Job Description

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Closes: November 13, 2025

The University of St. Michael's College is looking to fill a full-time permanent position for a Grounds Coordinator in the Facilities & Services department.


Department Facilities and Services -- Supervised by: Director, Facilities & Services
Compensation $37.76 per hour (Hiring Rate) / $78,540 to 87,256 (salary range)
Hours 40 hours per week
How to Apply hr.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Terms Submit resume and covering letter to: hr.stmikes@utoronto.ca



In the email subject line, please include your full name and the title of the position title for which you are applying. Please engage with the particulars of the job in your cover letter. Only applications with both cover letters and resumes in one Microsoft Word or PDF document and submitted through the above email address will be considered.

This position is covered by United Steelworkers "All Employee" Bargaining Unit

Position Title:

Grounds Coordinator

Job #

59

Office:

Facilities and Services

Supervisor

Director, Facilities & Services

Hours:

40 hours per week

Pay Band

10

Wage Rate

$37.76 per hour (Hiring Rate) / $78,540 to 87,256 (Salary Range)

Terms:

Full-Time, Permanent

Posting Date:

October 31, 2025

Closing Date:

November 13, 2025

POSITION SUMMARY

Working under general direction of the Director, Facilities & Services and Capital Assets Project Manager, the incumbent is responsible for the overall oversight and performance of the daily grounds operation, maintenance and planning of all landscaped areas of the University of St. Michael's Campus. The Grounds Coordinator is responsible for all matters related to horticulture and arboriculture on the campus, maintaining roadways and all pathways and walkways in good condition, and for ensuring regular inspections take place to identify hazards so that they may be eliminated. The Grounds Coordinator will be responsible for oversight of the snow removal on the entire campus, including parking lots and roadways.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

+ Oversee grounds care for building-surrounding properties as well as the main campus core.
+ Responsible for the planning and maintenance of all hard and soft landscapes on campus.
+ Maintenance of soft surface landscapes including rock gardens, flower beds, lawn/turf areas, trees, and shrubs.
+ Regularly inspect hard and soft surfaces (e.g., grounds, athletic field, sidewalks, and walkways) to identify maintenance requirements, special projects, and improvements.
+ Perform grounds maintenance duties, including but not limited to, all aspects of, turf maintenance and rehabilitation, tree and shrub pruning and planting, annual flower, perennial, bulb and tuber planting, weeding and cultivation, fertilizing and spraying, leaf pick-up and composting.
+ Oversee and guide external contractors to assist in the execution of turf care (fertilization, aeration, seeding, topdressing etc.,), planting of flowerbeds and weeding.
+ In conjunction with Director, Facilities & Services and/or Capital Assets Project Manager, assist to identify and design annual plantings, ornamental shrubs and perennial beds, for best budget-conscious approach to maximize impact and esthetics of installations and other special projects.
+ Responsible for ensuring the maintenance of walkways, paths, roadways to minimize slips, trips, falls and other accidents.
+ Establish priority and timing for the completion of routine grounds maintenance activities, (e.g., grass cutting, garden maintenance, sidewalk cleaning, snow removal) to ensure adherence to City of Toronto property standards and guidelines, by-laws and authorities having jurisdiction.
+ Manage the snow removal and ice management program with external contractor, which includes all campus roadways, sidewalks and walkways, and building entrances on campus.
+ Responsible for snow and ice removal on sidewalks, walkways, building entrances, exits, parking lots, inner roads, as required, when external snow removal and ice management contractors are not on campus.
+ Responsible for ensuring exterior campus is maintained safely over the winter holiday closure.
+ Ensure external garbage is monitored and collected, reporting issues to Director, Facilities & Facilities and/or Capital Assets Project Manager.
+ Using the proper personal protective equipment and procedures, pick up litter, remove posters from building exteriors, light posts, and exterior furniture, and collect garbage and litter from around the campus.
+ Meet periodically with Director, Facilities & Facilities and/or Capital Assets Project Manager, to provide input and recommendations related to landscaping for the implementation of the University Campus Landscape Plan.
+ Provide guidance and support for a variety of events on campus (e.g., reunions, commencement, residence move-in, move-out, conference services events, athletic events, events organized by other departments).
+ Oversee the completion of landscape maintenance activities and special projects to ensure that the quality of work performed is in accordance with environmental and health and safety legislation and City by-laws.
+ Identify sites for installation of irrigation systems, work on design of projects, and oversee installation.
+ Manage campus wide weed, disease, and outdoor insect control programs.
+ Maintain inventory of plants, trees, and elements of hardscaping on campus, consistent with the Campus Landscape Plan.
+ Regularly inspect condition of vehicle and other grounds equipment, determining appropriate schedule for maintenance, repair, and replacement.
+ Consult with, Director, Facilities & Facilities and/or Capital Assets Project Manager, to order, purchase or rent, equipment, parts, and grounds supplies, including but not limited to, hand tools, lawn mower, trimmers, fertilizer, topsoil, aerators, or other parts of supplies required to maintain equipment and the grounds.
+ Develop and maintain a depreciation schedule for all equipment in the unit and provides input for budgets for replacements accordingly.
+ Prepare written reports on landscaping and snow removal protocol.
+ Ensure all grounds operations are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, bylaws, regulations, and University policies.
+ Perform job site safety compliance inspections ensuring policies and procedures are being properly implemented; and considering how risks could be reduced; including hazard analysis, safe work procedures, written reports, and recommendations.
+ Monitor adherence to university safety program by all grounds employees and considers how risks could be reduced.
+ Responsible for ensuring all workers in the department have completed training appropriate for their assignments before beginning work (e.g., for summer workers, working in a hot environment).
+ Develop procedures for approval to ensure effective operations and health and safety of students and staffing.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

+ College diploma or University degree in Horticulture, botany, plant ecology, landscape architecture or a closely related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
+ Minimum of seven (7) years' related experience of a significantly sized grounds organization having a diverse selection of plant materials.
+ Using tools common to the trade such as, lawnmowers, pick-up truck, tractor, string trimmers, etc., using proper personal safety equipment and procedures.
+ Experience with turf care, soil management, tree care, greenhouse and nursery operations, forest management, landscape architecture and maintenance, application and management of herbicides and insecticides.
+ Must have experience coordinating and overseeing the work of external contractors.
+ Must have experience working with outside organizations as it relates to receiving approvals for grounds initiatives and projects, coordinating major events, etc.... Grounds care work experience in higher education or similar campus/institutional setting preferred.
+ Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite, and with the various tools used to maintain grounds (e.g., for landscape maintenance and turf management), including familiarity with snow removal equipment.
+ Strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills. Must be in possession of a valid Class "G", D, and DZ drivers' license and Ontario Pesticide license.
+ Must have a good working knowledge of environmental and sustainability practices, as well as integrated pest management principles, as they relate to grounds care and operations. Must be familiar with pertinent environmental protection legislation.
+ Experience working at job activities that require bending, stretching, kneeling, or climbing on a weekly basis.
+ Experience lifting or carry objects of light weight (i.e., less than 5 kgs.) for short periods.
+ Experience working outside with exposure to inclement weather, daily.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

The University of St. Michael's College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal people of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, people who take a religiously informed view of human experience, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas.


All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.


If you require accessibility accommodation, please contact Human Resources at hr.stmikes@utoronto.ca.