Groundskeeper I - Parks and Forestry

Groundskeeper I - Parks and Forestry

Salary

$41,600.00 Annually

Location

2839 Dana Street, Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

13288

Department

Parks & Recreation

Division

Landscape Services

Opening Date

09/01/2026

Closing Date

9/15/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Norfolk, Virginia is Americas most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the worlds largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The City of Norfolks Department of Parks and Recreation is currently seeking Groundskeepers for our Parks and Forestry crews. This position is to perform all aspects of bed maintenance. This is to include chemical spraying, mulching, hedge and shrub trimming, tree pruning, mowing, weed trimming and edging. Skills using tools typically found in grounds maintenance operations are desired. These include, push mowers, string trimmers, blowers, chain saws, hand pruners, shovels, rakes, brooms, etc. and operating a variety of vehicles. Able to work alone or in a group.

Norfolks department of Parks and Recreation is proud to announce it has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies. This ensures we will continue to provide quality recreational services that enrich the lives of Norfolks residents.

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Maintains the grounds, cleans area and assists with landscaping by cleaning sidewalks, mowing lawns, trimming trees and shrubs, sweeping, loading wood debris, feeding a chipper and using a blower to remove sawdust, chips and shavings, removing trees and stumps, operating chippers and stump grinders, raking leaves, sweeping and edging, preparing and planting flower beds, seeding the lawns, caring for plants, removing insects and picking up litter.
• Secures areas for public safety in emergencies by clearing streets, walkways, moving trash cans and loose pots, removing branches, bushes and refuse from grounds, assisting emergency personnel and being on call to respond to emergencies.
• Assists with funeral services by erecting tents, assisting with grave digging, filling in graves, disposing of funeral flowers, keeping records and preparing reports
• Provides foundation service by digging holes, mixing and pouring concrete and moving and installing markers.
• Operates and maintains vehicles and equipment by checking fluid levels, refueling, checking tire pressure, fuses and light bulbs, cleaning, adjusting and sharpening chain saws, changing and sharpening chipper blades and stump grinder teeth and greasing.

Education/Experience

Work requires the ability to read and understand written instructions, to understand simple processes and the routine operation of machines. Level of knowledge equivalent to less than high school or equivalency.

Required:

• One (1) month of experience in greenhouse or landscaping or in a related field.

Preferred:

• Six (6) months experience.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Drivers License.
• Registered Pesticide Technician (Category 60) required within twelve months of employment.

Work Location: 2839 Dana Street, Norfolk, VA 23509

Work Hours: M-F 6:30 am - 3:00 pm, work hours are subject to change, may be subject to work weekend as needed

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

03

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associates Degree or higher

04

How many months of experience do you have in landscape or grounds maintenance?

• Less than 1 month
• 1 month-1 year
• 1-2 years
• 2 years or more

05

Please select the equipment you have experience operating.

• Push mower
• Zero-turn mower
• String trimmer
• Pruning shears
• Trowel/rakes
• Other
• None

06

Please describe the types of tasks have you performed using the equipment selected in the previous question.

07

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

08

Please select the type of CDL you possess. (A CDL permit is not considered a CDL license. If you only have a permit, you must answer the question as No.)

• Class A
• Class B
• Class C
• I do not have a valid CDL

09

Please indicate which of the following endorsements you possess with your CDL.

• T--Double/Triple Trailers
• P--Passenger
• N--Tank Vehicle
• H--Hazardous Materials
• S--School Buses
• X--Tank Vehicle with Hazardous Materials
• None of the above

10

Do you have experience working with others to achieve a common goal?

• Yes
• No

11

Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

• Yes
• No

12

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.

13

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

14

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question

Employer City of Norfolk