Administrative Superintendent, Golf Course Maintenance

Duke Careers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University is seeking an Administrative Supervisor, Golf Course Maintenance to lead grounds operations at the Duke Golf Club. You will oversee turf health, irrigation support, and grounds preservation while guiding a team to deliver excellent conditions for play and events.

Join a collaborative outdoor environment with focus on safety, sustainability, and operational excellence, including budgeting and strategic planning responsibilities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two years of post-secondary training in skilled trades or grounds management preferred.
• Four years of experience in landscaping or grounds maintenance preferred.
• Experience coordinating or supervising maintenance operations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead golf course grounds maintenance operations and supervise staff.
• Oversee turf health, fertilizer, weed, and disease management programs.
• Manage equipment inventories and preventive maintenance programs.
• Support strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Ensure course conditions meet daily play and event standards.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Turfgrass management

Team leadership

Irrigation support

Budget awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Two years post-secondary training in skilled trades or related fields

Job description

Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and recognize that exceptional grounds professionals bring unique expertise, leadership styles, and perspectives to their work. As the Administrative Supervisor, Golf Course Maintenance, you will play a critical role in maintaining one of Duke's premier recreational assets while leading a dedicated team committed to excellence, safety, and environmental stewardship.

You will join a collaborative environment where your knowledge of turf management, landscaping, equipment maintenance, and team leadership directly contributes to the outstanding experience enjoyed by golfers, students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Be Bold.

Lead the preservation and enhancement of the Duke Golf Club through strategic planning, operational excellence, and hands-on leadership. In this role, you will oversee golf course grounds operations, manage maintenance programs, supervise staff, and implement innovative practices that support high-quality course conditions while maximizing efficiency and sustainability.

What You'll Do:

Lead Golf Course Maintenance Operations

• Plan, coordinate, and supervise all golf course grounds maintenance activities.
• Oversee turfgrass management, landscaping, irrigation support, and grounds preservation programs.
• Ensure course conditions meet operational standards for daily play, tournaments, athletic activities, and special events.
• Evaluate current maintenance practices and implement improvements that enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Manage Turf Health and Environmental Programs

• Develop and oversee schedules for fertilizer applications, weed management, insect control, and disease prevention.
• Monitor course conditions and recommend proactive maintenance strategies.
• Support environmentally responsible groundskeeping practices and compliance with applicable regulations.

Oversee Equipment and Resource Management

• Evaluate equipment needs and recommend purchases and replacements.
• Maintain inventories of equipment, parts, tools, and groundskeeping supplies.
• Develop and monitor preventive maintenance programs to maximize equipment performance and longevity.

Supervise and Develop Staff

• Plan, assign, and monitor the work of grounds maintenance personnel.
• Ensure effective workload distribution and timely completion of maintenance activities.
• Provide coaching, training, and performance feedback to support employee growth and success.
• Participate in recruitment, hiring, performance management, promotions, scheduling, and other personnel-related activities.

Support Strategic Planning and Financial Stewardship

• Prepare operational reports, analyses, and recommendations.
• Establish short-term and long-range maintenance goals.
• Assist in budget planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Monitor expenditures and recommend operational improvements that support financial sustainability.

What We're Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two years of post-secondary training in skilled trades, grounds management, landscaping, turfgrass management, or a related field preferred.

Experience

• Four years of experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance, turfgrass management, groundskeeping equipment repair, or a related field.
• Experience coordinating or supervising maintenance operations preferred.

Equivalent Experience

• An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will also be considered.

Why Duke?

At Duke, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognized institution while working in a dynamic outdoor environment where your expertise directly impacts the beauty, playability, and reputation of the Duke Golf Club. We invest in our people through professional development opportunities, collaborative teamwork, and a culture that values innovation, inclusion, and excellence.

Choose Duke.

Join a team dedicated to maintaining exceptional grounds and creating remarkable experiences for our community and guests. Bring your leadership, technical expertise, and passion for excellence to Duke.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $0.00 to USD $0.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond thedollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke's commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.