Lead Grounds Keeper

About Us

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values can be found here. Augusta University's distinct characteristics in education and research include real-world experiences and community engagement, as well as a culture of building community, corporate and government partnerships that address health, security, economic and societal concerns locally and across the state.

Job Summary

This position leads and works with a crew maintaining and beautifying grounds, maintaining grounds equipment, setups, and performing waste management.

Responsibilities

• Leads Grounds Crews
• Participates in and assigns tasks to Grounds keepers. Reviews results continuously and confers with Grounds Foreman on daily activities.
• Provides safety and technical training.
• Ensures the use of appropriate personal protection equipment and power equipment safety devices.
• Responsible for recording labor and material information into Maximo for the Groundskeepers.
• Assists Groundskeepers with entering leave requests in OneUSG.
• Maintains Groundcovers, Shrubs, Trees, and Turfgrass
• Prunes shrubs and trees; mows lawns with proper equipment.
• Collects and removes lawn cuttings and debris.
• Line trims around signs, trees, valve boxes and edges along walks, curbs, and beds.
• Controls weeds manually and with the application of mulch and chemical herbicides to bed areas.
• Applies fertilizer to shrubs and trees.
• Hand waters new plants and trees.
• Inspects lawns and shrub beds prior to mowing or pruning for obstacles such as debris, irrigation heads, rocks, limbs, valve boxes, etc.
• Maintains Grounds Equipment
• Ensures routine maintenance are performed (oil change, filter change, fasteners tightened, blades replacement, trimmers lubricated, etc.) and properly documented.
• Ensures oil checks prior to starting to engine.
• Ensures daily cleaning of equipment after use age.
• Coordinates equipment maintenance and repair needs with grounds mechanic.
• Notifies Grounds Foreman of safety and maintenance/repair concerns.
• Operates Vehicles and Light Construction Equipment Safely
• Safely operates, vehicles, golf carts, mowers, street sweepers and small tractors.
• Cleans vehicle and equipment (Interior and Exterior).
• Requires training and certification in operation of the motorized personnel lift and forklift.
• Waste Management
• Removes lawn cuttings, plant clippings, and tree limbs; and places them in yard waste container.
• Removes litter and chewing gum from campus grounds, parking lots, and streets.
• Cleans and empties waste containers.
• Assist with packing waste, yard debris and cardboard roll off containers by operating backhoe.
• Cleans and Organizes Grounds Warehouse
• Sweeps floors and removes debris.
• Keeps tools, equipment, and vehicles in good condition and stored properly.
• Returns flammable products containers to fireproof storage cabinets at end of each day.
• Safeguards and secures grounds equipment.
• Makes sure that all fuel containers are properly labeled and safety compliant.
• Performs Related Work As Required
• Coordinates and assists crews with campus event setups (Pig Out, A Day, Orientation, etc.), such as pressure washing, weed and pest control.
• Follows all departmental and University policies.
• Treats students, coworkers, supervisors, faculty, and visitors with respect.
• Wears uniform as outlined in policy and maintains good hygiene.
• Performs any duties and assignments as instructed by supervisor.
• Assist Maintenance Worker As Required
• Assist Maintenance Worker with RO work Orders as needed.
• Assist Maintenance Worker as needed with masonry, irrigation, and painting as deemed necessary by the Foreman
• Other Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma, GED or equivalent from a state or federal accredited organization and five years' experience in grounds maintenance.
• Current valid driver's license to operate AU golf carts and vehicles. Must meet USG requirements to operate AU vehicles.
• Preferred Experience: High School diploma or equivalent GED from a recognized state or federal accredited organization One (1) years' experience in landscaping/grounds Valid driver's license Obtain forklift and JLG Man Lift certification Must possess good computer skills (familiar with spread sheets and data entry)

Abilities

• Ability to follow specific oral and written instructions.
• Ability to use a variety of standard power and hand tools.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods often under adverse climatic conditions.
• Ability to operate and maintain grounds power equipment and tools.
• Ability to delegate assignments and review performance.

Conditions of Employment

• All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.
• If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.
• Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.
• For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.
• All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.
• The Human Resources Division will request a driver's history report for the identified top candidate(s) for this position. We will initiate this through our Background Check Vendor; this report will come from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The selected candidate must have a valid driver's license.