BUILDING/GROUNDS LABORER

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking to hire Building Grounds Laborer's at The Old State Capitol for The Office of Land Management.  This position will paint exterior projects, pull weeds, mow, plant trees and flowers, shovel snow, apply insecticides, collect trash, sweep, mop, clean restrooms, etc.  In the heart of our country stands the Old State Capitol, a reconstruction of Illinois' statehouse from 1840 to 1876. During the twentieth century's civil rights movement, its restorers faithfully recreated the building in which John Jones and Frances Gage worked to expand the meaning of freedom and Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech.  We welcome interested applicants who would like to be part of this team to apply today.

Essential Functions

• Under direction, maintains the appearance and cleanliness of exterior of historic sites and related buildings across 20 acres of green space at six different locations.
• Maintains interior cleanliness and safety of facilities.
• Maintains cleanliness and performs maintenance in parking garage.
• Participates in set up and tear down of equipment for meetings, programs, and events.
• Ensures safe working and visitor experiences.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of high school.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of elementary knowledge of the use and care of janitorial cleaning equipment (e.g., Buffing machine, mop, broom)
• One (1) year of elementary knowledge of grounds maintenance equipment (e.g., tractor lawn mower, zero-radius mower, string trimmer, shovel) use and maintenance.
• One (1) year of elementary knowledge of grounds/building maintenance and building cleaning Methods.
• One (1) year of experience in following simple oral and written instructions.
• One (1) year of experience applying herbicides/pesticides.
• One (1) year of working knowledge of growing perennial and annual plants, maintaining turf, transplanting plants and planting/trimming trees.
• One (1) year of experience attaching and pulling trailer from one work site to another.

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be considered for this position. The State of Illinois complies with federal and state disability laws and will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities:

1. Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
2. Valid driver’s license
3. Ability to obtain pesticide/herbicide operator’s license within 6 months of employment.
4. Requires ability to withstand exposure to the elements on a year-round basis.
5. Requires physical ability to operate and maintain tools, equipment, and materials utilized in the maintenance, repair, and care of site resources, buildings, and grounds.
6. Ability to obtain First Aid and Hazardous Materials Training (HAZMAT) certificate within 6 months of employment.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

Agency and Division Statement

DNR Agency Statement

Charged with preserving, protecting, and promoting Illinois’ natural resources, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) employees oversee water, wildlife, wetlands and oil wells, parks, historic sites – and everything in between. Employment opportunities vary greatly, often providing employees the chance to work indoors and out in a dynamic yet relaxed environment. Working for the State of Illinois, IDNR employees receive excellent benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance; a retirement plan and deferred compensation options; state holidays and other time off; as well as pre-tax benefit programs; flexible/remote work schedules may be available for certain positions.

Office of Land Management

The Office of Land Management (OLM) oversees nearly 400 individual parcels of land and institutes a wide variety of programs and activities advocating outdoor recreation through sustainable use, conservation, and preservation.  The Historic Sites Division of the Office of Land Management oversees 57 Historic Sites, Monuments, and Memorials.  OLM facilitates activities from small group interpretive programming at Historical Sites, to hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and camping.