Groundskeeper I

The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking an experienced Groundskeeper I for the hospital campus in Jamaica Plain. The Groundskeeper will work to improve the appearance and maintain a safe exterior of the Hospital grounds. The incumbent in this role will maintain the health and value of trees and shrubs; plant flowers, bushes, trees, and other plants, and will engage in other cultivation activities by watering and maintaining lawns. The Groundskeeper will clean building entrances, empty waste receptacles, and perform ice and snow control activities.

Please note: This position is full-time, 40 hours per week. The schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Days off are Saturday and Sunday.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Maintains cleanliness of hospital grounds, with special emphasis on the safety and welfare of patients, staff, and visitors.
• Ensures that all entrances and exit ways from buildings are clear of all obstacles, ex. tree limbs, shrubs, bushes, barrels, trash, and snow.
• Removes trash from barrels throughout the campus on a daily basis and sweeps walkways and removes trash from parking areas.
• Maintains lawns, shrubbery and flowers by mowing, watering, and weeding, applies pesticides and fertilizer as needed to maintain good plant health.
• Operate hand and power tools; ex. lawn mowers, chain saws, pruning shears, as needed, to maintain appearance and health of all plant growth. Properly cleans and maintains all tools related to grounds keeping and snow removal including fueling equipment, oil changes, mechanical adjustments, sharpening, etc.
• Conduct snow removal activities when necessary or as instructed; removes snow from walkways by shoveling, snow blowing and spreading salting; operates shovels, salt spreaders, snow blowers and skid steer for snow removal.
• Trims, prunes, cuts and or plants flowers, bushes and or removes/installs mulch to identified areas.
• Installs exterior signage to identified areas.
• Requisitions parts, supplies, and equipment to maintain sufficient inventories.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of safety practices and procedures followed in groundskeeping, landscaping and snow removal.
• Work under exposure to adverse weather conditions.
• Deal tactfully with others and communicate effectively in oral expression.
• Skilled in operating equipment used in landscaping, groundskeeping and snow removal such as lawnmowers, rototillers, snowblowers etc.
• Skilled in the use of hand-held power tools such as chain saws, hedge trimmers, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the types and uses of agency forms.
• Understand laws, rules and regulations governing assigned unit activities.
• Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines.
• Apply O.S.H.A. regulations as they apply to unit activities.
• Knows the Department of Food and Agriculture regulations as they apply to unit activities.

Special Requirement:

• Possession of a current and valid appropriate hoisting license, issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety.

Working Conditions:

• Please note this position requires the following, with or without an accommodation:
• Physical stamina and endurance.
• Lift and carry heavy objects.
• Stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Safely use and climb ladders and trees.

About the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital:

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital is a fully Joint Commission accredited teaching facility that provides acute, subacute, and ambulatory care to patients referred by public agencies and private sector providers. Shattuck Hospital’s services help economically and socially disadvantaged patients to get high quality, cost-effective care from a staff that respects their dignity.

Located in the heart of Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Shattuck Hospital includes 248 inpatient beds including 95 Psychiatric beds and 29 Correctional Health beds. In addition, the Shattuck has a full outpatient clinic with many specialties that offers treatment to patients of the Department of Mental Health as well as Department of Correction and House of Correction inmates and community patients.

The Shattuck hospital is on the forefront of substance use disorder treatment including a Suboxone clinic serving 200 patients. In addition to direct medical services LSH hosts and supports an array of services located on the campus, serving patients struggling with addictions and homelessness.

Learn more about Shattuck Hospital:

Relocation information:

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit

Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website,

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the A DA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.



Minimum Entrance Requirements: None


Special Requirements:
Possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid appropriate hoisting license, issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, may be required.
Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid pesticide applicator's certificate issued by the Pesticide Bureau, Department of Food and Agriculture, may be required.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title : Groundskeeper I

Primary Location : United States-Massachusetts-Boston-170 Morton Street

Job : Agriculture

Agency : Department of Public Health

Schedule : Full-time

Shift : Day

Job Posting : Jan 16, 2026, 8:27:22 AM

Number of Openings : 1

Salary : 42,889.60 - 54,649.40 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : [email protected] / [email protected] - 6173524250

Bargaining Unit : 02-AFSCME - Service/Institutional

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : No