Groundskeeper job description.
A Groundskeeper maintains the appearance and safety of outdoor property, including lawns, gardens, walkways, and grounds equipment. They perform routine landscaping, seasonal upkeep, and minor repairs to keep facilities safe and presentable for residents, employees, or visitors.
The Groundskeeper job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Groundskeeper Reports to: Facilities Manager or Grounds Supervisor
A Groundskeeper maintains the appearance and safety of outdoor property, including lawns, gardens, walkways, and grounds equipment. They perform routine landscaping, seasonal upkeep, and minor repairs to keep facilities safe and presentable for residents, employees, or visitors.
- Mow, trim, edge, and fertilize lawns and landscaped areas
- Plant, prune, and maintain trees, shrubs, and flower beds
- Clear walkways, parking areas, and entrances of debris, snow, or ice
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Facilities Manager or Grounds Supervisor
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Mow, trim, edge, and fertilize lawns and landscaped areas
- Plant, prune, and maintain trees, shrubs, and flower beds
- Clear walkways, parking areas, and entrances of debris, snow, or ice
- Operate and maintain landscaping equipment such as mowers and blowers
- Perform minor repairs to fences, irrigation systems, and outdoor fixtures
- Apply pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers following safety guidelines
- Report larger maintenance or safety issues to supervisors
- Maintain a clean, hazard-free appearance across all grounds
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Physical ability to perform outdoor manual labor in varied weather
- Basic knowledge of landscaping tools and equipment
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Prior groundskeeping or landscaping experience
- Pesticide or herbicide application certification
- Valid driver's licence for operating grounds vehicles
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Groundskeeper job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Groundskeeper job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Facilities Manager or Grounds Supervisor) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Do groundskeepers need certification?
- Most entry-level positions require no certification, though applying pesticides or herbicides may require a state-issued applicator licence.
- Is groundskeeping seasonal work?
- It can be, but many facilities such as schools, hospitals, and corporate campuses employ groundskeepers year-round for varied seasonal tasks.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Facilities Manager
A Facilities Manager oversees the maintenance, safety, and operational efficiency of a building or property portfolio.
Custodian
A Custodian maintains the cleanliness, safety, and upkeep of buildings and grounds.
Landscaper
A Landscaper installs and maintains outdoor spaces including lawns, gardens, and hardscaping for residential or commercial properties.
This Groundskeeper job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.