HEAD GROUNDS WORKER
New Jersey treats Head Grounds Worker as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
Eligibility comes down to 2 years of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $53,282 and $77,371, and state payroll currently lists 6 people in the title, led by Human Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 4 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 4 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Head Grounds Worker appears on the State payroll at 6 departments, most of them at Department of Human Services.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | 1 |
| Department of Health | 1 |
| Department of Transportation | 1 |
| Veterans Affairs | 1 |
| Department of Corrections | 1 |
| Juvenile Justice Commission | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 6 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $74,754. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (1)
- Health and Senior Services (1)
- Transportation (1)
- Veterans Affairs (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, has charge of the maintenance of grounds; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Examples of work
- Organizes the maintenance or institutional grounds and develops effective work measures, programs, schedules, and procedures.
- Prepares daily work schedules for employees having custody of inmates, patients, students, and/or employees assigned to grounds duties, provides assignments and instructions, and supervises the performance of their work.
- Plans, lays out, and directs work involved in maintenance of institutional grounds including preparation of soil, the seeding, rolling, weeding, and cutting of lawns, and the planting, transplanting, thinning, and harvesting of flowers for cutting and other use.
- May plan the removal of snow and/or direct the operation of snow blowers and salt spreaders.
- Plans, organizes, and assigns work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
- Supervises the care of noncultivated areas of the grounds and sees that these are properly maintained.
- Supervises the proper use of equipment, materials, supplies, and implements used to maintain grounds including tractors, grass cutters, scythes, hoes, rakes, sprinklers, garden hose, cultivators, spades, shears, spraying devices, fertilizers, seeds, and other garden and grounds keeping equipment and tools.
- Prepares requisitions for equipment, materials, and supplies and ensures these are properly safeguarded, stored, used, and recorded.
- Supervises the measures taken to ensure the safety, custody, and progress of inmates, patients, and others assigned to grounds work.
- Reports suspicious persons and behavior and takes appropriate actions.
- Directs and performs tree care and tree surgery duties required on institution grounds which may involve climbing and topping of tall trees.
- Supervises the care and propagation of trees, and personally plants trees and shrubs.
- Prepares reports of unusual occurrences and significant conditions in the buildings or on the grounds and takes those steps required to ensure safe, orderly conditions.
- Prepares periodic reports of the progress of individual inmates, patients, or employees and prepares reports on grounds maintenance activities containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Maintains records and files.
- May be required to undergo fire training classes (in the Department of Human Services).
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- REQUIREMENTS
Experience
Two (2) years of experience performing large scale groundwork, gardening, tree surgery, and tree care operation, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Appointees may be required to obtain a NJ Certified Pesticide Applicator's or Operator's Permit in the required categories.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of methods used to plan and supervise work relating to maintenance of extensive lawns and other areas.
- Knowledge of tree culture and tree surgery methods, materials, and procedures.
- Ability to oversee the work of inmates, patients, and others.
- Ability to lay out flower beds and direct the preparation of soil, planting of seeds, weeding and thinning of bedding stock, and production of flowers for cutting purposes.
- Ability to supervise staff involved in the growth of trees, shrubbery, and perennial plants, and to direct the pruning of trees and shrubs, weeding and mowing of lawns, and trimming of hedges.
- Ability to perform tree care and oversee tree surgery work which involves the climbing of trees of varied heights.
- Ability to provide guidance and instruction to staff.
- Ability to supervise the use of equipment, materials, tools, and supplies and to train patients, inmates, and/or employees to properly use these.
- Ability to take the measures required to ensure the safety and custody of inmates, patients, or employees assigned to grounds keeping work, to recognize suspicious and/or dangerous situations and occurrences, and to take necessary measures to secure safe, orderly conditions.
- Ability to requisition, safeguard, store, and record the equipment, tools, materials, and supplies.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, and accurate reports concerning grounds keeping and progress containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to maintain records and files.
- Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODES: 15/R16 - MCK 03/03/05