Landscape & Grounds Director

APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities; Norman (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Oklahoma seeks a Landscape & Grounds Director to oversee campus landscapes in Norman, guiding care, safety, sustainability, and a welcoming outdoor environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

You will provide strategic leadership for design, maintenance programs, budgeting, and project execution, collaborating with campus partners to elevate OU's outdoor spaces while ensuring compliance and service excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in landscape and grounds operations, including at least two years in management or supervisory roles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee landscape and grounds operations across the Norman campus.
• Provide strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for maintenance, renewal, and long‑term development.
• Establish landscape standards, manage resources and budgets, and ensure safety and compliance.

Job description

The University of Oklahoma is seeking a visionary and accomplished leader to serve as Landscape & Grounds Director, overseeing the care, stewardship, and enhancement of all campus landscapes and grounds across the Norman campus. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for shaping and maintaining one of the university's most prominent assets - its outdoor environment - ensuring that OU's campus remains beautiful, safe, sustainable, and welcoming for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors.

The Director provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for all landscape and grounds services, directing the planning, maintenance, renewal, and long-term development of the university's extensive outdoor spaces. The position leads and inspires a large and diverse operation responsible for campus landscaping, horticulture, grounds maintenance, irrigation, seasonal displays, and environmental stewardship initiatives; Shapes a positive and productive team culture by building trust, cultivating staff buy-in, encouraging professional growth, and guiding teams through change with a focus on collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Working closely with university leadership and campus partners, the Director establishes landscape standards, manages resources and budgets, oversees design review and project implementation, and develops long-range plans that support the university's mission and enhance the campus experience. The Director champions innovation, sustainability, operational excellence, and customer-focused service while ensuring compliance with safety requirements, university policies, environmental standards, and applicable laws and regulations.

This is a unique opportunity for a transformational leader to leave a lasting impact on a flagship higher education campus by guiding the stewardship, appearance, and future vision of OU's entire grounds and landscape portfolio.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, plant and soil sciences, agriculture, landscape management, landscape architecture, environmental science, construction management, public administration, business administration, facilities management, or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in landscape and grounds operations, horticulture, facilities operations, parks management, landscape construction, campus services, or a closely related field. The required experience must include at least two years of management or supervisory responsibility involving employees, budgets, contractors, projects, or operational planning.

Equivalency/Substitution:

A total of 11 years of combined education and progressively responsible related experience is required. Four years of the required experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree.