Grounds Worker - #221862 &

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee (NC); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC is seeking a full-time Grounds Maintenance position on-site. The role includes applying fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides, pruning trees and shrubs, and maintaining large turf areas.

Typical schedule is Monday–Friday 6:30 am–3:00 pm with some variation; candidates must have a valid NC Driver’s License and be able to obtain a Class B CDL within 6 months and a NC Pesticide Applicator license within a year.

Qualifications

• Must be in good physical condition and able to perform manual labor.
• Knowledge of proper application of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides.
• Experience operating grounds maintenance equipment.
• Must have a valid NC Driver’s License; able to obtain Class B CDL within 6 months.
• Must pass state certification to obtain NC Pesticide Applicator License within 1 year.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may qualify.

Responsibilities

• Apply fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides.
• Prune trees and shrubs; maintain flowering plants.
• Mow and weed large turf areas.
• Operate tools and equipment for grounds maintenance and landscape projects.
• Snow removal as required; support on-site maintenance.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Fertilizer application

Tree & shrub care

NC Driver's License

CDL within 6mo

Pesticide license

Physical stamina

Job description

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC.

The positions tasks and responsibilities includes, but are not limited to: application of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides; tree and shrub pruning; maintenance of flowering plants, shrubs and trees; mowing/weedeating of large turf areas; operation of tools, equipment and machinery utilized in grounds maintenance, landscape material installation, general site maintenance and snow removal, all on a large scale. Normal working hours are: Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with other work schedules on occasion.

Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position

The successful candidate must: Be in good physical condition capable of performing manual labor tasks in a variety of situations and conditions; have general knowledge required in grounds maintenance tasks such as proper application of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides; be skilled in the operation of grounds maintenance equipment utilized in large scale situations; have experience in planting, cultivation and care of shrubs, trees, plants and turf grasses of this region; capable of understanding and carrying out oral and written work assignments. Candidate must: have a valid NC Driver’s License; have the ability to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License within 6 months of employment in order to maintain employment; must have ability to pass state certification testing to obtain a NC Pesticide Applicator’s License within the 1-year probationary period in order to retain employment.

Minimum Qualifications

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an ‘equivalent combination of education and experience.’ If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.

Some knowledge of cleaning procedures, ability to follow instructions and to perform medium to heavy physical work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range $39,258

Position Type

Position Type Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours per Week

Number of Hours per Week 40

Number of Months per Year

Number of Months per Year 12

Salary Band Range

Salary Band Range $33,540 - $47,847

Salary Grade

Salary Grade For administrative purposes during the implementation of Career Banding this advanced level posiiton is considered a Salary Grade 56.

Open Date

10/19/2026

Close Date

11/02/2026

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify . Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Resume

Optional Documents

• DD-214
• NGB 23A (RPAS)
• DD256 or NGB22

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • Inside Higher Ed
  • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
  • Website - Jobs.wcu.edu
  • Indeed.com
  • Personal Referral
  • Agency Referral
  • Other

Company Culture

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year.

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.