GROUNDSKEEPER – WINERY ESTATE

Company Profile:  Founded in 1990 as the first organic vineyard in Santa Barbara County, Sunstone Winery is one of the most visually stunning winery estates in California.  Specializing in Bordeaux and Rhone varietals that have achieved ten 90+ ratings in the past year alone, Sunstone is a destination winery and the most visited tasting room in Santa Barbara County, serving more than 60,000 guests annually. In addition to an expansive lawn and picnic area, and a gorgeous, Provencal-style tasting room with caves, Sunstone is home to the internationally recognized Sunstone Villa, an 8,500 sq. ft. architectural masterpiece reserved for private events, and photography and film projects.

Job Summary: As Groundskeeper at our prestigious winery estate, you will play a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the beauty and functionality of our 52-acre property.  This includes our vineyard, wine production facility, tasting room, and private residence.  You will lead a team to ensure the estate’s grounds are impeccably maintained, reflecting the high standards of our brand.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Grounds Maintenance:  Maintain estate grounds including lawns, courtyards, terraces, walkways, outdoor structures, roadways, and parking lots.  Ensure the grounds are aesthetically pleasing and align with the estate’s overall ambiance.

2. Facility Upkeep:  Maintain the wine production, tasting room, and Villa areas.  This includes ensuring cleanliness, functionality, and safety.  Relative to the Villa, this specifically without limitation includes ensuring readiness of guest areas by, for example, cleaning fireplaces, pizza ovens, sweeping and rinsing patios/terraces, watering plants, landscaping, ensuring that interior and exterior lighting is functioning properly, replacing bad bulbs, etc.  Relative to the estate, this specifically includes without limitation performance of routine plumbing maintenance and repairs in all restrooms.

3. Trash & Recycling:  Maintain daily removal of trash and recycling from receptables placed throughout the tasting room area, including the outdoor kitchen and host stand.  Responsible for removal of trash and recycling from estate as may be prescribed by Management.

4. Team Collaboration:  Collaborate with the Facilities team, as well as interdepartmental managers, to ensure efficient and high-quality work.

5. Landscape Care: Execute landscaping projects.  Ensure that new installations complement the existing environment and meet practical needs.  Perform routine maintenance and repair of landscape irrigations systems estate-wide.

6. Wine Inventory Movement:  Movement and delivery of case wine or wine-in-barrel from one location to another by direction of Management.
   
    

7. Equipment Maintenance: Maintain groundskeeping equipment. Ensure tools are organized, available, functional, and safe to use.  Report all damaged or problematic equipment to Facilities Manager.  Manager approval must be obtained ahead of scheduling repairs or purchasing replacements.

8. Furnishings Maintenance:  Ensure proper care, movement, and storage of all furnishings and supplies such as tables, chairs, fire pits, heaters, etc.  Regular inventory and assessment of items required.  

9. Pest and Weed Control:  Implement integrated pest management and weed control strategies, focusing on eco-friendly and sustainable practices.  This includes without limitation daily service to our mousetraps, bait stations, and wasp and fly traps estate-wide.

10. Event Support:  Assist in preparing the estate for events, ensuring that the grounds contribute to an exceptional guest experience.  Tasks may include, without limitation: set-up and tear-down of event spaces; removing or repurposing furniture; installing furniture as per diagram and specifications outlined by Facilities Manager or the designated event manager; and clean-up such as furnishings removal, straightening chairs, clearing dirty dishes and glassware from tables, changing soiled table linens, vacuuming/sweeping floors, emptying trash, and restocking materials.

11. Parking Direction:  Confidently direct and assist with public winery parking, as well as private event parking and shuttle arrival and departures, in a safe and logical manner.   

12. Safety Compliance:  Assist in ensuring all activities comply with safety regulations and environmental guidelines.
     

    Qualifications:

    - Proven experience in groundskeeping or landscaping, preferably in a winery or similar setting.
    - Knowledge of viticulture and winery operations is a plus.
    - Ability to identify and address items or areas that need repair or improvement.
    - Strong leadership and team management skills.
    - General handyman and carpentry skills.
    - Familiarity with sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
    - Excellent organizational and communication skills.
    - Ability to effectively communicate and read, write and speak in both English and Spanish.
    - Physical ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
    - Valid California Driver's License required.
    - Licensing and experience to drive a fork-lift required.
    - Ability to operate and maintain flatbed truck, trailer, landscaping equipment, and other company vehicles and equipment required.
    -Certification and experience in handling and refilling propane tanks required.
    - Must be able to safely lift 50lbs.
    - Flexibility in work schedule and ability to work weekends and evenings is required.
    - The ability to work hours beyond 40 per week may be necessary at times.
    - Ability to work onsite in Santa Ynez, as well as at off-site locations as needed.

    Report to: Supervising Groundskeeper