Director of Grounds

The Mar-a-Lago Club•Palm Beach, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Grounds is a key leadership role responsible for maintaining and enhancing the Club's outdoor environment. This is an opportunity to oversee one of the most prestigious and high-profile private club landscapes in the country. The Director of Grounds is responsible for overseeing the maintenance, presentation, and horticultural excellence of The Mar-a-Lago Club’s outdoor environment, with a commitment to ensuring all facilities uphold the highest standards of luxury, safety, and aesthetic appeal befitting the Club and its membership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university preferably in turf management, Agronomy, or Horticulture; or five to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Pesticide Application Certification
Valid Driver’s License with a clean motor vehicle report (MVR).
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, guests, members and the general public.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Knowledge of Word Processing software, Spreadsheet software, Project Management software and Inventory software.
Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
Occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell.
Must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Required to have good vision in order to operate equipment effectively.

Responsibilities

Oversees the daily care, maintenance, and appearance of all outdoor areas, including turf, lawns, flower beds, ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees, using industry Best Management Practices and sustainable landscaping methods.
Develops and implements seasonal landscaping plans, including plant rotation, replacement, and enhancement projects, to ensure optimal year-round presentation and plant health.
Regularly inspects all grounds and landscaped areas, identifies deficiencies, and recommends or implements corrective measures and improvements.
Supervises all mowing, trimming, pruning, planting, fertilizing, irrigating, treating, removing, and replacing of turf, plants, shrubs, and trees.
Manages and programs irrigation systems, including scheduling, preventative maintenance, repairs, adjustments, and system optimization.
Interviews, hires, trains, counsels, evaluates, disciplines, schedules, and manages grounds department employees.
Leads the grounds team by assigning daily responsibilities, providing instruction and assistance, monitoring performance, and ensuring work is completed properly and on schedule.
Maintains accurate employee timekeeping records and reviews and approves departmental payroll in ADP.
Oversees the safe operation, preventative maintenance, servicing, and repair of landscaping, construction, and grounds equipment.
Operates landscaping and grounds equipment when necessary, including mowers, trimmers, blowers, sweepers, rollers, loaders, trenchers, compressors, utility vehicles, and other related equipment.
Prepares, manages, and monitors the department’s annual operating budget and takes corrective action as necessary to achieve budget goals.
Tracks departmental expenses, including payroll, supplies, fertilizers, chemicals, equipment, repairs, and contracted services.
Identifies, recommends, and plans capital improvements and major equipment purchases.
Maintains appropriate inventory levels of plants, landscaping materials, fertilizers, chemicals, supplies, tools, and equipment, and places orders as needed.
Coordinates, supervises, and evaluates work performed by outside vendors and contractors.
Maintains accurate maintenance logs, equipment service schedules, expense records, regulatory documentation, and required departmental reports.
Prepares, updates, and maintains the Grounds Operations Manual and related departmental procedures.
Implements and enforces departmental safety programs in compliance with Club policies and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Ensures chemicals, petroleum products, fertilizers, and other controlled materials are properly used, stored, documented, and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations, while working to minimize their use whenever practical.
Attends required staff and management meetings.
Performs other duties as assigned and adheres to all Club policies, procedures, and safety protocols.
Directly manages three employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.