Community Groundskeeper

Community Groundskeeper

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the Role

The Community Groundskeeper is an integral part of the Property Beautification team assisting in the general upkeep of the landscape at Community First Village including grounds maintenance and participation in occasional ground construction activities. An additional core component of the position will be leading large numbers of volunteers on a daily basis, which furthers our vision to "empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless." The Community Groundskeeper will be personable and energetic, keeping grounds functionally and aesthetically sound.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Community Groundskeeping Manager. Due to the nature and requirements of the position, hours are typically 8am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday. Additional nights and weekends may be required. The Community Groundskeeper will office at Community First Village located at 9301 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Engage and lead volunteers on miscellaneous projects throughout the property, creating a rewarding experience for each participant
• Maintain lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, stair paths, retaining walls and turf, employing mulching to optimize the condition of greenery
• Keep the grounds free from trash, litter, debris, weeds, plant diseases, and harmful insects
• Provide daily direction and supervision to the property beautification crew consisting of current residents at Community First Village
• Manage weekly contracts for our property beautification crew
• Monitor quality of work completed by property beautification crew and volunteers
• Operate and assist the groundskeeping crew with operating various types of equipment
• Collaborate with the Community Groundskeeping Manager to address landscaping issues throughout the property
• Lead landscaping & groundskeeping projects throughout Community First Village
• Assess and determine daily assignments to maintain grounds according to weather and facility's maintenance schedule
• Work with team to procure landscaping materials and coordinate delivery
• Assist unloading and loading materials and equipment from various types of trucks
• Lead safety efforts among team by adherence to policies and procedures
• Keep assigned vehicle clean and organized
• Assist with shop and jobsite clean-up
• Attend daily team meetings, monthly all staff meetings, and other meetings deemed necessary
• Other Duties & Responsibilities as needed

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals.
• 2 to 3 years groundskeeping experience preferred
• At least one year of landscaping and/or construction experience required
• Ability to effectively communicate with a positive attitude
• Relational, enjoying interacting and getting to know others
• Flexible, knowing that things will change quickly in our organization
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, residents, and volunteers
• Ability to operate outdoor power equipment, power tools, and construction equipment preferred
• Ability to operate equipment efficiently and safely
• Ability to operate various types of equipment (riding mowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, blowers, chain saws, chippers, drills, heavy equipment, etc.) preferred
• Experience operating bobcat and/or aerial lift a plus
• Preparing outdoor areas for various weather conditions by weatherproofing, covering outdoor furniture with tarps, tying down unsecured items, etc.
• Maintaining gardens and lawns, including planting, fertilizing, weeding, soil conditioning, mulching and applying pesticides
• Familiarity with MS Office, Google Drive and Appfolio a plus
• OSHA 10 or 30 in General or Construction industry a plus, or can be obtained within 90 days of employment
• Dependable, consistently showing up to work and meeting deadlines
• Must have a valid driver's license

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Essential physical requirements, such as prolonged kneeling, standing, walking, and twisting
• Ability to safely ascend, descend, and work from a ladder for extended periods
• Ability to lift 80 pounds
• Ability to work outside in varied weather conditions (i.e., heat, cold, rain, ice, snow, etc.) 
• Ability to frequently move about all phases of Community First Village

MLF PURPOSE & VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

BELIEF STATEMENTS

• The vision is supported by belief statements centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:
• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

CORE VALUES

MLF is committed to fostering a culture that prioritizes relational connection. We believe there is opportunity in every aspect of our work to be relational in a highly transactional world. In this culture, transactions are means to relational ends, not the other way around.​

​​This begins with the countercultural love poured out by Jesus Christ and grows as imperfect individuals strive to show this love to each other human-to-human, heart-to-heart.​

​​Each individual's openness to the journey of their own personal growth is essential in building our relational culture, and we believe this culture flourishes as we each continuously strive to more fully embody these four core values:

• Faith: We define Faith as the foundational belief that our world and all our work belong to God. This allows us to engage our work with joy and lightheartedness, knowing that we are not ultimately in control.
• Humility: We define Humility as rightly viewing oneself as a single piece of a grander story. This humility leads to a view of oneself that is neither too high nor too low.
• Generous Spirit: We define a Generous Spirit as a readiness to give more grace, mercy, and hospitality than is necessary or expected. This posture allows us to see others for who they are, not what they do.
• Integrity: We define Integrity as a wholehearted commitment to doing right by God, ourselves, and others. This wholeheartedness shows itself in consistently choosing honesty, responsibility and ownership in all actions and decisions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.