Grounds Enhancement Manager

Grounds Enhancement Manager
Department: Physical Plant
Employment Type: Full-Time 12-Months
Salary: $45000-$55000
Workweek: 40 hours per week
Employment Status: Exempt

Who We Are

Ferrum College is committed to maintaining a safe attractive and welcoming campus environment for students faculty staff alumni visitors and the broader College community.

The Grounds operation plays an important role in maintaining the appearance functionality safety and sustainability of the Ferrum College campus. From daily landscape maintenance and athletic-field preparation to long-term improvements and environmental stewardship our grounds team helps create an environment where the College community can learn work live and thrive.

What Were Looking For

Ferrum College is seeking a motivated experienced and hands-on individual to lead the care maintenance and continued improvement of the Colleges campus grounds and athletic facilities.

This position provides an opportunity for an experienced grounds and landscape professional to take a leading role in campus landscape operations including daily maintenance athletic-field preparation landscape improvements irrigation staff leadership budgeting and sustainable practices.

The successful candidate will combine strong horticultural and turf-management knowledge with practical leadership skills attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining a safe attractive and welcoming campus environment.

Key Responsibilities

Grounds & Landscape Operations

• Lead the daily maintenance and appearance of Ferrum Colleges campus grounds including lawns landscaped areas trees planting beds sidewalks and other exterior spaces.
• Develop and implement seasonal and long-term grounds maintenance plans.
• Establish priorities work schedules and maintenance standards for grounds operations.
• Monitor the condition of campus grounds and proactively address maintenance needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve the appearance functionality and sustainability of campus landscapes.

Athletic Fields & Recreation Areas

• Oversee the maintenance and preparation of athletic fields and related outdoor facilities.
• Coordinate field preparation for practices competitions tournaments and special events.
• Work closely with coaches Athletics staff and campus partners to understand and meet field requirements.
• Develop turf-management practices that promote safe healthy and high-quality playing surfaces.
• Respond to changing weather conditions and unexpected field-maintenance needs.
• Work occasional evenings weekends and overtime when necessary to support athletic and campus events.

Team Leadership

• Supervise full-time and seasonal Grounds Technicians and student work-study employees.
• Recruit train schedule coach and evaluate employees.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity workmanship safety and customer service.
• Create a positive collaborative and accountable team environment.
• Lead by example through hands-on involvement in grounds operations when needed.

Planning Budget & Resources

• Monitor expenditures and make informed purchasing and resource-allocation decisions.
• Evaluate equipment materials supplies and contracted services for quality and cost effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining or improving campus standards.
• Plan for equipment replacement landscape improvements and future operational needs.

Landscape Enhancement & Projects

• Work with Physical Plant leadership campus planners architects contractors and other stakeholders on landscape projects and campus improvements.
• Help develop landscape plans that complement Ferrum Colleges campus character and long-term goals.
• Coordinate the implementation of planting irrigation turf hardscape and other exterior improvements.
• Evaluate existing landscapes and recommend improvements that provide long-term value.

Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship

• Incorporate environmentally responsible practices into daily grounds operations.
• Promote efficient irrigation and water conservation.
• Utilize integrated pest management and responsible pesticide practices.
• Evaluate opportunities for native or climate-appropriate plantings improved soil health and reduced resource consumption.
• Encourage sustainable practices that improve campus appearance while reducing long-term maintenance costs.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain a safe work environment for employees students contractors and campus visitors.
• Ensure grounds operations equipment use chemical applications and athletic-field maintenance follow applicable safety requirements and industry standards.
• Maintain required records related to pesticide applications equipment safety training and compliance.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate safety training and use equipment and personal protective equipment properly.

Who You Are

You are an experienced hands-on grounds and landscape professional who takes pride in maintaining high standards and creating attractive functional outdoor spaces.

You understand the importance of effective grounds management and are comfortable balancing daily operations with long-term planning and improvement projects. You are a confident leader who can develop employees establish expectations manage resources and work collaboratively with a variety of campus partners.

You are knowledgeable about horticulture turf management irrigation landscape maintenance and grounds-maintenance equipment. You exercise good judgment pay attention to detail and take a proactive approach to identifying and addressing maintenance needs.

You are also committed to safety sustainability water conservation responsible pesticide practices and environmentally responsible grounds management.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least three to five years of progressively responsible experience in grounds maintenance landscaping horticulture turf management or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supervising grounds landscape turf or maintenance personnel.
• Working knowledge of horticulture landscape maintenance irrigation systems turf management and grounds-maintenance equipment.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities and effectively manage day-to-day operations.
• Valid Virginia drivers license.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to perform physically demanding duties including regularly lifting and carrying 2050 pounds .
• Ability to work occasional evenings weekends overtime and special events as operational needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Horticulture Landscape Architecture Turf Management Facilities Management or a related field.
• Experience managing athletic fields or sports turf.
• Experience managing an operating budget or purchasing for a grounds or landscape operation.
• Virginia Pesticide Applicator Certification in Categories 3A and 3B or willingness and ability to obtain certification.
• Experience working in a college university school municipal commercial or other institutional environment.
• Knowledge of sustainable landscaping water conservation integrated pest management and environmentally responsible grounds practices.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

The Grounds Enhancement Manager will have a visible and lasting impact on the Ferrum College experience.

This is an opportunity to lead a dedicated grounds team while helping shape the appearance functionality and long-term sustainability of a distinctive college campus.

We are looking for someone who takes pride in their work enjoys developing people understands quality grounds management and sees opportunities to make a good landscape even better.

If you are an experienced grounds or landscape professional ready to take the next step in your career and make a lasting impact on a college campus we encourage you to apply.

What We Offer

At Ferrum College youll have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the appearance and experience of our campus while leading a team dedicated to maintaining high standards.

We offer:

• The opportunity to lead campus grounds and athletic-field operations.
• The opportunity to develop and implement landscape improvements.
• A collaborative campus environment.
• The opportunity to supervise mentor and develop grounds staff.
• Opportunities to incorporate sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
• The opportunity to work closely with Athletics Physical Plant leadership campus planners contractors and other College partners.
• The opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact on the Ferrum College campus.

Ready to Join Our Team

If you are an experienced grounds or landscape professional who is ready to take the next step in your career and make a lasting impact on a college campus we encourage you to apply.

Interested applicants should submit:

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Completed Employment Application

Ferrum College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Required Experience:

Manager