Grounds Maintenance Worker I - Landscape & Ground Maintenance

About Us

As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity and citizenship. As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University, as stated in the Blazer Creed and reflected in our commitment to the University System of Georgias Core Values.

Blazer Creed

Valdosta State University is a learning environment based on trust and mutual respect in which open dialogue, vigorous debate, and the free exchange of ideas are welcome. The University is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity, and citizenship. As members of this community, and proud Blazers, we will strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University.

Civility - A Blazer shows courtesy and compassion as well as respect for the dignity of every human being.

Integrity - Each Blazer is responsible for his or her own actions, and our community is stronger when we contemplate the context of our decisions and uphold the principles of trust and honesty.

Citizenship - Every Blazer has an interest in the well-being of the community, and, therefore, a duty to stay informed, to make positive contributions, and to offer support to those who need help.

As a Blazer, we pledge to uphold the core principles of Civility, Integrity, and Citizenship.

Job Summary

Maintains campus landscaping and grounds.

Based on the recent Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (H-1B), VSU will not be sponsoring any new H-1B visa petitions until further notice.

Responsibilities

Typical Allocation of Duties:

Provide care - 45%

Provide care for campus grounds, including mowing lawns, watering flowers and shrubbery, trimming trees and bushes, installing plants, etc.

Operate equipment - 35%

Operate groundskeeping and maintenance equipment such as blowers, lawn mower, trimmer, and pressure washers.

Chemical application - 10%

Applies fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides as assigned.

Other duties - 10%

Assist with storm clean-up. Assist with setting-up for special events.

Supervisor Expectations

• This work is outdoors in all four seasons.
• Able to perform routine tasks with independence; more skilled tasks will be performed with supervision.
• Able to work as a team member with others in coordinating phases of work.
• An employee may drive a truck and some light construction equipment, involving responsibility for safe and efficient operation.
• Adhere to safe practices and follow safety policies and procedures.
• Employee will be expected to perform regular grounds maintenance duties such as mowing, weeding, leaf removal and operating various types of grounds equipment, including mowers, backpack blowers, weed trimmers, edgers, trucks, and tractors as well as other work deemed necessary by the Grounds Foreman or immediate supervisor.
• Operating and maintaining hand tools, such as loppers, saws and shovels efficiently.
• Operating and maintaining landscaping equipment and power tools, such as lawn mowers, trimmers, and pressure washers for cleaning campus fountains, outdoor furniture, and other campus areas.
• Sharpens tools, such as weed cutters, edging tools, and shears.
• Plants trees, flowers and bushes; rakes and bags leaves.
• Cares for the campus grounds, such as mowing lawns; watering flowers and shrubbery; trimming trees, bushes, hedges, & shrubs; eliminating weeds and spraying lawns, shrubs, and trees with fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides. Walks the assigned campus area, keeping grounds free from trash, litter, and debris, and emptying trash receptacle.
• Assists in plant set-ups in designated areas for special meetings and events.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

An ideal candidate will possess:

• Knowledge of the grounds maintenance trades.
• Experience with grounds maintenance equipment.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• A valid drivers license and pass an annual MVR review.

Required Qualifications

Required Experience

High school diploma and one (1) year of related work experience. Must possess a valid drivers license.

Proposed Salary

$14.71/hr. ($30,590/annual)

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Applicants are required to provide:

• professional references with current contact information
• documentation of academic credentials
• employment history

Please note that during the search process, VSU reserves the right to:

• ask candidates who will serve in Positions of Trust to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment,
• view social media outlets, and
• remove job postings without additional notification.

Employment is contingent upon:

• successful completion of a background check investigation, including a criminal background check
• reference checks

Employment may also be contingent upon the job-based requirements if applicable for your position:

• satisfactory credit check
• successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
• pre-employment drug testing
• confirmation of credentials

After initial hiring, employees will be required to successfully complete all of the following training:

• New employee orientation

• VSUs Annual Compliance Training:

• USG Ethics Policy

• Conflict of Interest/Outside Activities Policy

• Drug Free Workplace

• Sexual Misconduct and Title IX

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Motor Vehicle Policy

• Workers Compensation (new hires)

• Georgia Open Records Act (new hires)

• USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly)

• Job-specific training such as: FMLA and Workers Compensation, Budget Manager training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving

Equal Employment Opportunity

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual.

Background Check

• Position of Trust + Credit

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Catherine Wills, in the Office of Human Resources at croark@valdosta.edu.

Clery Disclosure

The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act requires institutions of higher education to publish an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). The ASFSR includes crime statistics for the three previous calendar years of reported crimes that occurred on campus; in or on certain non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by our institution; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and fire safety policies and statistics. The ASFSR is published annually by October 1 and is available online at: https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/police/documents/2025-asfr-final-draft-aa.docx.pdf. You may request a paper copy of the report by emailing openrecords@valdosta.edu.