Current Vacancy - Union (USW Local 1998)

Infrastructure and Sustainability

Posting Date: April 1, 2026

Closing Date: April 15, 2026

Position Title: Groundskeeper

Department: Grounds - Infrastructure and Sustainability

Appointment Type: Term – 6 Month Contract

Work Schedule: Part-time, 24 hours per week. Wednesday to Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Job Classification: USW Pay Band 3

Pay Rate (Hourly): Probationary: $23.38 – After 480 Hours: $25.26 – After 2080 Hours: $28.29

Victoria University is committed to equity in access to employment and a diverse and inclusive workplace. The University encourages applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. If you require accessibility accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department vic.hr@utoronto.ca.

Position Summary

Under immediate guidance of the Grounds Lead Hand and general supervision of the Senior Manager, Campus Operations the Groundskeeper performs skilled tasks in the following areas: maintenance of turf grass, ornamental shrubs, flowers and trees, cultivation and weeding, campus cleaning and sweeping, snow clearing, garbage pick-up and compaction, minor equipment maintenance, moving of furniture, equipment, and other items as specified.

Duties:
From verbal or written instructions from both the Senior Manager, Campus Operations and Lead Hand, the Groundskeeper must, in a safe and healthy working manner, using the proper personal protective equipment and procedures perform the following:

Grounds Maintenance, Garbage Collection and Recycling

• Using lawn mowers (both manual and push or tractor mounted type) gas powered trimmers, leaf blowers (both push and back pack type), aerators, fertilizer spreaders, fertilizer and other equipment and products common to turf care, maintain all turf grass, and removal of leaves located on the Victoria University campus.
• Using cultivators, edger’s, shovels, motorized tillers, and cultivators, fertilizer, and water, maintain all flower and ornamental beds, flower planters or any other containers used for the purpose of growing plant material to keep the beds aerated and weed free.
• Using hand pruners, hand and motorized clippers, or chainsaw, maintain, including but not limited to, all ornamental shrubs and trees located on the Victoria University campus.
• Using hand shovels, round nosed shovels or any other tools common to grounds keeping, plant or transplant, including but not limited to, annual flowers, shrubs, trees, bulbs, tubers, perennials.
• Using brooms, scoop bags, wheel barrow, rakes, shovels, and back pack blowers, on a daily basis, or as specified by the Lead Hand, or Manager, remove all unwanted posters from the exterior of buildings, campus signage, lamp posts, and exterior furniture, clean, all paved surfaces, doorways, stairwells, restaurant patios, window wells, drains and catch basin covers and underground parking. At litterbin locations, remove full litterbags and re-line bins with new litterbags. Transfer full bags to the designated compaction site and compact.
• Using the tractor with trailer, or pick up truck, pick up both the garbage bags and recyclable materials from the university’s buildings and transfer them to the compaction site for garbage and to the appropriate containers for the recyclables.
• Maintain irrigation systems and waterfall on campus.
• Perform pre operation checks on all equipment following manufacturer’s instructions. Clean equipment after use and report any defects or abnormalities in equipment operation to the Lead Hand. Maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) in good order and report any defects to the Lead Hand. Wear PPE at all times when the task requires it.

Snow Clearing and De-Icing

• From verbal, written, or emergency call-in from, the Manager or Lead Hand, the grounds person must, in a safe workmanlike manner, using the proper personal protective equipment and procedures perform the following.
• Using snow blowers, snow shovels, tractor mounted plow and salter, truck with plow, salt and de-icing agents, must perform, including but not limited, snow clearing and de-icing duties on all driveways, sidewalks, and steps on the Victoria University campus, adjacent city sidewalks.

Moving Duties

• From verbal or written direction from the maintenance manager or lead hand the grounds person must, in a safe workmanlike manner, using the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and procedures, perform the following duties.
• Using the appropriate dollies, pick up truck, tractor with trailer and other related moving equipment, the grounds person must perform moving duties, including but not limited to, removal and transport to the designated site of, discarded furniture, appliances, carpeting, recyclable material, change over garbage, or any other items Victoria University deems as items to be discarded or recycled.
• Using the appropriate moving equipment, as listed above, pick up and deliver, including but not limited to, any furniture, equipment, supplies, fuel for the grounds equipment, interdepartmental material, staff relocation effects, etc.

Auxiliary Duties

• The grounds person must also assist the university’s customers in directing, or accompanying them to the appropriate place in a courteous manner.
• Attend training seminars as directed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required:
Education

High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

A minimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in landscape maintenance in an institutional setting. Sound knowledge of equipment and materials required to perform and implement duties related to grounds maintenance.

Other

• Requires interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with customers and staff. Must have a G driver’s license with clean driver’s license abstract.
• Must be able to successfully perform tasks related to grounds maintenance, including but not limited to, proper pruning techniques, turf maintenance, snow clearing and the ability to make minor repairs and adjustments to mechanical equipment related to grounds maintenance.

To Apply:
Internal Candidates: Please visit https://www.vicu.utoronto.ca/careers/ and click Internal Opportunities to login and apply.

External Candidates: Please click "Apply".

Victoria University thanks all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted