Grounds Maintenance Worker 2

POSITION SUMMARY:

• Date application must be received for priority consideration by: September 29, 2026
• Anticipated Appointment Begin Date: October 15, 2026
• Closing Date or if blank, Open Until Filled:
• Job Family Group: Support Staff
• Support Staff Classification Title: Grounds Maintenance Worker 2
• Division/Department: Finance and Administration/Facilities, Management and Planning
• Compensation Range (commensurate with experience): Salary Range 18, Steps 1-2, $20.19-$20.98/hourly or $3,499-$3,636 monthly @ 1.0 FTE
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• Appointment Basis: 12-month
• Time Type: Full-time
• Benefits Eligible: Yes
• Renewable/Non-renewable/Grants/Limited Duration/Temporary: Renewable
• This position must possess and maintain a current, valid Driver License: Yes
• This position is designated as a critical, security-sensitive or safety-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check: Yes
• Lead Work/Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes
• Work Location Type: On-campus
• Work Hours: Generally 7AM to 4Pm. During inclement weather, the Landscape Department is required to perform snow/Ice removal tasks. Must be available for weather-related call-ins during these conditions. Hours are subject to change with notice.
• Worker Status: Must be able to legally work in the United States without visa sponsorship

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

• •Each applicant is required to provide (as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) a letter providing some detail of the applicant’s qualifications and interest in the position; and (2) current resume/CV. - PLEASE NOTE - during the application process, you will be prompted to attach these documents in the area titled "Resume." Please either combine ALL documents into ONE attachment, OR upload each item separately in this section. Failure to upload ALL of the required documents may disqualify application from consideration.
• •For inquiries and additional information, please contact Human Resource Services via email at hrs@sou.edu or by phone at (541)552-8553.
• •To view SOU’s very generous benefits and pension programs available to eligible positions, please visit https://inside.sou.edu/assets/hrs/Benefits/Benefit_Flyer/2024_Prospective_Candidate_Benefit_Overview_012024.pdf
• •Our benefits package is an important complement to the offered salary and our Total Compensation Calculator, https://inside.sou.edu/hrs/comp-calc.html, demonstrates our value and commitment to our employees.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position reports to the Landscape Department Coordinator and supports the Landscape Maintenance team through daily and seasonal grounds care across the SOU campus and Student Apartments and Family Housing (SAFH) properties. The primary focus of this role is the routine maintenance, appearance, and functional quality of campus landscape areas, including lawns, planting beds, trees and shrubs, hardscapes, and associated landscape systems.

This position performs a broad range of landscape maintenance tasks including mowing, edging, pruning, planting, mulching, aeration, fertilization, and chemical applications, while also participating in equipment operation, irrigation support, debris management, and seasonal snow and ice response. The role works closely with other Landscape staff to maintain safe, functional, and visually appealing campus grounds while supporting the long-term health, appearance, and usability of university landscape areas.

Facilities Management and Planning administers custodial services; building maintenance and alterations; utilities operations (heating and cooling); landscape services; capital construction review as it pertains to future maintenance; motor pool operations; property control and inventory; delivery services; stores operations and other support activities necessary for the benefit of administration and academic areas of the campus community. The SOU campus includes 175 acres of grounds, 140 of which are under active use and maintenance. Facilities Management maintains 21 major buildings comprising over one million square feet of building space. The department employs approximately 45 full time personnel and is responsible for approximately 9% of the total campus budget.

Minimum Requirements

Pesticide applicator's license may be required based on position duties; AND

Two years experience as a grounds keeper which included plant care; OR

An Associate's degree in Landscape Technology or Horticulture; OR

Completion of a Landscape Certification program or license in a horticultural specialty.

Preferred Requirements

Landscape/Building Industry certificates, licenses, work experience, and/or class work completed.

Trades/Technical School Degree or Associate Degree in a related field.

Public Pesticide Applicator License through the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Must have the license category "Ornamental and Turf - Herbicide." Applicants must obtain this certification within 6 months of hire..

Essential Functions

Duties - The following examples are typical work activities that are meant to illustrate the general range of work functions and are not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive:

(60%) Landscape Maintenance

Plants, prunes, and fertilizes shrubs and trees.

Advanced tree pruning and removal.

Operates heavy equipment and light-duty commercial vehicles daily.

Applies landscape mulch to shrub beds.

Mows and edges lawns using appropriate equipment.

Overseeds, fertilizes, aerates, top-dresses, and de-thatches lawn using the appropriate technique/equipment as directed.

Identifies landscape or lawn problems (irrigation issues, pests, disease) and takes action to remedy/informs supervisor.

Applies herbicides and insecticides as directed and under the supervision of Licensed Applicators on staff.

Operates, installs, and repairs irrigation systems as directed.

Removes leaves, brush from streets, steps, sidewalks, drains, lawns, landscape areas, and parking lots using the appropriate equipment as directed.

Removes trash from all landscape areas and empties trash cans as directed.

Transports litter, plant debris, and brush to bulk materials yard.

Removes ice and snow from walkways, parking lots, and building entrances using plows, snow shovels, and other equipment as directed; applies granular and liquid de-icer as directed.

·

(10%) Equipment Maintenance

Maintains equipment according to Department procedures.

Troubleshoots and performs minor repairs on landscape maintenance equipment.

Refers major repairs to the Landscape Coordinator or Landscape Supervisor.

·

(30%) Other Duties

Works with groups of Student and Temp Workers as an occasional 'Crew Lead' - establishes project-specific work goals and provides clarifications to Supervisor instructions on an as-needed basis.

Cleans Landscape Dept. Shop, vehicles, and equipment weekly.

Attends meetings and training seminars.

Maintain work files and records as requested.

Interacts with faculty, staff, students, parents, agencies and private vendors in a courteous and respectful manner.

Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.

Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.

Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.

Expressed ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to gather, eval