Director of Agronomy

BallenIsles Country Club•Coral Gables, FL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club is seeking a Director of Agronomy to manage the agronomic program of its Arnold Palmer Signature golf course. This role requires a high level of expertise in turf management, particularly in the challenging South Florida environment, including Paspalum management, disease and pest control, and dealing with coastal influences like salt air and tidal action. The Director will be responsible for ensuring tournament-ready conditions year-round, leading and developing a maintenance team, and serving as the primary agronomic voice to club ownership. This is a senior management position reporting to the GM/COO and contributing to the club's overall culture and strategic direction. The role involves chairing the Greens Committee, contributing to long-term planning, and managing the agronomy department's budget. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a deep understanding of agronomy, strong communication skills, and a passion for delivering excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Turf Management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and demonstrated experience considered
Minimum of eight to twelve years of progressive agronomic leadership experience, ideally at a high-caliber private club or resort property
Proven track record of delivering and sustaining peak playing conditions at a discerning membership club
Experience managing a full maintenance team and a meaningful agronomic budget
Florida Pesticide Applicator License
Florida Golf Course BMP Certification
Valid Driver's License

Nice To Haves

Reads a course with the instinct of a practitioner who has seen failure and learned from it — and built systems to prevent it
Leads from the front: present on the course, known by name to the crew, and respected for teaching as much as directing
Communicates with equal fluency to a Board Director, a GM/COO, and an assistant superintendent
Finds the hospitality dimension of the role — member interaction, course presentation, and daily pride of product — as energizing as the agronomic one
Thrives in a subtropical environment and approaches its challenges as a competitive advantage, not a complication

Responsibilities

Own the agronomic program from soil to surface — developing and executing sound practices that deliver tournament-ready conditions year-round
Stay current on agronomic research, emerging turf technologies, and South Florida-specific disease and pest management
Ensure proper calibration, mixing, and application of all chemical and fertilizer inputs in full compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
Maintain Florida Pesticide Applicator License compliance and Golf Course BMP certification standards across the team
Proactively address environmental concerns — including tidal, mangrove interface, and chemical containment — as a steward of a sensitive coastal ecosystem
Lead, mentor, and develop a full maintenance team including Assistant Superintendent, Equipment Manager, Irrigation Technician, Foreman, and Greenskeeping staff
Create a department culture built on accountability, hospitality, and craft — where team members grow into the next generation of agronomic leaders
Conduct effective onboarding and ongoing training programs; manage performance with directness and fairness
Foster communication that flows freely up, down, and across departments — particularly with Golf Operations and Club Management
Chair the Greens Committee in partnership with a Board Director — translating agronomic strategy into board-level dialogue with clarity and confidence
Contribute to long-term capital planning, major renovation scoping, and environmental stewardship programs
Provide timely agronomic reporting to the GM/COO and, where applicable, to Troon Privé's agronomy team
Participate as a full member of the senior management team, contributing to club culture and organizational health beyond the turf
Develop and manage the agronomy department budget, capital expenditure plans, and expense controls
Make fiscally disciplined decisions that reflect both the property's standards and its long-term financial health