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San José State University · 2 days ago

Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

San Jose, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$5,053/mo - $16,221/mo

6+ years exp

San José State University is seeking an Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling. This role provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all campus grounds, landscaping, irrigation, and outdoor recycling services, ensuring compliance with university standards and sustainability initiatives.

Education

No H1B

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

Qualification

Sustainable landscape practicesBudget developmentPersonnel managementEcological pest controlIrrigation systemsRegulatory complianceLandscape project oversightBiodiversity managementCommunication skillsLeadership skillsOrganizational skillsProblem-solving skills

Required

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