Manager, Grounds

Manager, Grounds

Location: Facility Srv: Landscaping
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 607263
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU aims to be the nation's preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.



Special Information

• ***This position is open to current regular, benefit-eligible NAU employees ONLY. (Temporary employees, student workers, variable-hour benefit-eligible employees, and other non-regular employees are not eligible to apply).***
• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• Travel between campus locations is a regular part of the position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive, on university business to pass an online defensive driving course and submit their driver's license number for periodic records review. The law affects all faculty, staff and students who drive any university-owned motorized vehicles. For more information on NAU Authorized Driver Policy
• Employees of Facility Services are considered essential staff and must report to work when the university is closed for emergencies. This position is required to participate in on-call, call back duties and snow removal, which can include days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Under established circumstances will respond to emergency dispatch calls within set timeframes Administrative or Campus Living buildings.
• This position experiences the following work environment:
  • Works in all outdoor weather conditions including extreme conditions on occasion.
  • Works with chemicals and flammable materials.
  • Works in dirty environments.
  • Ability to perform physically strenuous tasks including long hours and occasional nights and weekends.
  • Work around equipment noise and odors.

Job Description

This position works independently with little or no direct supervision, performs some or all the duties of titles below this level and is considered an “expert” in the area of work and reports to the Assistant Director of Campus Operations. Manages and performs ground services that enhance Northern Arizona University for the campus community and campus visitors. The Grounds Manager position acts professionally at all times, provides leadership to the Landscaping and Outdoor Services (LOS crew), and oversees day-to-day LOS operations. Within a defined responsibility area, maintains university grounds, landscape construction activities, and waste removal schedules adhering to standard university principles and guidelines. The position has latitude for limited independent decision making and the ability to exercise some autonomy to interpret relevant standards and implementing new day-to-day processes and procedures. Monitors employee interactions and promotes a productive, inclusive work environment while identifying potential performance and employee relations issues.

University employees are responsible for maintaining the highest ethical standards of conduct and are expected to practice integrity, trustworthiness, respect, stewardship, compliance, confidentiality, and respect to maintain a safe and trusting environment. This position exists to aid and advise the Assistant Director of Campus Operations in fulfilling the Facility Services' mission to the University by practicing sustainable maintenance and operations methods, supervising the LOS team, providing superior customer service to the Campus community, adopting industry best practices, and empowering the LOS workforce.

Leadership and Personnel Supervision - 60%

• Provides leadership and professionalism to the LOS crew.
• Builds a cohesive team through positive and proactive supervisory and leadership methods.
• Identifies and corrects problems within the LOS operation.
• Keeps detailed and accurate records.
• Coordinates equipment maintenance and repairs and researches.
• Oversees inventory control.
• Assesses, plans, organizes, schedules and assigns LOS work to staff and student employee.
• Applies university standards, policies, and guidelines to the LOS crews.
• Coordinates, trains, assigns and performs general turf maintenance including mowing, line trimming, weeding, aerating, topdressing, repairing and replacing sod, irrigation, edging, dethatching, and application of chemicals and fertilizers.
• Identifies disease, pests, and soil conditions detrimental to ideal growing conditions.
• Coordinates, trains, assigns and performs general and advanced landscaping maintenance including planting of shrubs, trees,
• flowers, greenhouse operations, shrub and hedge maintenance, pruning, mulching, hazard mitigation, fertilizing, irrigating and weeding.
• Removes trash and debris as a result of ground maintenance and landscaping activities.
• Waters trees, shrubs and lawns and performs irrigation activities.
• Coordinates, trains, assigns and performs spraying for weeds and insects and fertilizers including using chemicals as required, calibrating equipment and detailed record keeping.
• Maintains parking lots and other surfaces including asphalt repairs and minor masonry or plastering work as required.
• Coordinates, trains, assigns and performs snow and ice removal from designated areas such as roofs, sidewalks, entryways, roadways, and parking lots, as required.
• Coordinates training and operation of various equipment including push mowers, weed eaters, rototillers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, pole saws, brush hogs, sod cutters, riding mowers, utility vehicles, snow removal equipment, hand tools and power tools to complete LOS maintenance and projects.
• Coordinates training and operation of heavy equipment including tractors, dump trucks, skid steers, bobcats and tool cats including attachments, forklifts, stump grinders, front loaders, backhoes, graders, sweepers and any other heavy equipment to complete LOS maintenance and projects.
• Follows recommended approach to assigned work, with the ability to exercise some autonomy to interpret local strategies and standards, and in decision-making to implement new day-to-day processes.
• Provides input to employment, performance, discipline and reward decisions.
• Performs evaluations of staff and student workers.
• Identifies and resolves issues that may not be readily apparent.
• Participates in regular meetings
• Performs routine quality checks to inspect the work completed.

Implementation of Department Priorities - 10%

• Implements University and Department policies and procedures
• Makes decisions related to allocating resources on a day-to-day basis.
• Focus is on day-to-day operations and continuity of a job sub-family.

Training and Safety - 10%

• Ensures all LOS standards are met in a safe manner.
• Provides onboarding and training of staff on LOS operations.
• Participates and leads safety trainings.

Customer Service - 5%

• Establishes positive communication and provides quality customer service to the campus community and campus visitors.
• Responds to LOS service requests in a timely manner.

Project Management - 5%

• Applies university standards, policies, and guidelines in directing, assessing, planning, organizing, scheduling and assigning project work to the LOS crews.
• Performs quality inspections and checks in on the progress of campus LOS projects.
• Coordinates with the Landscape Architect to ensure contracted projects are being inspected and completed.

Manage Departmental Budget - 5%

• Provides long-term planning and management of available resources designed to minimize operational costs and maximize resources.
• Records time and labor for customer billing.
• Assists in managing the departmental budget.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school degree.
• 2 years of relevant experience.
• 1-2 years of management or supervisory experience.
• Valid Arizona's Driver's license.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• 4 years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices and procedures.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• A high level of initiative and a proven ability to work with little direct supervision.
• Knowledge of basic computing and spreadsheet software.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge, skill and ability required to perform duties and responsibilities of lower-level grounds positions.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of advanced work processes and tools using intermediate knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of more basic and complex equipment, tools and procedures of grounds construction and care.
  
• Knowledge of employee regulations, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides used in grounds care and gardening.
  
  Skills
  
• Planning, organizing, coordinating, and facilitating day to day operations.
  
• Operating grounds maintenance and grounds construction equipment.
  
• Computer skills.
  
• Budget/estimating skills.
  
  Abilities
  
• Recognizes and escalates unusual situations or problems.
  
• Communicates effectively.
  
• Promotes a diverse, inclusive environment.
  
  Background Information
  
  This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.
  
  Salary
  
  Salary range begins at $47,634. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.
  
  FLSA Status
  
  This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.
  
  Benefits
  
  This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following election.
  
  Learning and Development
  
  Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.
  
  Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship
  
  NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.
  
  Application Deadline
  
  June 5, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
  
  How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.
  
  If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.
  
  Equal Employment Opportunity
  
  Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
  
  Know Your Rights Poster
  
  NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.
  
  
  
  To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=607263&PostingSeq=1
  
  
  
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