Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

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Reporting to the Senior Director for Maintenance and Operations and working under general direction, the Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all campus grounds, landscaping, irrigation, and outdoor recycling services in Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O). The incumbent establishes service standards, policies, and fiscal controls, and ensures compliance with University, CSU, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities include budget development and forecasting, vendor/contract administration, safety and risk management, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-level reporting.

The Associate Director is responsible for maintaining University outdoor environment including campus grounds service levels in alignment with university beautification expectations. This position also integrates university-wide sustainability initiatives into grounds operations, including AASHE STARS reporting, CSU carbon neutrality goals, and campus water conservation targets. The role directs implementation of ecologically managed landscape practices such as organic land care, integrated pest management, use of native and drought‑tolerant plantings, soil health and regenerative practices, and sustainable stormwater management infrastructure.

The Associate Director stewards cross‑departmental initiatives with the Office of Sustainability, Utilities Distribution, Environmental Health and Safety, Planning, Design and Construction, and Athletics, providing oversight through an Assistant Manager for Division I athletics grounds. Supports the use of campus grounds as a ‘Living Laboratory’, collaborating with faculty, students, and the Office of Sustainability to integrate academic research, applied projects, and educational opportunities into grounds operations while maintaining safety and service standards.

The Associate Director oversees an assigned operating budget and directs resource allocation to ensure continuity of operations with a focus on long‑term sustainability. The incumbent sets standards and approves plans for maintenance schedules, performance metrics, and quality assurance programs, while holding employees and contractors accountable for execution and documentation through the FD&O work management system. The Associate Director authorises procurement of contractors and vendors, supervises personnel management through subordinate managers, and contributes to the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of policies, procedures, and programs supporting campus grounds and recycling services.

This position is part of the Maintenance and Operations unit of FD&O, which provides services to a university campus spread across five sites comprised of 167 acres, 85 buildings, and almost eight million gross square feet. Maintenance and Operations employs approximately 235 full‑time permanent staff and up to nine part‑time, seasonal, or contract staff. The assigned operating budget for the unit is approximately $20 million, not including funds associated with maintenance and repair projects.

• 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
• Main…