Considered Canada's most beautiful University, Western's main campus spans 400 acres of Gothic-style buildings mixed with modern LEED-certified capital structures providing an idyllic environment for our community of scholars. The university is located in London, Canada, a safe, vibrant and welcoming community of more than 350,000 people serving as a regional medical and industrial hub for southwestern Ontario.
Facilities Management (FM) is responsible for the planning, development, construction, operation, maintenance and stewardship of all the buildings, infrastructure, sites and services within Western's campus community.
The Grounds Operator will perform labour intensive and skilled work associated with the maintenance, construction, repair, alteration and inspection of campus grounds and facilities utilizing supplied vehicles, power equipment and associated tools.
Specific responsibilities will include:
- Construct, install, maintain, alter, repair, test, document, inspect, troubleshoot and perform preventative maintenance on materials relating to both hard and soft surfaces, including but not limited to:
- Hard surfaces: parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, asphalt, signs, fencing, patios, stones
- Soft surfaces: turf, athletic fields, gardens, plant material
- Perform duties associated with winter control on varying shifts and on-call as required
- Perform duties associated with reservation requests, special events, delivery of materials, athletic facilities, general campus cleanup, garbage removal, recycling operations and waste diversion
- Operate trucks in support of operations
- Primary responsibility for operation of tractors and specialized equipment (including, but not limited to, litter vacuum, sidewalk plow and tractor implements)
- Conduct plant maintenance including, but not limited to, pruning, staking, fertilization and protection of all campus tree inventory as required
- Read, interpret, and adjust drawings, diagrams, specifications, and codes to determine layout, type and size of materials and tools to use and ensure accurate records management as required
Qualifications:
Education:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- Completion of courses offered through a landscape industry trade organization and/or post-secondary courses at an accredited institution relating to landscape maintenance/installation (e.g. construction blueprints & methods, softscape materials and methods, hardscape installation, operation of heavy equipment)
- Maintain, at minimum, a valid Ontario G Driver’s License
- Maintain a current First Aid Certificate including CPR where required
Experience:
- Within the last 10 years:
- At least 3 years continuous experience working within a landscape environment performing summer and winter landscape maintenance/installation including snow and ice management.
- At least 3 years of continuous experience in a large and complex environment such as a commercial, industrial, or institutional setting:
- Operating loading equipment, such as skid steers and tractors
- Operating various types of turf maintenance equipment
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Comprehensive knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions applicable to landscape services/waste management operations
- In-depth understanding of tools, equipment, principles, materials, and terminology associated with landscape services/waste management operations
- Basic understanding of other positions within Facilities Management with which you interact
- Comprehensive knowledge in the current versions of all applicable legislation, regulations, codes and standards
- Comprehensive understanding of hydraulic, power take-off (PTO) and mechanically driven implements and attachments
- Knowledgeable in the operation of landscape maintenance and installation vehicles and equipment
- Investigate, identify, analyze and document information in written or electronic form and resolve problems
- Lift and transport materials, bend, excavate, climb and reach repetitively
- Meet physical demands of the role
- Work well in a team environment as well as autonomously with minimal supervision
- Work in confined spaces or in areas containing designated substances found within OH&S Act as required
- Perform tasks in emergency situations
- Interpret and work from electronic/written operation instruction sheets as well as mechanical electrical and geographical drawings/maps and produce quick-sketch working diagrams
- Comprehensive electronic, oral and written communication skills
- Listen fully and respond courteously to instructions, questions and comments
- Establish a rapport with customers, leaders and peers
- Dependable and co-operative
- Ability to interact with others in positive ways which develop mutual understanding, respect and productive relationships
- Organize and order work materials, tools, and support staff in the shop and on the job site
Interested applicants are asked to visit: https://recruit.uwo.ca to apply online to job reference 12419, by midnight on April 17th, 2018.
The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.