Manager, Horticulture and Grounds

Job ID: 294567

Location: Kennesaw, Georgia

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Do you want to cultivate an inclusive environment that encourages free expression and civil discourse? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower our 47,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location
Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

Responsible for providing hands-on leadership and working with crews in managing and maintaining the grounds and landscape for all university locations. Must operate and instruct by example the safe operation of all types of equipment necessary to perform all aspects of the job. Required at peak seasons, in weather events, and in the absence of supervisors, to work alongside and directly oversee crews to ensure all tasks are completed as safely and effectively as possible. Demonstrates extensive knowledge of plant types and identification of plants in the area and the best methods of maintaining including pruning, spraying, planting, and cultural requirements. Collaborates with Campus Planning and Construction with the coordination of landscape projects and serves as coordinator and technical advisor concerning maintenance, landscape design, and plant installation. Directly supervises grounds staff on a daily basis.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Manages all aspects of landscape maintenance including the direct supervision of assigned staff and scheduling for all university locations
2. Manages campus grounds maintenance beyond standard landscaping including but not limited to snow removal, ice management, tree management, and campus benches, gardens, and other decorative aspects
3. Directs and inspires department supervisors and leads in providing all aspects of grounds maintenance and coordinates services with customers and service providers
4. Develops and implements training programs to include safety training, general landscaping education, and sustainable landscape programs and initiatives
5. Responsible for policy and procedure protocols and emergency response for all weather conditions and natural disasters such as snow, ice, wind, rain, tornadoes, and other natural events that might alter normal operating conditions
6. Develops procedures and processes to continually improve service and quality
7. Responsible for hiring, performance management, time review, and approval of assigned staff
8. Arranges for contractual services and develops specifications, plans, and cost estimates to bid out and oversee contracted work from outsourced vendors
9. Serves as technical manager on matters related to inspection, material selection, estimating labor analysis, work programming, and contractor recommendations including mulching, pine straw, turf chemical applications, irrigation repair, and tree contracted work
10. Oversees and exercises control over numerous University purchases pertaining to grounds
11. Promotes public relations with the University community and serves as a project manager on some internal and external University projects
12. Assists Campus Planning and project management with the management and coordination of landscape projects, reviews construction plans and specifications for university projects relating to landscape design, public safety issues, traffic, and pedestrian patterns as well as maintenance concerns to ensure planning, aesthetic, and operational criteria
13. Consults with project managers, deans, leadership, public officials, and outside governing agencies in matters relating to grounds and landscape management, land use issues, and construction projects
14. Responsible for the daily monitoring, collection, and maintenance of all exterior trashcans, including compactor units
15. Operates, assigns, and follows up on work request within the workflow management system

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent.

Required Experience
Five (5) years of field experience with a major focus on landscape maintenance and crew supervision.

Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid and unrestricted driver's license
Appropriate certificate or ability to acquire within six (6) months of hire

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Strong management background with an emphasis on communication, organization, and motivational skills

Preferred Educational Qualifications
An undergraduate or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field
Georgia pesticide applicators permit
Arborist Certification

Preferred Experience
Experience with athletic field, golf course, commercial landscaping, and maintenance
Irrigation repair and management experience
Experience in snow and ice management

Proposed Salary

The budgeted salary range is $63,840 to $67,600. Offers are based on relevant experience. Comprehensive benefits to include Medical, Dental, Vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more! Visit hr.kennesaw.edu/benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Able to perform 24/7 call-in duties and share with other staff on a rotation basis
Able to operate and instruct by example the safe operation of all types of equipment necessary to perform the job including operation of a skid steer, tractor, leaf trucks, mowers, etc.
Able to read and interpret site plans and drawings
Able to serve on various committees, and provide liaison and consultation on issues relating to landscape design and installations, public safety issues, traffic and pedestrian patterns, site development, and other related issues
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time while meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE
Extensive knowledge in plant identification, plant pests, spraying methods, pruning methods, growth habits of trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf care
Knowledge of plant types and identification of plants in landscaping
Knowledge of best methods of pruning, spraying, and planting and cultural requirements of plants and trees

SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management, and presentation skills
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite)
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette
Strong Leadership qualities

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time

Background Check

• Standard Enhanced
• 9 Panel Lab Drug Test
• MVR