Lead Groundsworker

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

California State University (CSU), Chico is a comprehensive and residential public university, holding Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Chico State operates as part of the 23-campus CSU system, which educates the most ethnically, economically, and academically diverse student body in the nation. The University enrolls over 15,000 students, with over half identifying as first-generation college students.

Chico State is committed to recruiting outstanding candidates. The ideal candidate will embrace our values predicated on the primacy of student success and the elimination of equity gaps, have demonstrated experience working with diverse populations, and will contribute to policies, programs, and practices that support an inclusive, accessible, and equitable learning and working environment. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, veterans, and those with diverse abilities are encouraged to apply.

Job/Department Summary:

Under general supervision, the Lead Groundsworker oversees and assists Grounds employees engaged in specialized campus- wide work, including athletic field maintenance, or leads and assists crews engaged in grounds projects such as installing major landscape areas, planting trees and shrubs, maintaining irrigation systems, and performing concrete and asphalt work.

This classification is distinguished from other general or specialized grounds classifications primarily by the performance of lead duties requiring the ability to plan, train, coordinate, assign, and inspect the work of others. It is further distinguished from the Groundsworker classification by the greater technical knowledge of horticultural methods, materials, and plant care required.

Incumbents are responsible for coordinating work assignments for Grounds staff and student employees, completing required operational paperwork and documentation, conducting monthly safety meetings, providing safety training and reinforcing safe work practices, working independently and as part of a team, supporting special events, and providing landscape care and support within their assigned areas as well as other campus locations as operational needs dictate.

The Lead Groundsworker serves as a key field resource for coordinating daily operations, ensuring work quality and safety standards, and supporting campus events, projects and seasonal operational priorities.

Required Education and Experience:

Two years of experience in planting, cultivating and maintaining flowers and shrubs, or in general grounds maintenance work.

Preferences:

Preference may be given to applicants with the following as they may be considered specialized skills:

• Experience with horticultural spraying and pest eradication
• Experience with irrigation systems including the installation and maintenance of sprinkler heads, repairs of irrigation lines, and familiarity with smart irrigation controllers and software
• Experience with tree trimming, including knowledge of materials and tools used in trimming, pruning, cultivating and caring for trees
• Experience with landscape construction projects, including sports field renovations.
• Possession of a Qualified Applicators Certificate.

Time Base: Full-time

Pay Plan: 12/12

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm, Summer: Mon-Thurs 7:00am-5:30pm

CSU Classification Salary Range: $46,680 (Step 1) - $66,660 (Step 19) per year.

Benefits: This position qualifies for benefits including tuition fee waiver (if eligible).

CSU, Chico offers a number of benefits to its employees (e.g., sick leave, vacation, health insurance). For more information please visit https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf

Additional Information:

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

California State University, Chico, in accordance with CSU policy, requires that the successful candidate complete a background check (including a criminal records check, sexual offender registry check, and/or fingerprinting) prior to assuming this position. Failure to satisfactorily complete or pass the background check may impact the job offer or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for posted positions identified as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a "Limited Mandated Reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 (revised July 21, 2017) as a condition of employment.

Throughout employment in this position incumbent must maintain a valid California Driver’s License as well as continued completion and compliance of the CSU Defensive Driver’s Training course.

The selected candidate must pass a post-offer pre-employment physical examination.

About Chico State:

Graduate and undergraduate programs boast high-quality research experiences, exceptional faculty mentoring, and civic and global engagement opportunities. The campus motto, “Today Decides Tomorrow,” is brought to life by inclusive pedagogy, experiential learning, and co-curricular programming. The Chico Experience prepares students to be critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and inspired stewards of environmental, social, and economic resources. Together, they will become leaders solving the challenges of the 21st century.

The campus is located in Northern California, 90 minutes from the state capital, Sacramento, and a three-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. Chico offers year-round natural beauty, outdoor leisure activities, and a thriving arts, music, and events scene. We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that since time immemorial have sustained the Mechoopda people and continue to do so today.

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.

Chico State is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e. H-1B Visas).

CSU, Chico's Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A paper copy of the report may be requested in person at CSU, Chico Police Department or by calling 530-898-5555 . It is also available on the web at Annual Security & Fire Safety Report .

Advertised: Jun 17 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Jul 08 2026 Pacific Daylight Time

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• California State University, Chico

• 530-898-4664

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