Grounds Maintenance and Landscape Coordinator

Metropolitan-Community-College; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Community College is seeking a Grounds Maintenance and Landscape Coordinator to oversee exterior landscapes across MCC districts and manage daily grounds operations, athletic field maintenance, and seasonal projects.

The role requires coordinating between MCC–Penn Valley and MCC–Maple Woods campuses, with regular travel. Candidates should have at least 5 years in grounds management and hold a pesticide applicator license or be able to obtain one within 6 months.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 5 years of grounds and landscape management experience.
• Commercial Pesticide Applicator License or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with external vendors to maintain campus landscape health and safety.
• Manage turf maintenance including aeration, fertilization, and irrigation scheduling.
• Oversee planting, pruning, and health monitoring of trees, shrubs, and beds.
• Assist with winter weather response plans and seasonal landscape rotations.
• Implement sustainable landscaping practices to reduce water use.
• Manage grounds fleet procurement, maintenance, and operation.
• Assist in budgeting for grounds operations and supervise contractors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Plant identification

Soil health

Pest & disease management

OSHA/SDS knowledge

PPE knowledge

Sustainable landscaping

Climate adaptations

Read landscape design plans

Communication

Team coordination

Budget awareness

Public interaction

Inspection skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

5+ years grounds/landscape management experience

Commercial Pesticide Applicator License (or ability to obtain in 6 months)

Valid Driver’s License

Associate’s Degree in Horticulture / Landscape Management / Turf Science or related field

CGM certification or Landscape Industry Certified Technician

Tools

Irrigation controllers

Hydraulic systems

Backhoe

Skid steer

Zero-turn mower

Snow removal equipment

Job description

The Grounds Maintenance and Landscape Coordinator oversees the aesthetic appeal, safety, and environmental health of the exterior landscapes across the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) District. The primary purpose of this role is to manage daily grounds operations, athletic field maintenance, and seasonal landscaping projects. By ensuring well-maintained and welcoming outdoor spaces, the coordinator directly supports MCC’s vision of providing an inspiring learning environment and advances strategic goals related to campus safety, curb appeal, and environmental sustainability.

Disclaimer: This position serves both the Metropolitan Community College–Penn Valley (3201 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64111) and Metropolitan Community College–Maple Woods (2601 NE Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64156) campuses and requires regular travel between locations.

• Coordinates with external vendors to ensure high standards of campus landscape health; measured by the successful completion of weekly maintenance schedules across all district sites.
• Manages specialized maintenance for turf, including aeration, fertilization, and irrigation scheduling.
• Oversees the planting, pruning, and health monitoring of trees, shrubs, and ornamental beds.
• Assists with the development and execution of winter weather response plans and seasonal landscape rotations;
• Implements sustainable landscaping practices to reduce district water consumption.
• Manages the procurement, maintenance, and safe operation of the grounds fleet.
• Assists in managing the grounds operational budget and supervises external landscaping or tree-service contractors to ensure work aligns with district quality standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma OR GED.
• Five (5) years of experience in grounds and landscape management experience
• Possession of a valid Commercial Pesticide Applicator License (or ability to obtain within 6 months)
• Valid Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree in Horticulture, Landscape Management, Turf Science, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Two (2) + years of experience leading teams or coordinating large-scale vendor contracts.
• Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) or Landscape Industry Certified Technician.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of plant identification, soil health, pest and disease management, and regional climate adaptations.
• Knowledge of OSHA standards related to chemical handling (SDS), heavy equipment operation, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Knowledge of sustainable pest control strategies that minimize environmental and health risks.
• Knowledge of regional plant species and their role in creating low-maintenance, ecologically beneficial landscapes.
• Skill in the operation, repair, and programming of commercial-grade irrigation controllers and hydraulic systems.
• Skill in operating backhoes, skid steers, zero-turn mowers, and snow removal equipment.
• Skill in reading, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, and summarizing materials and statistical data.
• Skilled in utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public, and others sufficient to exchange or convey information
• Ability to read landscape design plans and coordinate multi-phase exterior improvement projects.
• Ability to interact effectively with students, campus leadership, and the public regarding campus beautification efforts.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work and coordinate teams during extreme heat or emergency winter weather conditions.
• Ability to conduct thorough inspections of landscaping work to evaluate compliance with design plans and performance standards.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class typically require climbing, crawling, crouching, keyboarding, grasping, hearing, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking. The work is very heavy work which requires exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Incumbents may be exposed to hazardous physical conditions, such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, and vibrations; atmospheric conditions, such as fumes, odors, gases, and poor ventilation.

EEO Statement:

Metropolitan Community College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, birth, ancestry, national origin, or disability. EOE/M/F/Vets/Disabled

Accommodations:

MCC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, MCC will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations in all aspects of employment, including the application process. To request an accommodation and/or a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act applicant procedures, please contact the Office of Human Resources.