Grounds Maintenance Officer

Organisatinal Environment

For more than 100 years, Scouting has enabled young people to participate in outdoor adventure activities and push personal boundaries, developing their resilience, confidence, and leadership capabilities. Scouting is shaping the future by giving young people the opportunities and the support to thrive and be heard.

The Cataract Activity Centre (CAC) is an Outdoor Education (OE) and recreation facility providing schools and community groups with high quality OE programs and services specialising in outdoor and expedition-based activities.

CAC is situated on 160 hectares of Wedderburn State Forest. CAC offers various meeting spaces, halls, and rooms that seat between 40 and 650 people, compact spaces to suit smaller groups and can cater to the masses with a 15,000-person open-air concert arena. It is located 50 minutes south of Sydney, 20 minutes south of Campbelltown and 30 minutes west of Wollongong, near the historic town of Appin.

Purpose of the Position

The Grounds Maintenance Officer is fundamental in ensuring the buildings, facilities and grounds at Cataract Activity Centre are consistently maintained to an excellent standard for Customers, Scouts Members, Parents, Volunteers, staff, and other visitors/ users to enjoy.

Responsibilities & Duties

Maintenance

• Regularly mow and trin lawns and edges.
• Clean debris from paths, grassed areas, flowerbeds, and all entrances.
• Wee, fee and water gardens.
• Liaise with the Maintenance Manger to prepare the grounds in response to bushfire risk in accordance with guidelines set out by the Rural Fire Service.
• Ensure drains are clear to prevent flooding over roads and pathways.
• Report damage or defects to the Maintenance Manager so that arrangements can be made to make repairs.
• Instruct users of the grounds not to damage trees or plant life or harass animal life.
• Keep all surfaces fee of moss and weeks.
• Clean pits and drains regularly in toilet blocks.
• Clean and maintain filters in air conditioners.
• Ensure all outdoor areas are letter free, recycle materials where appropriate.
• Change lamps and tap washers and attend to any other minor handyman repairs as directed by the Maintenance Manager.

Cleaning

• Assist with clean and maintain all buildings at Cataract Activity Centre which are used.
• Assist with washing and drying of linen provided by the park when necessary.
• Maintain the cleaner’s storage area, keep vehicle and workspaces in a clean and tidy condition.
• Keep appliances provided in a clean and working order.
• Use cleaning products provided safely and correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Carry out other duties related to the presentation of the centre as required by the Caretaker Manager.

Security

• Maintain security of the grounds by ensuring gates on the perimeter are closed and locked, especially overnight and when the site is not in use.
• Check for hazards and any damage or impact on building facilities (without intruding or interrupting guests).
• From time to time, inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, and machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
• Regularly inspect the perimeter of the grounds to check for any breaches to the security of the grounds.
• Notify the Centre Manger and Police (if appropriate) of any breaches, theft and/or damage to the grounds and compile a detailed report for records.
• Ensure buildings (doors, windows, gates) are locked and secure when not in use.
• Ensure grounds are always safe, report anything that may constitute a risk to health and safety.
• Ensure lights, air-conditioning/heating units and electric plug sockets are switched off when building is not in use.

Key Capabilities & Requirements

Qualification, Training & Experience

• Certificate in Asset and Maintenance Management (desirable).
• High School Certificate or equivalent.
• Experience in landscaping or maintenance experience and skills preferably in a bush environment.
• Experience with performing minor handyman repairs.
• Experience in a volunteer environment (desirable).
• Experience in Scouting (desirable). 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• High level interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; ability to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactive; shows initiative and innovative thinking.
• Ability to make sound judgement.
• Excellent time management and ability to plan.
• Thorough, with excellent attention to detail to plan.
• Able to work independently, autonomously and with limited supervision.
• Vigilant, observant, and responsive.
• Problem solver who provides solutions to issues/challenges.
• Hardworking, honest, dependable, and trustworthy.
• An ethical approach to work, self-motivated and enjoys achieving results.

Essential Requirements

• Right to work in Australia
• Current National Police Check
• Current Working with Children Check
• Mandatory Training
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Current CPR Certificate
• Current Drivers Licence
• Forklift Licence

Clearances

Prior to commencement of duties, the Grounds Maintenance Officer is required to hold a current Working with Children Check clearance (Employed), provide results of a National Police Check and have undergone a background check.