Grounds Maintenance Technician at Parkland College

Grounds Maintenance Technician

This position is an on-campus, full-time, 12-month appointment based in Champaign, Illinois covered by the Professional Support Staff (PSS) Union with an annual salary of $39,624.00.

Application Close Date/Time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 7 PM CT

The GroundsMaintenance Technician supports the safety, sustainability, and visual appealof the college campus by performing skilled maintenance of outdoor spaces,equipment, and systems. This role requires safe operation of heavy machinery,environmentally responsible chemical use, and proactive care of irrigation andwater features. The technician works as part of a team to promote anaccessible, well-maintained, and eco-conscious campus environment.

Applicants must submit:

• An online employment application
  
• Cover letter
  
• Resume or CV
  

Essential Job Functions:

• Operate and maintain heavy equipment and machinery (e.g., snowplows, tractors) safely and in accordance with environmental and safety regulations.
  
• Apply ice melt and other chemical products using practices that reduce environmental harm and protect campus infrastructure.
  
• Repair and maintain small engines used in landscaping and snow/ice management equipment.
  
• Service irrigation systems to reduce water waste, improve plant health, and support long-term landscape sustainability.
  
• Maintain fountains and outdoor water features to prevent algae buildup, mosquito activity, and system breakdowns while preserving aesthetics and reducing maintenance costs.
  
• Prepare athletic fields and campus grounds for events using efficient, low-impact practices.
  
• Participate in snow and ice removal using teamwork and safety-first practices to ensure a safe campus for students, faculty, and visitors.
  
• When essential, removal of both live and deceased domestic and wildlife animals. This task requires following the state’s animal health and welfare laws and regulations.
  
• Follow all OSHA, EPA,and campus-specific safety and environmental regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

WorkEnvironment and Physical Demands:

• Work is performed outdoors in extreme temperatures, precipitation, and variable light conditions.
  
• Requires frequent lifting (up to 50 lbs), standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and climbing.
  
• Regular exposure to loud equipment, moving machinery, and chemicals.
  
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) required for chemical application and machinery operation.
  
• Early morning,evening, weekend, or emergency response availability may be required duringinclement weather or special events.
  

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
  
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, or a related maintenance role.
  
• Technical training in small engine repair, irrigation, or heavy equipment operation.
  
• Valid Illinois driver’s license required.
  
• The following certifications must be obtained within 12 months of hire:
  
  • Illinois Pesticide Applicator License
    
• Prospective new hires will successfully complete a post offer, pre-employment criminal background check with fingerprinting. The background check review includes, but is not limited to, exclusionary offenses per the Illinois School Code and Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
• Understanding of safe and responsible groundskeeping practices, including responsible chemical use.
  
• Ability to safely operate and maintain heavy machinery and power tools in varied weather and surface conditions.
  
• Proficiency in small engine troubleshooting and repair.
  
• Knowledge of irrigation system function and repair.
  
• Skill in fostering teamwork and ensuring situational awareness when operating equipment or preparing campus grounds.
  
• Capacity to assessenvironmental and safety risks and respond appropriately.
• In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Robust benefits, including medical insurance with no monthly premiums, dental, life, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending, dependent care, EAP, work/life balance with generous paid time off, and tuition waiver. More information on the benefits package may be found online at our Benefits page.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://www.parkland.edu/careers will not be considered.

Please monitor your email, including spam or junk mail folders, for future correspondence from Parkland College Human Resources.
For further information on the application process, please contact Parkland College Human Resources at 217-351-2220.

Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.

Requests may be submitted by contacting Human Resources at 217-351-2220 or by emailing [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer