GROUNDSKEEPER

Job Description:

GROUNDSKEEPER

Description

OVERVIEW

Join a team that plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, appearance, and functionality of County facilities and public spaces. As a Groundskeeper, you will contribute directly to creating clean, welcoming, and well-maintained environments that serve employees, residents, and visitors every day. This role offers the opportunity to build upon your landscaping and facilities maintenance experience while working with increasing independence and responsibility. You'll perform meaningful, hands-on work across a wide range of outdoor maintenance activities and contribute to seasonal operations. If you enjoy working outdoors, solving practical challenges, and making a visible impact on your community, this position provides an excellent opportunity to develop your skills while supporting the County's commitment to exceptional public service.

The Kitsap County Facilities Maintenance Department is responsible for the oversight and maintenance of County buildings and properties and provides maintenance and groundskeeping services for over 20 County buildings, including the main campus in Port Orchard, Givens Community Center, the Kitsap County Coroner's Office, and the Sheriff's Office Silverdale precinct.

As the Groundskeeper, you will:

• Maintain County campuses, parks, and other County-owned or occupied properties by mowing, edging, trimming, weeding, planting, pruning, fertilizing, watering, and maintaining healthy landscapes throughout the year.
• Operate a variety of powered and hand-operated landscaping equipment, including mowers, string trimmers, blowers, and other maintenance tools while ensuring safe and efficient operation.
• Apply fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides (when properly licensed), mulch, and other landscape treatments to promote healthy vegetation and maintain attractive public spaces.
• Inspect and maintain irrigation systems, landscaping equipment, and grounds maintenance tools to ensure reliable operation and minimize downtime.
• Perform snow and ice removal activities by shoveling, snow blowing, plowing, and applying ice melt to maintain safe walkways, parking areas, and public access during inclement weather.
• Support facility operations by moving furniture and equipment, assisting with office relocations, and performing interior painting projects during seasonal maintenance periods.
• Clean and maintain building exteriors through pressure washing, seasonal debris removal, litter collection, and ongoing grounds maintenance to ensure County facilities present a professional appearance.
• Monitor landscaped areas for weeds, plant diseases, insect activity, and maintenance needs, taking appropriate corrective action to preserve healthy and functional outdoor environments.
• Maintain inventories of equipment, materials, and supplies while identifying maintenance needs and assisting with ordering replacement items when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with County policies, safety procedures, quality standards, and departmental guidelines while maintaining accurate records and completing assigned responsibilities efficiently.
• Collaborate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and the public to provide responsive customer service and support a safe, clean, and welcoming environment across County facilities.
• Assist with additional operational and maintenance assignments as needed to support departmental priorities and organizational goals.

What You Bring:

Professional Credentials/Licensing

• Valid in-state driver's license required by the time of hire.

Technical/Industry Background

• Minimum of six (6) months of landscaping or grounds maintenance experience, including mowing, pruning, landscape maintenance (required).
• Experience operating powered landscaping equipment and maintaining grounds in a safe, efficient, and professional manner.

• Experience maintaining outdoor spaces through all seasons, including snow and ice removal.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while exercising sound judgment in completing assigned work.

Communication/Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to understand work direction and clearly exchange information.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to interact professionally, courteously, and respectfully with coworkers, employees, visitors, and the public.

For the complete job description: Groundskeeper
For more information about Facilities Maintenance: Kitsap County Facilities Maintenance

OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

• Who May Apply: This position is open to the public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process.
• This position is classified as eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions. Employees who join the union will be required to pay union dues through payroll deduction. Membership in the union is optional.

Application Requirements

All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.

To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role. Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. This process is conducted in compliance with the Washington Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94). Information received is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. FCA-Flyer_June 2026_English_Update
• Criminal Conviction Standards:
  • The successful incumbent will or may have unsupervised access to children under 18 years of age, a vulnerable adult, or a vulnerable person, or access to a secured/confidential facility or computer system(s). As a result, Kitsap County will be conducting an extensive criminal background check by law enforcement agencies, which may include fingerprinting.

Driving Requirements

The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver’s License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy. This position is categorized as:
Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle.

• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position, and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
• Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.

At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental - Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
MetLife Long Term Disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: Benefits or the Kitsap County Digital Benefits Guide .

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year, 1 additional floating holiday after 10 years of service.

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:
Upon completion of 2 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)

Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will be prorated***

Additional compensation that you may be eligible for:
Shift differential
Overtime
Stand by pay
Call-back pay

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

Union Membership
This position is covered under AFSCME Local 1308 Courthouse Employees collective bargaining agreement. To view the bargaining agreement please visit our website: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.aspx

Student Loan Forgiveness Opportunities for Kitsap County Employees

Washington State offers several programs that may help eligible employees reduce or even eliminate their student loan debt.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) | WSAC
Employees working full-time for a public employer may qualify for federal loan forgiveness after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. PSLF allows you to check your eligibility, track your progress, and apply directly through the official PSLF portal.

Washington Health Corps (WHC) - Washington Health Corps | WSAC
Licensed health professionals may be eligible for loan repayment in exchange for serving in critical-shortage areas. Programs include:
• Washington Health Corps Loan Repayment
• Nurse Educator Loan Repayment (NELR)

If you think you might qualify or want to learn more, review the program guides and application details on the websites!

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at: https://www.kitsap.gov/hr/Documents/Personnel%20Manual%202026/Personnel%20Manual%20-%202026.pdf

Closing Date/Time: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$22.64 - $28.96 Hourly