Job Description
Manager, Landscaping & Grounds Job ID: 280498
Location: Augusta University
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: * 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 10,500 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 make Augusta University an institution like no other.
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.
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 online at
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at .
Location Augusta University
Our Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
Our Summerville Campus: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904
College/Department Information Providing the highest level of quality service in a responsive and efficient manner to the entire university community while creating and caring for a physical environment in which those who seek knowledge, enlightenment and well-being enjoy successful, productive, and fulfilled lives. Facilities Services Division provides quality customer service by maintaining a safe, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing environment in which students, faculty, and staff can function and accomplish their educational objectives and by supporting a patient care culture that continuously improves. Facilities Services' responsibilities include Interior and Exterior Facilities Support, Construction, Space Management, and Environmental Services.
Job Summary Reporting to the Director - Facilities Operations, this position provides primary leadership and direction to Augusta University Grounds staff on all AU campuses and University Village residential complex. Responsibilities include planning and execution of work related to regularly maintaining and caring for over 200 acres of land including regular cleaning of parking lots and parking garages. Responsibilities also include planning, coordinating and implementing landscape renovation and installation projects, and overseeing all pesticide and fertilizer applications. Provides leadership to Grounds staff and oversees training, safety, and quality-control programs as well as annual performance assessments. Additional responsibilities include oversight and monitoring of Grounds budget and identifying cost-effective approaches to providing services as well as providing leadership and direction to staff following inclement weather events regarding debris cleanup.
Responsibilities The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership
- Provides leadership and direction to approximately 35 Grounds staff ensuring work is performed at a safe level and staff assignments are communicated in a clear manner.
- Plans the work of Grounds staff to maintain an expected level of care of the outdoor environment on each campus while providing the materials, tools, and training to the staff. Schedules all routine landscape maintenance including mowing, weeding, trimming, planting, pruning, and landscaped bed maintenance efforts.
- Reviews the work of Grounds staff daily and provides guidance related to effective methods of maintaining campus grounds.
- Develops, implements, and leads Grounds improvement initiatives.
- Tracts and monitors the operating budgets for Grounds and meets expectations related to finding cost-effective approaches to completing work and procuring materials and tools.
- Collects and disseminates data related to Grounds efficiency and effectiveness creating performance metrics used in managerial decision-making efforts. Establishes operational, benchmark, and performance metrics for Grounds and assists Managers in utilizing metrics to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and guide managerial decisions.
- Participates in committees and individual meetings with academic and administrative units of the university as needed.
- Oversees Grounds staff performance and completes performance evaluations annually and interim evaluations as needed.
- Assists Operations leadership with recruitment/hiring of new staff as well as specific guidance for individual performance concerns.
- Leads on-going recruitment efforts to maintain high levels of Grounds staffing.
- Oversees training of Grounds' staff related to techniques and safe use of tools and materials related to their primary job duties of installing new plantings and maintaining existing areas.
- Reviews and provides comments on proposed designs of landscaped areas in collaboration with Facilities' Planning Design & Construction projects.
Work Management
- Leads efforts to maximize Grounds' utilization of existing Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Develops and implements procedures to collect data related to Work Order management and tracking efforts.
- Develops and implements a comprehensive quality control process to measure effectiveness and quality of work by the Grounds staff. Provides regular reports to leadership related to productivity and efficiency.
- Trains Grounds leadership staff on using the CMMS to perform and manage day-to-day job duties related to Work Orders.
- Provides oversight to maintaining landscape fixtures including retaining and decorative walls, water features, and other hardscape areas.
- Directs response to inclement weather events that create debris and damage to university grounds.
- Provides oversight and direction to contractors and vendors providing materials and services to Grounds.
- Monitors and controls costs of labor and materials to provide a high level of grounds' support.
- Provides oversight to the installation, maintenance, and operation of automated irrigation systems.
- Monitors and manages inventories of parts, tools, and supporting items needed to provide the expected level of grounds support while maintaining tools and equipment in good working condition.
Communications
- Consistently provide professional, accurate, tactful, and timely written and verbal communications to Facilities and other university staff.
- Establishes and maintains positive, respectful, collaborative working relationships with all levels of Augusta University staff.
- Develop and lead group presentations and meetings including work groups and committees as assigned.
- Provides comprehensive status updates on Grounds' Improvement Program and other initiatives as directed.
Other
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications Educational Requirements
Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, landscape architecture, agronomy, soils science or related field and five (5) years of experience with progressive levels of responsibilities and leadership related to leading a highly efficient institutional landscape maintenance organization to include supervisory experience
OR
Associate degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, landscape architecture, agronomy, soils science or related field and 7 years to include supervisory experience
Preferred Qualifications Preferred Educational Qualifications
Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, landscape architecture, agronomy, soils science or related field and minimum of ten (10) years of experience leading an institutional facility landscape organization. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist or able to obtain within 1st year of employment
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities ABILITIES
The ability to be innovative and comprehend and interpret data and perform data analysis. Have good verbal communication skills to effectively lead meetings, communicate with staff, and share information professionally. Detail-oriented and able to use computers and related equipment. Requires solid interpersonal problem solving, communication, and analytical skills. Must be able to communicate tactfully, professionally and effectively with all levels of the university. Must be capable and willing to develop and maintain strong professional relationships.
KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of institutional facilities management and operations including program management, design, construction, energy conservation, USG methods, and infrastructure as related to a university campus. Must be forward-thinking, actively seek opportunities and propose solutions, demonstrate an orientation toward action.
SKILLS
Excellent verbal/written communication skills and interpersonal skills. Strong attention to detail, judgment, and discretion with confidential information. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office and other computer software/databases
Shift/Salary/Benefits Shift: Days/M-F (work outside of the normal business hours will likely be required of an employee in an exempt level position)
Pay Band: 14
Salary Minimum: $75,300.00/Annually - $96,000.00/Annually
Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position
Recruitment Period: 1/3/2025 - Until Filled
Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.
Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.
Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!
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.
Other Information This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner every day with patients and families for success."
Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.
Equal Employment Opportunity Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.
How To Apply Consider applying with us today!
Select University Faculty & Staff > External Applicants if you are a candidate from outside the university
Select University Faculty & Staff > Internal Applicants if you are a current university employee
If you need further assistance, please contact us at 706-721-9365
To apply, visit
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, For contractors, Interim role, Outdoor, Shift work,