Grounds Enhancement Manager

Department:
Physical Plant

Employment Type:

Full-Time, 12-Months

Salary: $45,000-$55,000

Workweek: 40 hours per week

Employment Status:
Exempt

Ferrum College is committed to maintaining a safe, attractive, and welcoming campus environment for students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors, and the broader College community.

The Grounds operation plays an important role in maintaining the appearance, functionality, safety, and sustainability of the Ferrum College campus. From daily landscape maintenance and athletic-field preparation to long-term improvements and environmental stewardship, our grounds team helps create an environment where the College community can learn, work, live, and thrive.

Ferrum College is seeking a motivated, experienced, and hands-on individual to lead the care, maintenance, and continued improvement of the College's campus grounds and athletic facilities.

This position provides an opportunity for an experienced grounds and landscape professional to take a leading role in campus landscape operations, including daily maintenance, athletic-field preparation, landscape improvements, irrigation, staff leadership, budgeting, and sustainable practices.

The successful candidate will combine strong horticultural and turf-management knowledge with practical leadership skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining a safe, attractive, and welcoming campus environment.

• Lead the daily maintenance and appearance of Ferrum College's campus grounds, including lawns, landscaped areas, trees, planting beds, sidewalks, and other exterior spaces.
• Develop and implement seasonal and long-term grounds maintenance plans.
• Establish priorities, work schedules, and maintenance standards for grounds operations.
• Monitor the condition of campus grounds and proactively address maintenance needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve the appearance, functionality, and sustainability of campus landscapes.

• Oversee the maintenance and preparation of athletic fields and related outdoor facilities.
• Coordinate field preparation for practices, competitions, tournaments, and special events.
• Work closely with coaches, Athletics staff, and campus partners to understand and meet field requirements.
• Develop turf-management practices that promote safe, healthy, and high-quality playing surfaces.
• Respond to changing weather conditions and unexpected field-maintenance needs.
• Work occasional evenings, weekends, and overtime when necessary to support athletic and campus events.

• Supervise full-time and seasonal Grounds Technicians and student work-study employees.
• Recruit, train, schedule, coach, and evaluate employees.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, workmanship, safety, and customer service.
• Create a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
• Lead by example through hands-on involvement in grounds operations when needed.

• Monitor expenditures and make informed purchasing and resource-allocation decisions.
• Evaluate equipment, materials, supplies, and contracted services for quality and cost effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining or improving campus standards.
• Plan for equipment replacement, landscape improvements, and future operational needs.

• Work with Physical Plant leadership, campus planners, architects, contractors, and other stakeholders on landscape projects and campus improvements.
• Help develop landscape plans that complement Ferrum College's campus character and long-term goals.
• Coordinate the implementation of planting, irrigation, turf,…