Grounds Supervisor

About the School

St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA) is a coeducational, non-sectarian, college-preparatory day school serving more than 920 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Our two campuses are located approximately a mile apart in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving Grades K-5 on our Goodrich Campus and Grades 6-12 on our Randolph Campus. The school draws students from St. Paul, Minneapolis, and throughout the eastern and western suburbs.

Our mission—shaping the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world—is a promise to our students and our families, and it pushes us to be thoughtful about everything we do. It inspires us to be our best and reminds us that we have the responsibility to respect the unique potential in every child. Our mission gives us purpose and represents our greatest aspirations and values. It reflects our deep belief in the talents and capabilities of our students.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Operations and Security, the Grounds Supervisor is a working supervisory position responsible for managing the activities of the Grounds department on the two St. Paul Academy and Summit School campuses. The Grounds Supervisor plans, organizes, and schedules grounds activities and projects to ensure they are completed in a timely, efficient, and professional manner.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the daily activities of the Grounds Technician and part-time employees by prioritizing and scheduling seasonal daily work projects and other assigned tasks.
• Plan, organize, and supervise grounds projects and activities, including:
  • Maintenance of campus and sports turf areas
  • Planting and care of flower/ornamental shrub beds
  • Planting and maintenance of campus trees
  • Maintenance of athletic fields, including accurate field striping for athletic events
  • Maintenance of campus sidewalks, steps, plazas, alleyways, service drives, and parking lots
  • Removal of snow from walks, steps, and parking lots
  • Application of fertilizers, pesticides, and other necessary chemicals, including monitoring contractors for these applications
  • Serve as a liaison with contractors hired to work on campus grounds
• Supervise the proper daily use of all equipment and its recommended periodic preventive maintenance and repairs.
• Coordinate the ordering and delivery of all plant material, supplies, and equipment needed throughout the year.
• Purchase all materials, equipment, and services under SPA’s purchasing procedures.
• Direct and supervise trash hauling, landscape maintenance, and snow removal contractors, and liaison with those contractors.
• Assist the Director with planning and implementing grounds-related capital projects, including planning, budgeting, bidding, contractor selection, and supervising construction activities.
• Coordinate overtime schedules of full-time personnel for seasonal work.
• Plan and schedule the training of new full- and part-time employees.
• Prepare the grounds annual budget, review monthly budget reports, maintain records of work performed, and develop long-range programs as requested.
• Assist with coordinating necessary Operations and Grounds services for special events such as Alumni Weekend, Homecoming, and Graduation, including on-site supervision during the event.
• Maintain a safe working environment and follow recommended safety procedures.
• Perform all duties of the Grounds department in support of maintaining the campus grounds.
• Facilitate effectiveness of the Grounds department and Operations through good working relationships with faculty, staff members, and students.
• Take initiative to perform work independently and attend to routine additional duties as requested by the Director of Operations and Security or other supervisory personnel.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned, such as assisting the Operations staff with events and setups.

Requirements

• Minimum of an A.A. degree in landscape technology, horticulture, landscape design, or demonstrated equivalent experience and abilities.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience, in a landscape-related field.
• Preferred minimum of three years of successful general grounds working experience under qualified supervision.
• Preferred minimum of two years of successful experience supervising and coordinating a crew of employees.
• Ability to work with employees in an understanding and sensitive manner.
• Ability to take initiative on both assigned and unassigned work projects and complete them independently.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Experience and ability to use a desktop computer and software including Google, Excel, and security access programs.
• Possess, or have the ability to obtain, Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications.
• Valid driver’s license with a driving record in good standing; able to operate a manual transmission vehicle.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for an eight (8) hour shift.
• Grounds work includes standing, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, bending, crawling, crouching, stooping, and kneeling depending on the project.
• Ability to lift, load, and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to type on a computer keyboard and operate other office equipment such as a copy machine, computer printer, and other hand-operated equipment.
• Good eyesight, including clear distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception vision.

Work Environment

• Duties are typically performed outside on the campus grounds in all weather conditions and occasionally indoors for event setups.
• Tasks require the ability to use various equipment, including mowers, snow removal machines, utility vehicles, skid loaders, powered hand tools, and other powered equipment.
• The Grounds Supervisor is considered “essential personnel” for the Operations department and must work early mornings, evenings, and weekends in the event of snow or other weather events.
• Exposure exists to hazards endemic to grounds maintenance with the use of power equipment, including sharp blades, gases, fluids, and potential physical injury.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance plan through HealthPartners
• Nice healthcare (a free virtual and in-person health plan)
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Free lunch during the school year
• Retirement plan through TIAA with a generous matching contribution
• Robust program of professional development, career growth, and leadership opportunities
• Sabbatical program
• Tuition remission for children of employees
• Complimentary before and after-school care

Pay

$65,000 - $70,000 annually