Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

Job Summary

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.

Key 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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• 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

Required Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

One or more of the following qualifications are preferred:

• 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

One or more of the following qualifications are preferred:

• 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

Compensation

Classification: Administrator II
Anticipated Hiring Salary: $11,667/month
CSU Salary Range: $5,053/month - $16,221/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San Jose 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.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Certification(s)

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: November 21, 2025 through December 14, 2025. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San Jose State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San Jose State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San Jose State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

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