Groundskeeper

Job No: MRS60
Location: Maple Ridge

Meadowridge School requires an energetic, motivated, and career-minded groundskeeper, to be responsible for the maintenance and development of school grounds. This person will plant, cultivate, and harvest horticultural specialties, such as flowers and shrubs, and performing related duties, apply knowledge of environmental systems. The groundskeeper will maintain grass areas to established standards. During the winter, the incumbent will be required to continue the upkeep of School grounds by being responsible for snow removal services. This person will be required to perform physical labour outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

Background Information:

Meadowridge is an independent, co-educational, secular day school offering an IB education to over 660 students ages 4 to 17 (JK to 12). The school campus is located on a 27-acre, forested parcel of land on the outskirts of Maple Ridge, BC. Our campus and facilities have been carefully designed to align with our connection and appreciation of the natural world. Our physical spaces reflect the importance of movement, play and interaction with the outdoors. Exterior doors from classrooms provide quick access to natural spaces, including a community garden, green houses, a forest with a trail network, and a newly developed campground area. Our play spaces are vast and take into consideration the developmental needs of children.

Our community is caring and open-minded with a focus on the well-being of our students, staff, and families. Our Mission is learning to live well, with others and for others, in a just community. This statement is central to all we do at the school and guides us in what we do.

In addition to being an IB world school, we are also accredited by the Canadian Accreditation of Independent Schools (CAIS), and the British Columbia Ministry of Education. These organizations compliment the global perspective that is inherent in the IB program, while also helping to ensure we maintain a current and relevant world-class educational experience.

Role Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

  • Plan and execute landscaping operations and maintaining School grounds and landscape of community flowerpots and beds.
  • Perform routine maintenance and landscaping renovation tasks.
  • Prepare soil by rototilling and fertilizing.
  • Maintain plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigating, and pruning.
  • Identify a large variety of plant material and their cultural requirements.
  • Identify potential and current pests and diseases, performing techniques such as Integrated Pest Management to control or mitigate plant pests/diseases.
  • Maintain grounds by clearing brush and debris by sweeping, cleaning up litter and clearing drains.
  • Perform routine maintenance on landscaping equipment and/or tools to ensure they are in good working condition.
  • Trim shrubs and trees.
  • Lay down mulch, wood chips, peat moss and other soil moisturizers.
  • Design and layout flower beds using principles of creative design.
  • Repair and plant various floral displays including streetscapes and tree-planting.
  • Operate and maintain a variety of maintenance equipment such as cord trimmer, mower, rototiller, tractor, loader, truck and plow, truck, and trailer, etc.
  • Knowledge of pertinent legislation is mandatory (including fertilizing regulations).
  • School related duties such as daily traffic control and event set up as it occurs.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Required:

  • Post-Secondary education in Botany or Horticulture would be considered an asset.
  • Minimum of three years of experience in the gardening/landscaping field.
  • Must enjoy physical, outdoor labour.
  • Ability to work long hours alone or as a member of a team (depending on size of area being worked).
  • A valid Canadian driver's license is required; a satisfactory driver's abstract is required as a condition of employment.
  • Ability to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions.
  • Strong working knowledge of plant needs regarding conditions and fertilization.
  • An interest in plants of different kinds and the environment in which they thrive.
  • Ability to follow safe procedures for use of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
  • Availability to work evenings and or weekends when required.
  • Ability to multi-task and establish priorities.
  • Exhibit initiative, responsibility, flexibility, and leadership.
  • Excellent time management skills.
  • First Aid skills and/or certificates are considered assets.

We are an exemplary employer – providing a fun, engaging and supportive place to work!  Meadowridge School offers a comprehensive total compensation package and the opportunity to work with an exceptional community of professionals.  Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least two references (or ability to provide them upon request). 

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.  

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About Meadowridge

Meadowridge is an independent, private, coeducational, secular, International Baccalaureate (IB) school teaching students from Junior Kindergarten (pre-k) to Grade 12, located in British Columbia near Vancouver.