Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker, Housing

About the role

The Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker assists the Manager of Housing and Residence Life in scheduling, directing, performing and overseeing the seasonal tasks relating to general upkeep of landscaped and turf areas; roads and walkways; parking lots; lakes, streams, and watersheds; playing fields and recreational facilities; University property; the University housing complex; and minor construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Affiliate in planning and coordinating daily work schedules as directed by the Manager of Housing and Residence Life.
• Affiliate in determining methods and standards for work, allocating machines and equipment, and assigning tasks to accomplish seasonal programs for all grounds Housing maintenance areas.
• Supervise the work of vendors, support staff, and student staff in grounds Housing maintenance areas.
• Work from blueprints, landscape plans, sketches, work orders or verbal instruction to landscape areas and construct outdoor facilities.
• Cook and report to the Manager of Housing and Residence Life the condition of grounds and landscaping areas to plan daily work.
• Cook and coordinate the operation of complex and specialized grounds maintenance equipment to apply herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
• Maintain inventories, warehouses supplies and equipment pertaining to landscaping, grounds development and maintenance.
• Cook and coordinate and lead vendors, support staff, and student workers in seeding, sodding, aerating, fertilizing, mowing and trimming of turf areas and removal of trash and debris.
• Affiliate in interviewing and selecting applicants for grounds worker position, including student workers, as needed.
• Affiliate in the coordination with civic groups and University departments to provide setup support for outdoor events and athletic programs.
• Prepare and conduct employee 30-day, 60-day, 90-day and annual performance evaluations, as assigned.
• Inspect and report to the Manager of Housing and Residence Life the condition of grounds and landscaping areas to plan daily work.
• Cook and coordinate the purchase of equipment and supplies for grounds Housing maintenance areas.
• Prepare requisitions for purchase of materials and supplies.
• Cook and act as liaison between vendors and the University Housing complex ensuring best product for best price is achieved.
• Collect, check, and verify all payroll time sheets for support staff and student workers. Assist in resolving areas of discrepancies when necessary.
• Plan and develop preventative and regular maintenance programs for recreational areas and athletic fields (i.e. formulating chemical programs involving fertilizing, soil amendments, insecticides, pre-emergent and post emergent).
• Affiliate in supervising the maintenance of University roads, walkways, parking lots, and loading docks to include minor paving, patching, grading, ditching, and snow removal.
• Identify areas where improvements are needed and work with Manager of Housing and Residence Life to seek funding for improvements.
• Affiliate in supervising the maintenance of Housing vehicular equipment to include Housing vehicles, tractors, mowers and towed or mounted equipment i.e. sprayers, spreaders, loaders, plows, discs, blades, aerators, seeders and rollers; hand and powered tools to include saws, augers, trim mowers, week cutters, pruning shears, shovels, and hoes.
• Cook and coordinate and plan seasonal planting and pruning programs.
• Tend to minor tree plant diseases.
• Plan and execute basic landscaping designs and plant selections to achieve erosion control and enhance wildlife habitats.
• Develop and maintain outdoor facilities to include playing fields, shelter houses, fences, picnic areas, campgrounds, recreational facilities, fishing areas, nature trails, and fences.
• Instruct employees on safe use of equipment and pesticide applications.
• Attend seminars and community informational events as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma/GED.
• Three years’ experience in grounds maintenance work to include the operation of specialized grounds equipment.
• Ability to obtain certification in application of pesticides and fertilizers within the first 6 months of employment.
• Ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations for mixing chemicals and pesticides.
• Working knowledge of operating machinery such as riding mowers, skid steers, compact tractors, front loaders, dump trucks, snowplows, etc.
• Working knowledge of plant species and planting schedules.
• One year of previous grounds leadership experience.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Experience working in large complex grounds.

Benefits

About USI
The University of Southern Indiana is a public higher education institution located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, IN. We offer employees exceptional benefits!

Benefits for this position include:
- Affordable medical, dental, vision, life and short term and long-term disability insurance plans.
- Retirement plan where the University makes the total contribution equivalent to 7% of annual salary.
- Full tuition fee waiver for employees/75% for spouses and dependent children.
- Accrue up to 10 paid vacation days per fiscal year – accrual increases after 4, 7, and 11 years of service.

For more information about the benefits that USI offers, please visit www.usi.edu/hr/benefits.

Contact

To apply, click “Apply Now!” Near The Top Right Of This Page To Complete An Application And Upload Application Materials To The Attention Of The Search Committee Chair. Application Materials Should Include Resume.

Best Consideration Date For best consideration, please submit materials by June 9, 2026.

Pre-Employment Screening

A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Authorization to Work in the United States

USI typically will not sponsor an employment-related visa for this position.

Interview Accommodations

Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please contact the Associate Director of Human Resources, Constance Hermann, at cjhermann1@usi.edu or (812) 461-5363. Contacting the Associate Director of Human Resources is intended for use in seeking disability-related accommodations only. For general applicant inquiries, contact Human Resources at HumanRes@usi.edu or (812) 464-1815.

EEO Statement

USI is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.