Assistant Director, Facilities Operations/Landscape & Grounds

Posting Number: SF02182 | Position Number: 106865 | FTE: 1.00 | Pay Grade Level: 15

About the Role

The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

This position supervises and directs personnel engaged in the maintenance and care of all lands and grounds at the University of Rhode Island Kingston campus. It manages and oversees the University’s automotive maintenance operations, waste and recycling operations, and ongoing maintenance of the campus landscape, grounds, sports fields, and hardscape.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, review, and evaluate work of personnel assigned to the Landscape and Grounds Division, Automotive Maintenance operations, and Waste & Recycling Division.
• Utilize GIS and mapping systems to plan and communicate department activities.
• Develop and execute department budgets, manage personnel, equipment, materials, and contracted services.
• Implement University Tree Council recommendations, maintain and manage tree inventories and tree care programs.
• Consult with campus planning and construction units on landscape, roads, parking, athletic fields, irrigation, and exterior infrastructure projects.
• Develop master plan components and project proposals for campus exterior environments.
• Implement best management practices for landscape care, fleet operations, and waste and recycling management.
• Review work schedules, assign workforce resources, establish and monitor performance standards.
• Maintain campus access in all weather, direct snow removal and emergency response operations.
• Prepare reports and develop specifications, bid documents, contracts, and procurement packages for materials, equipment, professional services, maintenance contracts, and construction projects; administer and monitor contractor performance and contract compliance.
• Implement and oversee specialized Athletics Grounds staff to support athletic facilities and events.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance of fleet vehicles and small-engine equipment, manage parts inventory and maintenance tracking systems, ensure safety, environmental compliance, and regulatory adherence.
• Plan for equipment lifecycles, replacements, and procurement.
• Oversee internal waste collection and recycling programs, waste hauling contracts and vendors, transfer station operations, regulatory compliance; track and report waste diversion and recycling metrics, and support sustainability initiatives.
• Initiate and present studies and recommendations.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license.
• Current Pesticide application license or ability to attain within six months of appointment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and GIS platforms.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, environmental science, forestry, horticulture, engineering, construction, or related field.
  • Minimum five years of supervisory experience in full-scale grounds or facilities operations (or ten years related grounds or facilities experience).
  • Knowledge of plant materials, sports field management, fleet maintenance practices, and small-engine systems.
  • Ability to read and interpret plans, policies, and specifications.
  • Demonstrated experience managing contracted services, construction activities, site improvement projects, and capital renewal initiatives, including development of specifications, cost estimates, budgets, schedules, and contractor oversight.
  • Ability to prepare reports and present recommendations.
  • Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and GIS platforms.
  • Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in written communication skills.
  • Ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
• Preferred:
  • Master’s degree.
  • Minimum six years of supervisory experience in full-scale landscape operations in higher education, government, or similar environment.

Environmental Conditions

Work involves inside and outside environments, exposure to weather, noise, vibration, and equipment hazards. Emergency call-back responsibilities. This is a fully in-person position and subject to emergency response callbacks.

Pay

Anticipated hiring salary range: $100,000 - $115,000