Manager of Grounds Services, Office of Physical Plant

Job Description

Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant Operations Directorate is seeking a Manager of Grounds Services. This position will have management responsibility for the grounds management operation within the Office of Physical Plant at University Park, Pennsylvania. The responsibilities include oversight and management of general landscape operations, tree care, horticultural programs, campus-wide snow removal, compost operations and service level agreements with University departments such as Housing, the Arboretum, and the people, tools, equipment and supplies needed to perform the work. This position will be responsible for budget management, personnel performance, strategic direction, and daily operations of the work unit affecting the entire university.

Finance and Business is a values-driven organization that supports thousands of university faculty, staff, and students, while also providing services to the broader community and society. The Office of Physical Plant is part of the Finance and Business team and is an organization driven by its mission to “Provide Excellent Facilities Services for Penn State.” The Office of Physical Plant’s values follow those of https://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/mission-and-values/ and we are especially committed to our https://www.opp.psu.edu/about-us/mission-strategic-plan to be nationally recognized as a leader in Higher Education facilities, environmental, and safety management. In our search for excellence, we foster a unified high-performing team with mutual respect for each person’s uniqueness, talents, value, and perspective. We also firmly believe in Penn State’s value of https://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/mission-and-values/, which encourages us to respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse and inclusive community. As an incoming team member of the Office of Physical Plant, it will be expected that all employees embody and model http://equity.psu.edu/psu-diversity-statement and https://fandb.psu.edu/finance-and-business-diversity-statement commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This position will be a direct report to the Assistant Vice President of Operations, Office of Physical Plant and be responsible for supervision of distinct landscape shop operations with specialization in grounds maintenance, horticulture, ornamentals, agronomy, turf science, and arborist crews. The Manager of Grounds Services has responsibility of four direct report supervisors with an overall organization of 100 employees.

Education and Experience

Education and experience: Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree within landscape contracting, landscape architecture, horticultural, forestry or urban forestry, landscape management, turfgrass management or related field and eight years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree preferred.

Additional skills sought for this position include: demonstrated leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities; labor relations experience in a union environment; ability to effectively adapt to and lead change; leadership of safety; employee development; work management and customer service; and quality assurance experience.

We are seeking candidates with the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Grounds-Operations subject matter expertise or experience within:

• horticulture

• arborists/tree care

• contracting

• landscape architecture/design/planning

• snow removal

• compost operations

• tree care

• turfgrass science

• forestry

• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities

• Budget management – service budget

• Labor relations experience in a union environment

• Effectively adapt to and lead change

• Leadership of safety

• Personnel performance, employee development, hiring, and discipline experience

• Work management, resource allocation, and customer service

• Quality assurance experience and attention to detail

Additional Information

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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Application Instructions

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Apply online at https://apptrkr.com/4459380