Director of Grounds and Pest Control

The Director of Grounds and Pest Control provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all campus grounds, landscaping, synthetic turf surfaces, pest control, waste management, and environmental sustainability programs. This role ensures that outdoor environments are safe, attractive, sustainable, and compliant with all regulatory requirements. The Director manages staff and vendors, oversees budgets and resources, ensures high‑quality service delivery, and partners with internal stakeholders to support institutional goals in safety, sustainability, and operational excellence.

Waste Collection & Diversion

• Ensure strict separation of landfill, recycling, and compost waste streams during collection, handling, and transport.

• Identify and report locations with recurring contamination issues and collaborate on corrective actions.

• Support waste diversion activities for sustainability events such as Green Move Out and ReUse Market.

• Oversee dining waste collection programs to reduce landfill disposal and improve diversion outcomes.

• Manage event composting programs and support expansion of composting services across campus.

• Provide enhanced seasonal and summer waste management support, including residence hall turnover and conference housing operations.

• Oversee cardboard baling programs in designated buildings.

Training & Compliance

• Partner with sustainability staff to train custodial and grounds teams on waste management protocols and sustainability programs.

• Ensure training includes environmental compliance, green cleaning practices, and university‑specific procedures.

• Maintain training logs and provide documentation upon request.

Equipment & Inventory

• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of waste management equipment, including all bins and containers.

• Update waste equipment inventory maps annually and submit them to appropriate university offices.

Financial Transparency

• Document and remit all rebates, refunds, and revenues generated from recycling or composting activities.

2. Waste Stream Supplies

• Procure and manage color‑coded liners for waste segregation:

• Clear liners for recycling

• Green BPI‑certified liners for compost

• Black liners for landfill

3. Waste Data Tracking & Performance

• Collaborate with sustainability staff to establish baseline metrics and KPIs for waste diversion and contamination reduction.

• Track and report waste performance data to support continuous improvement.

4. Green Cleaning Program Oversight

Policy & Procurement

• Develop, implement, and maintain a Green Cleaning Policy aligned with sustainability standards.

• Source environmentally compliant, high‑quality, and cost‑effective cleaning products.

• Provide cleaning product purchase lists to support evaluation and pilot programs.

Operations & Training

• Maintain documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for green cleaning practices.

• Maintain staff training records related to green cleaning and environmental compliance.

Data Tracking

• Track sustainable product usage and cleaning performance.

• Collaborate to establish baselines and KPIs for green cleaning outcomes.

5. Groundskeeping & Sustainable Landscaping

Water & Irrigation Management

• Minimize unnecessary water usage by optimizing irrigation schedules and avoiding watering during or after rainfall.

• Update tree and plant inventory maps annually.

• Maximize use of functioning irrigation systems; identify deficiencies and coordinate repairs.

• Identify opportunities for drip irrigation and collaborate on implementation.

• Oversee irrigation system maintenance and report inefficiencies or failures.

• Manage daily policing and collection of exterior waste and litter across landscaped areas and grounds.

• Ensure daily trash collection for key campus areas, including Big Belly collections on Saturdays.

Landscape Practices & Chemical Use

• Reduce chemical inputs and use least‑toxic, environmentally friendly herbicides and fertilizers.

• Use organic materials for plant treatment where practicable.

• Maintain transparent records of all chemical usage and provide documentation upon request.

• Clear debris from stormwater drains and water feature drainage areas.

• Compost landscape green waste whenever feasible.

• Mulch organic materials on site and utilize chipped wood from pruning operations.

• Limit use of plastics in landscaping operations and support no‑single‑use‑plastic policies.

• Maintain sustainable sites and ensure native landscapes are preserved per design.

Equipment & Operations

• Transition to electric or low‑emission landscaping equipment where feasible.

• Oversee daily policing and collection of exterior waste in coordination with custodial services.

6. Pest Control Management

• Oversee integrated pest management (IPM) programs across campus grounds and exterior structures.

• Ensure pest control practices prioritize prevention, environmental safety, and least‑toxic treatment methods.

• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to address pest issues promptly.

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local pest control regulations.

• Track pest control activities, treatments, and trends to support proactive management.

7. Education, Training & Collaboration

• Train staff during onboarding and regularly on sustainable landscaping, pest control, waste management, and sustainability goals.

• Collaborate with university offices, academic departments, and student organizations, including environmental justice groups.

• Support living‑learning laboratory initiatives and applied sustainability projects.

• Utilize campus landscapes as educational and research spaces when directed.

• Support installation of educational signage highlighting sustainable landscape features.

8. Sustainability Data Tracking

• Track sustainable product usage and performance across grounds, pest control, and custodial operations.

• Collaborate to establish measurable baselines and KPIs for sustainability outcomes.

• Share quarterly material purchase lists and training logs with sustainability staff.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of landscaping, horticulture, turf management, and irrigation systems.

• Expertise in pest control methods, IPM principles, and pesticide regulations.

• Understanding of environmental sustainability practices and green landscape management.

• Ability to operate and oversee use of grounds and pest control equipment.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities across large or complex sites.

• Proficiency with work order systems, reporting tools, and inspection platforms.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Environmental Science, Facilities Management, or related field preferred.

• 5–10+ years of experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, or pest control.

• 2–5+ years of supervisory or management experience.

• Experience in large campuses, healthcare, higher education, or commercial facilities preferred.

Certifications (Preferred / May Be Required)

• State pesticide applicator license (or ability to obtain).

• Landscape or horticulture certifications.

• OSHA 10 or 30.

• IPM certification.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work performed primarily outdoors in varying weather conditions.

• Ability to operate grounds equipment and lift/move materials and tools.

• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and respond to weather events.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Grounds appearance and inspection scores.

• Pest control effectiveness and incident reduction.

• Waste diversion and contamination reduction metrics.

• Safety performance and compliance.

• Budget adherence and cost control.

• Stakeholder satisfaction.

• Response time to issues and service requests.