Director Of Grounds

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application. A cover letter is optional, but welcomed. We suggest the documents be in a PDF format to avoid formatting issues.

Position Summary

The director of grounds oversees and directs the grounds operations, including the development and implementation of short-term and long-term plans to ensure grounds services provides, preserves and upgrades the integrity of the campus with minimal disruption to building occupants and is done in a cost effective, efficient and reliable manner.

This position ensures cost effective and timely project implementation by providing financial and operational management of contracted and internal services which support the Facilities Engineering and Planning Department of Rice University. The director of grounds oversees staff and maintains the 300 acre campus for Rice University. The director prepares budget estimates and reports, prepares project and contract documents, provides long-range projections, financial status and advice on balances.

This position is responsible for leading activities related to the hiring, onboarding, training, development, performance management, and staff personnel actions for grounds staff.

The director of grounds oversees and enforces operational and safety procedures, timekeeping, work documentation and purchases equipment and services. S/he implements landscape maintenance operations, solid waste disposal, recycling, furniture moving, event special services and pest control. The director of grounds is responsible for the intramural fields and may, at times, assist in the maintenance of the Athletic Fields, working in conjunction with Athletics.

The director of grounds monitors stewardship of over 4,000 campus trees.

The director of grounds will report to the assistant vice president for Facilities and is expected to act independently in making decisions within approved authority.

The ideal candidate will have an undergraduate degree in Landscaping, Land Management, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture or similar field and certifications in Horticulture and Arboriculture with a minimum of 5 years leading grounds/landscaping crews on an academic campus of twenty or more people. They will have shown progressive experience and growth in responsibility and management of teams over the course of their career.

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at the Facilities & Capital Building Planning building. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions.

This is a benefits-eligible, full time position.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate's degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Agronomy, Environmental science, landscape architecture or related field

• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related education experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

• 5+ years of related experience in a leadership role in landscape maintenance or related field which includes at least 3 years of supervisory experience

• Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required to prepare reports, build relationships with internal/external customers, recruit and retain team members, and serve on university or department committees

• Strong leadership and management skills including communication, awareness, and integrity in business practices, effective relationship building, and commitment to effective and innovative stewardship of campus grounds

• Strategic planning and ability to execute on projects

Preferred Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Agronomy, Environmental science, landscape architecture or related field

• University experience

• TDA certified pest control applicator

• ISA certified arborist

• PGMS certified grounds manager or PGMS certified grounds technician

• TNLA certified nursery professional or certified landscape professional

• TCEQ licensed irrigator

• Experience with TRIRIGA or other work control software would be helpful

• Valid Texas Driver's License (or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment) required with no more than three moving violations within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the influence (DUI) within the past five years

Essential Functions

• Oversees and directs operations involving grounds department functions

• Develops and implements short- and long-term plans to ensure the cost effective, efficient and reliable delivery of services to preserve and improve campus grounds

• Leads and directs staff, assigns special projects, provides coaching, develops and implements training programs, develops metrics and monitors, evaluates and drives performance

• Develop procedures and processes to support continuous improvement(s) in customer service and quality

• Manages assigned budget(s), identifies and purchases appropriate supplies and equipment, and identifies future costs and replacement cycles

• May act as technical adviser or assist project manager(s) with completion of capital projects involving landscape construction or assigned areas

Additional Functions:

• Manages and directs all grounds and landscaping for Athletics - 6 recreation fields. May assist in supporting maintenance of Athletics football, baseball, track and tennis fields if/when requested.

Physical Demands

• Frequent site inspections at many locations, both on and off campus

• Must be able to lift loads and climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and around confined areas such as piping and wiring obstructions as needed to access equipment

• Occasionally required to enter utility tunnels and confined spaces

Working Conditions

• Work is conducted primarily indoors, with regular outdoor tours of campus grounds in a variety of weather conditions.

• This position is considered essential during a campus emergency. The incumbent in this position is expected to report to campus, provide the essential services designated and work under the overall direction of the Crisis Management Team for the duration of a campus emergency.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.