Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.

The City of Ames Public Works Department has an exciting opportunity for a Stormwater Seasonal Groundskeeper to provide support to the City's stormwater practices, bio-cells and native landscape areas.

Candidates interested in this position can expect to work June 2023 - August 2023 working approximately 30 - 40 hours per week.

This position performs groundskeeper tasks to maintain city stormwater management practices and native landscape areas in order to ensure compliance with the City's Phase II MS4, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the City’s Green Infrastructure and Native Vegetation Maintenance and Management Plan.

In order to be considered for this position, all applicants must submit their online application by the deadline listed on this posting. Your application includes complete responses to the supplemental questions. Please keep in mind that submission of a resume in lieu of work history on your application or answering the supplemental questions is not sufficient.

In and around the City owned stormwater practices, bio-cells and native landscape areas:

• Weed by hand, with weed trimmer, mower and other equipment and methods.
• Remove litter in and around stormwater practices.
• Plant seedlings and native plant plugs.
• Prepare soil and apply seed and mulch in right-of-way areas.
• Remove and treatment of woody invasive plants from stormwater practices.
• Install and remove erosion and sediment control practices.
• Clean stormwater pre-treatment structures.
• Apply mulch in stormwater practices
• Perform end of season maintenance in stormwater practices (trim vegetation/leaf removal).
• Attend public outreach events to promote city’s stormwater program.
• Aid in organizing and attend public participation events such as stream cleanup.
• Collect native seed from native areas.
• Implement City’s Green Infrastructure and Native Vegetation Maintenance and Management Plan.
• Prepare monthly survey and report on native plants within bioretention cells.

Each employee is expected to continually strive to bring shared values to life through our Excellence Through People organizational culture. ETP values include: committing to continuous improvement; inspiring creativity and innovation; being customer driven; making data-driven decisions; committing to diversity, equity, and inclusion; championing employee involvement; striving for excellence; having fiscal stewardship; acting with honesty and integrity; exhibiting leadership; choosing a positive attitude; respecting one another; promoting safety and wellness; and cultivating teamwork. For leaders, this includes creating a work culture that brings these values to life. For all employees, this includes maintaining a Total City Perspective. The purpose of ETP is to deliver exceptional services to the public at the best price, and for employees to experience an enjoyable and stimulating work environment.

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma, GED or equivalent.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
  

Preferred:

• Experience or field of study in Ecology, Forestry, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Landscape architecture or related field.
• Experience in manual labor related to landscaping.

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver's license required.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills: Knowledge of hand tools and equipment commonly used in gardening or landscaping. Ability to deal effectively with the public in high stress situations; ability to work with other City employees and the general public ability to work under general direction; ability to read and interpret a maintenance plan; ability to prepare reports related to daily tasks; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; skill in the use of a computer and related software; skill in the care of plants or vegetation.

General Physical Characteristics: The work involves sitting 10 percent of the time; sitting and using arm/leg controls 10 percent of the time; standing (but not walking) 40 percent of the time; standing and walking 40 percent of the time; frequently lifting objects under 10 pounds; routinely lifting objects from 10 to 25 pounds; routinely lifting objects from 25 to 50 pounds; and occasionally lifting objects over 50 pounds.

Vision Requirements: The minimum standard for use with those whose work deals largely with preparing/analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading, visual inspection involving small defects or parts, use of measurement devices or assembly of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Required Physical Activities: Balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.

Environmental Conditions: The work is performed outside.

Equipment Used to Perform Essential Functions: wheel barrow, lawn mower, site and landscape plans, vegetation trimming equipment, rakes, shovel, dibble, storm water related materials, computer, mobile tablet, safety vest, smart phone or ipad application and/or book references to distinguish weeds from desirable plants.

Selection Process:

The selection process consists of an evaluation of education and experience, phone interview, on-site interview and completion of a criminal background check, which includes a sex offender registry check. All candidates will be notified by email of their application status.

Preference may be given to applicants possessing qualifications above the minimum.

Depending on the number of qualified candidates, the City may forego phone interviews.

NOTE: Applicants with disabilities may submit requests for ADA testing or interview accommodations to the Human Resources Department prior to the test or interview.

The City of Ames is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Human Resources Department at 515-239-5199.

E-Verify Process:

The City of Ames participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with the City of Ames must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity on their first day of employment. Please be prepared to provide required documents on your first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 515-239-5199 or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at: http://www.uscis.gov.