Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

California State University System • San Jose, CA

35d

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director for Maintenance and Operations and working under general direction, the Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all campus grounds, landscaping, irrigation, and outdoor recycling services in Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O). The incumbent establishes service standards, policies, and fiscal controls, and ensures compliance with University, CSU, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include budget development and forecasting, vendor/contract administration, safety and risk management, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-level reporting. The Associate Director is responsible for maintaining University outdoor environment including campus grounds service levels in alignment with university beautification expectations. This position also integrates university-wide sustainability initiatives into grounds operations, including AASHE STARS reporting, CSU carbon neutrality goals, and campus water conservation targets. The role directs implementation of ecologically managed landscape practices such as organic land care, integrated pest management, use of native and drought-tolerant plantings, soil health and regenerative practices, and sustainable stormwater management infrastructure. The Associate Director stewards cross-departmental initiatives with the Office of Sustainability, Utilities Distribution, Environmental Health and Safety, Planning, Design and Construction, and Athletics, providing oversight through an Assistant Manager for Division I athletics grounds. Supports the use of campus grounds as a 'Living Laboratory', collaborating with faculty, students, and the Office of Sustainability to integrate academic research, applied projects, and educational opportunities into grounds operations while maintaining safety and service standards. The Associate Director oversees an assigned operating budget and directs resource allocation to ensure continuity of operations with a focus on long-term sustainability. The incumbent sets standards and approves plans for maintenance schedules, performance metrics, and quality assurance programs, while holding employees and contractors accountable for execution and documentation through the FD&O work management system. The Associate Director authorizes procurement of contractors and vendors, supervises personnel management through subordinate managers, and contributes to the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of policies, procedures, and programs supporting campus grounds and recycling services. This position is part of the Maintenance and Operations unit of FD&O, which provides services to a university campus spread across five sites comprised of 167 acres, 85 buildings, and almost eight million gross square feet. Maintenance and Operations employs approximately 235 full-time permanent staff and up to nine part-time, seasonal, or contract staff. The assigned operating budget for the unit is approximately $20 million, not including funds associated with maintenance and repair projects.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of administrative and management techniques required to lead and oversee a comprehensive grounds and landscape maintenance program, including hardscape, ornamentals, shrubbery, trees, natural lawns, artificial turf, golf courses, irrigation systems, and ecological pest control; with responsibility for supervising an Assistant Manager and managers/leads
• Thorough knowledge of methods, materials, and equipment necessary for grounds and landscape maintenance, including both natural and synthetic environments, irrigation systems, pest control, and arboriculture; provides strategic oversight of an Assistant Manager who directs the development, maintenance, and sustainability of NCAA Division I athletic fields
• Thorough knowledge of sustainable and organic land care practices, including international organics standards, OMRI-listed inputs, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies
• Knowledge of ecological restoration, carbon-sequestering landscape practices, and biodiversity-supporting design, with ability to integrate these into long-term planning
• Ability to evaluate and apply professional standards from organizations such as the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA), NOFA Organic Land Care, and the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS)
• Knowledge of refuse/recycling planning and management principles, including development of operational plans, preventive maintenance programs, and quality assurance/inspection programs
• Demonstrated ability to interpret landscape plans and oversee complex landscape projects, ensuring alignment with sustainability and design standards
• Ability to supervise and provide strategic direction to an Assistant Manager with expertise in NCAA Division I athletic facilities, ensuring athletic grounds operations meet safety, performance, and sustainability standards
• Demonstrated skills in budget development, forecasting, and fiscal management, including oversight of labor and resource allocation.
• Knowledge of personnel management at the managerial level, including supervising managers, providing guidance on performance management, corrective discipline, and labor relations in a collective bargaining environment
• Knowledge of organizational management and ability to set standards for use of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), including monitoring reports and resource-loaded service plans
• Ability to maintain high standards of leadership, commitment, and professional judgment
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and shifting demands, meeting deadlines and goals while anticipating and preventing crisis situations
• Ability to interpret, organize, and present information in written and verbal formats to support decision-making and policy development
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
• Bachelor of Arts/Science degree in horticulture or a related field OR which may be obtained through a minimum of six years of supervisory experience in scheduling, coordinating, and performing grounds operations
• A minimum of three years of which are associated with progressively responsible management experience
• Six years of professional work experience directly related to landscape management of a large campus or complex, of which a minimum of three years associated with progressively responsible management experience
• Experience with sustainable landscape practices as they relate to irrigation, pest control, and vegetation management
• Supervisory work experience in management of personnel or employee relations issues

Nice To Haves

• Pest Control Certification (QAL or QLC) from the State of California
• Certified Grounds Manager from the Professional Grounds Management Society
• Certified Sports Field Management from the Sports Field Management Association
• Certified Arborist from the ISA or ASCA
• Certified Landscape or Golf Irrigation Auditor from the Irrigation Association
• Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining and represented staff environment
• Experience in grounds services management of a State facility, College or University, or other environment with extensive grounds
• Experience managing grounds services and operations in a high-level NCAA or professional sports environment

Responsibilities

• Reviews compliance reports prepared for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Office of Sustainability
• Holds managers accountable for timely pest management responses including insects, bees, wasps, and rodents across campus buildings and grounds
• Sets standards and approves water-efficient irrigation strategies, including monitoring irrigation cycles, leak resolution, and irrigation schedules based on ground moisture and weather data
• Sets standards and governance for the campus tree care program, including policy for progressive trimming, preservation, and risk management, and holds managers accountable for execution
• Directs soil health and fertility programs at the policy level, including the use of compost, organic fertilizers, and regenerative soil practices, while allocating resources to support long-term soil improvement
• Maintains functioning of green infrastructure planning and maintenance, including rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable surfaces, to enhance stormwater management and biodiversity
• Supports biodiversity and pollinator habitat programs, including development of native plantings, pollinator gardens, and ecological corridors; ensures alignment with state and federal biodiversity goals
• Approves work processes and resource allocation to ensure efficient completion of assignments and responsiveness to service requests, based on a prioritized deployment model
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate documentation of utility and landscape mapping systems
• Reviews and advises on deferred maintenance and major maintenance multi-year investment plans for campus grounds
• Provides feedback and guidance during the design phase of university projects and participates in construction phase oversight to ensure landscape standards and sustainability goals are met
• Approves and monitors onboarding, offboarding, and training programs developed by subordinate managers, ensuring consistency across units and compliance with University, CSU, OSHA, and Environmental Health and Safety standards
• Establishes performance expectations and accountability systems; reviews reports and inspections prepared by managers, and directs corrective action as needed
• Provides leadership on employee performance management and progressive discipline, resolving escalated issues in partnership with University Personnel and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements
• Oversees labor relations participation, ensuring proper application of CSU/Union contracts; collaborates with the Associate Director on high-level labor matters
• Sets safety and workforce development priorities in partnership with Business and Administrative Services and Environmental Health and Safety, ensuring training programs address risk reduction, accident prevention, and regulatory compliance
• Advises senior leadership on sensitive or politically complex issues, providing analysis, options, and recommendations for resolution, and ensuring unit alignment with institutional policies
• Ensures unit compliance with all regulatory requirements of local, state and federal agencies having jurisdiction or authority over operational activities; to include applicable University policies and standards

Benefits

• San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary.
• For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees