Facilities Management Grounds Director

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

2d•$132,942 - $162,484•Onsite

About The Position

Cornell University seeks a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as its Facilities Management Grounds Director. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the stewardship, performance, and long-term sustainability of one of the nation's most beautiful and recognizable university campuses. Spanning more than 900 acres, Cornell's Ithaca campus is renowned for its iconic landscapes, breathtaking gorges and waterfalls, extensive trail network, and distinctive exterior environments that support a vibrant academic, research, residential, and visitor community. The Grounds Director will provide strategic leadership for the university's grounds operations, setting the vision, priorities, and service delivery strategies that ensure Cornell's outdoor environment remains safe, sustainable, resilient, and welcoming. This role is instrumental in advancing the university's commitment to environmental stewardship, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and exceptional campus experiences for the Cornell community. The Director will translate institutional priorities into comprehensive operational strategies across a diverse portfolio that includes landscape management, snow and ice operations, site construction services, campus pavement systems, and the stewardship of Cornell's renowned gorge trail pedestrian pathways. By balancing day-to-day operational excellence with long-term planning, the Director will help preserve and enhance the university's physical environment while supporting Cornell's academic, research, and public engagement mission. As a member of the Facilities Management leadership team, the Director will partner closely with leaders across Campus Stewardship, Asset Management, Capital Projects, Environmental Health and Safety, and other university stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, data-informed approach to managing Cornell's built and natural environment. This leader will contribute to enterprise-wide planning efforts by aligning operational practices with asset management principles, lifecycle planning, capital investment strategies, and data governance standards to support the long-term performance and maintainability of campus assets. The Director will lead and inspire a diverse organization of approximately 50 employees, including professional and union staff, fostering a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and safety. Through thoughtful workforce planning, employee development, and resource stewardship, the Director will empower teams to deliver high-quality services while maintaining operational agility in a dynamic and evolving environment. The successful candidate will bring exceptional leadership, operational, and relationship-building skills, along with the ability to think strategically while remaining engaged in the day-to-day realities of a complex organization. They will be an innovative problem solver who is comfortable navigating competing priorities, identifying opportunities for improvement, and making informed decisions that balance operational needs with long-term institutional objectives. This is a unique opportunity for a leader who is passionate about creating and maintaining exceptional campus environments while advancing sustainability, operational excellence, and service innovation. Through strategic leadership and strong partnerships, the Grounds Director will make a lasting impact on Cornell’s physical campus and contribute to the continued success of one of the world's leading research institutions. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) endowed position based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in landscape management, horticulture, agronomy, natural resources, forestry, construction management, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or a related field.
7 -10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in grounds, landscape, or facilities operations within a large, complex organization, including oversight of operations, staff, and budgets or equivalent combination.
Demonstrated experience leading multi-functional teams, including professional and union and/or represented staff, with accountability for workforce planning, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness.
Proven ability to develop and implement operational strategies aligned with organizational priorities, including safety, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and service delivery outcomes.
Experience managing budgets and resources, with the ability to balance operational needs, long-term planning, and fiscal responsibility.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, from frontline staff to senior leadership and external partners.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a dynamic environment, including during high-pressure situations such as campus emergencies or critical operations.
Proficiency with standard business and operational software tools.
Valid driver’s license required.
Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., landscape architecture, environmental management, business administration, public administration, or engineering).
Professional certifications relevant to the field (e.g., Certified Arborist, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Professional Engineer, LEED accreditation, or similar).
Experience in higher education or similarly complex, decentralized environments.
Experience integrating operations with asset management, capital planning, or campus stewardship functions.
Demonstrated experience advancing sustainability initiatives, including landscape sustainability, waste reduction, or environmental compliance programs.
Experience influencing capital project outcomes, including design review, constructability, and long-term maintainability.
Experience leading organizational change, continuous improvement initiatives, or implementation of new systems, processes, or standards.
Experience leveraging data, metrics, or enterprise systems (e.g., EAM/CMMS platforms) to inform planning, prioritization, and performance management.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the university's grounds operations, setting the vision, priorities, and service delivery strategies.
Ensure Cornell's outdoor environment remains safe, sustainable, resilient, and welcoming.
Advance the university's commitment to environmental stewardship, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and exceptional campus experiences.
Translate institutional priorities into comprehensive operational strategies across landscape management, snow and ice operations, site construction services, campus pavement systems, and gorge trail pedestrian pathways.
Balance day-to-day operational excellence with long-term planning to preserve and enhance the university's physical environment.
Partner with leaders across Facilities Management and other university stakeholders for a coordinated approach to managing the built and natural environment.
Contribute to enterprise-wide planning efforts by aligning operational practices with asset management principles, lifecycle planning, capital investment strategies, and data governance standards.
Lead and inspire a diverse organization of approximately 50 employees, including professional and union staff.
Foster a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and safety.
Empower teams to deliver high-quality services while maintaining operational agility.
Operate effectively in a dynamic environment, including during high-pressure situations such as campus emergencies or critical operations.
Connect inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program