance work experience.

• Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience necessary to obtain the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Subject to a background check and reference verification prior to hire.
• Must maintain confidentiality and adhere to NRHA’s code of conduct and ethics policies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive and current knowledge of grounds maintenance concepts, principles, methods, and procedures; includes general knowledge of horticultural concepts, principles, methods, and procedures.
• Proficient knowledge of the operation of grounds maintenance machinery and equipment; includes knowledge and skill in operating moderate-sized earth-moving equipment, such as front-end pay-loader, backhoe, tractor, and dump truck.
• Comprehensive and current knowledge of safety procedures related to the performance of grounds maintenance work.
• Literacy and arithmetical skills to read instructions and directions, and to perform simple arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written directions.
• Oral and written communication skills to present and make comprehensible information regarding grounds maintenance activities, and respond to questions on a variety of job-related matters.
• Human relations skills, particularly consulting and persuasive skills. The jobholder must have the capacity to deal effectively with a wide variety of individuals, including those who exhibit skepticism or who do not cooperate with the jobholder. Includes skill in working in a team environment.
• Analytical ability to diagnose common and uncommon grounds maintenance problems and determine a solution based on standard practices and precedents.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to estimate time to complete assignment, select work method, determine if additional assistance is needed, and complete assignment without immediate supervision.
• Ability to exercise independent initiative to identify and resolve unanticipated grounds maintenance problems.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, see, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Job requires depth perception.

NRHA will consider equivalent substitutes for education and/or experience, provided that the candidate can demonstrate that he/she has obtained the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the job.

NRHA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The compensation offer will be determined by the candidate's work history and skill set. Benefits include VRS retirement, medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; long-and short-term disability insurance; tuition reimbursement options; public service loan forgiveness, and much more.

Drug Free Workplace: NRHA maintains a drug free workplace.

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law. We value diversity and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.