Supervisor, Grounds

About the role

The Grounds team at Rice University consists of 20-plus groundskeepers, arborists, and other specialists who maintain the campus's 300-acre, tree-lined landscape. The team works year-round, managing trees, fields, gardens, and lawns to support the university's mission of teaching and research.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee daily field operations to ensure efficient execution of landscape maintenance and campus upkeep.
• Enforce operational efficiency, safety protocols, and rigorous quality control across turf mowing, solid waste removal, recycling, and pest control.
• Manage administrative duties such as scheduling, resource allocation, and performance tracking to ensure all operations are executed on time and precisely aligned with the high standards and strategic direction set by the Assistant Director and Director of Campus Grounds & Landscape Design.
• Supervise, lead, and assign daily tasks to the grounds and custodial crew to ensure efficient execution of landscape maintenance, horticulture, and campus upkeep.
• Manage assigned grounds operations, including turf mowing, solid waste/recycling removal, irrigation systems, and pest control.
• Handle administrative duties, including crew scheduling, work order tracking, resource allocation, and recordkeeping, to ensure all operations and projects are completed on time.
• Evaluate staff performance, provide counseling, and deliver on-the-job training (including commercial outdoor power equipment safety and upkeep) to maintain a skilled, safe, and accountable workforce.
• Ensure high-quality control, adherence to safety protocols, and alignment with the strategic direction set by the Assistant Director and Director of Campus Grounds & Landscape Design.
• Conduct routine inspections of assigned areas to ensure cleaning and landscaping standards are consistently met.
• May assist with general landscape maintenance activities, including mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, raking, planting, watering, weeding, tree and shrub care, minor irrigation repair, and weed control.

Requirements

• Achieved associate degree in Horticulture, Resource Management, Environmental Science, Sports Field Management, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of related experience in a leadership role in landscape maintenance, furniture moving, recycling, or a related field, including at least 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at-fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

Qualifications

• Dependable, able to follow instructions, and manage multiple priorities.
• Advanced knowledge of grounds maintenance and custodial practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and leadership abilities.
• Advanced knowledge of proper equipment use and maintenance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge of grounds maintenance and custodial practices.
• Prior experience working within a university or higher education campus environment.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (ability to speak, read, and understand Spanish is strongly preferred).
• Experience utilizing technology and work task systems such as TRIRIGA or equivalent work control/facilities management software.
• Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Certified Pest Control Applicator License or a relevant Chemical Application License.
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Licensed Irrigator certification.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) certification, Certified Grounds Technician certification, or other grounds management-related certifications.