Facilities Management Grounds Director

Facilities Management Grounds Director

Cornell University seeks a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as its Facilities Management Grounds Director. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the stewardship, performance, and long-term sustainability of one of the nation's most beautiful and recognizable university campuses. Spanning more than 900 acres, Cornell's Ithaca campus is renowned for its iconic landscapes, breathtaking gorges and waterfalls, extensive trail network, and distinctive exterior environments that support a vibrant academic, research, residential, and visitor community.

The Grounds Director will provide strategic leadership for the university's grounds operations, setting the vision, priorities, and service delivery strategies that ensure Cornell's outdoor environment remains safe, sustainable, resilient, and welcoming. This role is instrumental in advancing the university's commitment to environmental stewardship, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and exceptional campus experiences for the Cornell community.

The Director will translate institutional priorities into comprehensive operational strategies across a diverse portfolio that includes landscape management, snow and ice operations, site construction services, campus pavement systems, and the stewardship of Cornell's renowned gorge trail pedestrian pathways. By balancing day-to-day operational excellence with long-term planning, the Director will help preserve and enhance the university's physical environment while supporting Cornell's academic, research, and public engagement mission.

As a member of the Facilities Management leadership team, the Director will partner closely with leaders across Campus Stewardship, Asset Management, Capital Projects, Environmental Health and Safety, and other university stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, data-informed approach to managing Cornell's built and natural environment. This leader will contribute to enterprise-wide planning efforts by aligning operational practices with asset management principles, lifecycle planning, capital investment strategies, and data governance standards to support the long-term performance and maintainability of campus assets.

The Director will lead and inspire a diverse organization of approximately 50 employees, including professional and union staff, fostering a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and safety. Through thoughtful workforce planning, employee development, and resource stewardship, the Director will empower teams to deliver high-quality services while maintaining operational agility in a dynamic and evolving environment.

The successful candidate will bring exceptional leadership, operational, and relationship-building skills, along with the ability to think strategically while remaining engaged in the day-to-day realities of a complex organization. They will be an innovative problem solver who is comfortable navigating competing priorities, identifying opportunities for improvement, and making informed decisions that balance operational needs with long-term institutional objectives.

This is a unique opportunity for a leader who is passionate about creating and maintaining exceptional campus environments while advancing sustainability, operational excellence, and service innovation. Through strategic leadership and strong partnerships, the Grounds Director will make a lasting impact on Cornell's physical campus and contribute to the continued success of one of the world's leading research institutions.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) endowed position based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site.

Facilities Management (FM) provides maintenance, grounds, and custodial services to the entire campus. As a key steward of the University's facilities, FM is responsible for facility assessments, skilled trades, general construction, building care, grounds, recycling, asbestos, and the management of planned, corrective, and preventive maintenance.

What We Need

• A Bachelor's degree in landscape management, horticulture, agronomy, natural resources, forestry, construction management, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or a related field.
• 7
  -10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in grounds, landscape, or facilities operations within a large, complex organization, including oversight of operations, staff, and budgets or equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-functional teams, including professional and union and/or represented staff, with accountability for workforce planning, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness.
• Proven ability to develop and implement operational strategies aligned with organizational priorities, including safety, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and service delivery outcomes.
• Experience managing budgets and resources, with the ability to balance operational needs, long-term planning, and fiscal…