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 Georgia's 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.

University System of Georgia (USG) Statement of Core Values

Every member of the USG community is required to adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values, Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect that form and guide the daily work of the organization.

• Integrity - We will be honest, fair, impartial, and unbiased in our dealings both with and on behalf of the USG.
• Excellence - We will perform our duties to foster a culture of excellence and high quality in everything we do.
• Accountability - We firmly believe that education in the form of scholarship, research, teaching, service, and developing others is a public trust. We will live up to this trust through safeguarding our resources and being good stewards of the human, intellectual, physical, and fiscal resources given to our care.
• Respect - We recognize the inherent dignity and rights of every person, and we will do our utmost to fulfill our resulting responsibility to treat each person with fairness, compassion, and decency.

Maintains campus landscaping and grounds.

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.

Department Summary

The Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance Department is comprised of a team of passionate individuals who take immense pride in enhancing the University's experience through our landscape and grounds. The selected candidate will be responsible for providing exceptional customer service, engaging with, and supporting various constituencies served by the University.

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 driver's license and pass an annual MVR review.

Required Experience
High school diploma and one (1) year of related work experience. Must possess a valid driver's license.

$24,769

Applicant Requirements & 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
• VSU's Annual Compliance Training:
• USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly)
• Job-specific training such as: FMLA & Worker's Compensation, Budget Manager Training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving

• Position of Trust Credit

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.