Lead Groundskeeper
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Lead Groundskeeper
Salary
$38,365.00 Annually
Location
Easton, PA
Job Type
Full time
Job Number
2026-00081E
Department
Public Works
Division
Parks and Recreation
Opening Date
03/13/2026
Closing Date
3/26/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Description
Benefits
Questions
Application Requirements
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration.The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.
Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.
For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at schristman@norcopa.gov or 610-829-6382.
Equal Employment Opportunities - It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.
Job Description
GENERAL PURPOSE
The Lead Groundskeeper position performs semi-skilled grounds maintenance work required for the operation of Northampton County parks, facilities, and other sites. The individual in this position assigns work, assists in procurement requests and soliciting quotes, promotes best management policies, and oversees daily operations of full-time and seasonal personnel. This position also conducts training on the proper techniques and safety of light and heavy-duty power equipment.
This position is subject to call-out during inclement weather and other emergencies twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week. Work is performed at County parks, facilities, and other sites as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the Parks Foreman, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Administrator, Deputy Director of Public Works and/or the Director of Public Works.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position exercises supervision of the work of Groundskeeper positions, as well as temporary/seasonal employees, and volunteer staff.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Receives job schedules and priorities. Plans and assigns jobs to crews and/or individuals. Distributes equipment and materials and provides transport to work site. Assists with problems and inspects work in progress and upon completion. Makes notes of incidents, breakdowns, or other events and documents job completion.
Conducts training for the use, maintenance, and operation of equipment and facilities. Promotes best management policies for maintenance, in accordance with the Parks and Recreation division goals. Assigns work to subordinates and reviews work performance.
Assists with soliciting quotes for contracted work and assists with requisitions, procurement requests, and purchase orders. Maintains an active purchasing card for equipment, maintenance, travel, and training purchases, as well as supplies and equipment for staff. Monitors supply inventory and makes purchases as needed.
Operates and services all division equipment including hand power tools, riding and/or rotary mowers, snow removal equipment, excavators, front-end loaders, trucks, and other equipment.
Maintains clean grounds, waterways, facilities, trails, and walkways throughout the year, in all types of weather. Ensures all areas, equipment, and facilities are safe, clean, and in good appearance. Removes trash and other debris, cleans facilities such as restrooms, and maintains heating systems, electrical systems, septic systems, well pumps, and other equipment associated with assigned areas - i.e. tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, etc.
Performs repair work in facilities such as unstopping sinks and basins, winterizing restrooms, mending broken fencing, doors, windows or partitions, and/or painting signs, exterior and interior of buildings, and recreational facility markings. Builds and repairs birdhouses, duck blinds, and similar items.
Performs land management and maintenance, which includes tilling, aerating, and preparing land. Applies fertilizer, pesticide, and other chemical solutions with spray rigs to grass, shrubs, trees, and other plantings to prevent and/or control weeds, disease, and pests, or to stimulate growth. Repairs concrete and macadam sealing. Waters, fertilizes, cultivates, and trims lawns, shrubs, flowers, trees, and other plantings. Plants trees, shrubs, and flowers. May perform hand mulching and hand weeding.
Responsible for winter maintenance on County properties, including the removal of snow, ice, and other hazards. Operates, maintains, and repairs snow removal and de-icing equipment.
Maintains rivers, streams, ponds, and other waterways and their banks to allow flow. Removes all debris within these areas.
Traps and disposes of wildlife posing threats to County property.
Maintains a current knowledge of all programs, special events, park policies, and park amenities in order to provide key information to staff, county partners, and park patrons.
*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent; AND
At least three (3) years of full-time, professional work experience in grounds maintenance work, which has included involvement in troubleshooting jobs and/or overseeing other workers.
CERTIFICATION/LICENSE - Employee assigned to this title is required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license; AND
Employee must possess certification to administer pesticides as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, within six (6) months of hire.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - As a post-offer, prerequisite for appointment, appointees must pass a motor vehicle driving record check.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors/managers, other agencies, and the general public.
Ability to task switch and prioritize workload, with frequent interruptions, in order to meet deadlines and accomplish assigned responsibilities.
Ability to learn and retain detailed knowledge of policies, procedures, and practices of the Parks and Recreation division.
Ability to use, or learn to use, content management systems for website updates.
Knowledge of methods, techniques, materials, and equipment used in park and facility operation and maintenance.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used in power equipment operation, forestry, agriculture, and pesticide best practices.
Basic knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, electric, water pumps, and septic systems.
Ability to train, instruct, assist, and oversee lower-level personnel engaged in grounds maintenance work.
Ability to understand, follow, and issue verbal and written instructions.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.
Ability to work outdoors, in differing climatic conditions, for several hours at a time.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Pick-up truck, dump truck, back hoe, loader, forklift, and snow blower. Lawn and landscaping equipment which includes tractors, mowers, aerator, chain saw, edgers, weed trimmers, electric motors, pumps, sprinklers, and irrigation systems. Miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance, carpentry, roofing, painting, plumbing, electrical, and cement finishing work. Boiler, telephone or cell phone, and mobile or portable radio.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, walk sit and talk or hear.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to eighty (80) pounds, and occasionally lift weight up to one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work near moving mechanical parts or in adverse weather conditions, including flood conditions. The employee may encounter wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee may deal with high volume of vehicular traffic. The County will provide proper safety equipment and safety training.
The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy.
SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: RU/GR17
UNION STATUS: AFSCME RESIDUAL UNIT
Updated March 2026
Full-time employees of the County of Northampton are afforded a package of benefitswhich includes the following:
Medical Insurance
Vision and Prescription
Dental
Life Insurance
Retirement
I. Medical Insurance
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plans varies by the coverage selection and number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage through the spouse's employer is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual $1,500.00 opt out payment.
II. Vision and Prescription
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. Coverage under the vision plan varies and depends upon the employee's choice of doctor and frame selection.
III. Dental Coverage
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member.
IV. Life Insurance
A life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees beginning on the first day of employment, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement. $20,000 is afforded to all eligible employees.
V. Retirement
All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1000 hours per year qualify for County of Northampton retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and employees may choose to add additional voluntary contributions, not to exceed an additional 10%. Additionally, employees may participate in an optional deferred compensation plan [457(b)] which may provide present tax advantages and future retirement savings. Such arrangements are made directly with the providers and the County will administer payroll deductions only.
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the applicant screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?
Yes
No
02
Current Northampton County employees MUST detail ALL County work experience on their application. Failure to include correct work history and employment dates will result in the rejection of your application. If you need assistance with this information, please reach out to the Human Resources department for assistance BEFORE submitting your application. Please select "yes" to confirm your understanding of this requirement. If you are not a current County employee, please select "no".
Yes
No
03
Do you possess a valid and current driver's license with an acceptable driving record?
Yes
No
04
Do you have at least three (3) years of full-time, professional work experience in grounds maintenance work, which has included involvement in troubleshooting jobs and/or overseeing other workers, as well as heavy construction and transportation equipment? If yes, your work experience section must reflect this experience to qualify.
Yes
No
05
This position requires that a certification to administer pesticides, issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is obtained within six (6) months of transfer/hire. Are you willing to obtain this certification within this time frame?
Yes
No
06
The Lead Groundskeeper position is part of the AFSCME Residual Union, and starting salary is dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The starting salary for this position is $18.4445 per hour ($38,365 annually) and is non-negotiable. Please choose "yes" to indicate your understanding of the starting wage, and that this is non-negotiable.
Yes
No
Required Question
