Manager or Director, Custodial & Grounds Operations (Facilities Maintenance)
Colgate University
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Colgate University is seeking a Manager or Director of Custodial & Grounds Operations to lead facilities maintenance on-site at Hamilton, NY. The role oversees grounds and custodial functions, staffing decisions, and budget management for campus operations.
The position emphasizes multi-year operating planning, vendor negotiations, and autonomous leadership to maintain Colgate’s standards across grounds and buildings, including events. On-site availability is required.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated progression of responsibility in grounds, custodial, or facilities operations.
- Experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
- Experience supervising union staff and applying collective bargaining agreements.
Responsibilities
- Coaches, develops and supports grounds and/or custodial leadership.
- Partners with supervisors to keep campus grounds, buildings and outdoor spaces up to standards.
- Sets expectations for regular inspections and follow-ups on fixes.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Position Title Manager or Director, Custodial & Grounds Operations (Facilities Maintenance)
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time/Part Time Full Time
Division
Division Finance and Administration
Department
Department Facilities - Grounds
Work Arrangement type
Work Arrangement type On-Site (Hamilton, NY) – expected to work fully at the designated campus/office location.
Hiring Wage/Salary Range
Professional Experience/Qualifications
- Demonstrated progression of responsibility in grounds, custodial, or facilities operations, including experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
- Experience supervising union staff and applying collective bargaining agreements to day-to-day staffing, scheduling, and performance decisions.
- A proven track record of building maintenance or operations plans and execution, using scheduling or project management software to keep work on track.
- Experience hiring, coaching, and managing performance for a team, including fair, well-documented decisions.
- Experience managing a budget and working with vendors or contractors.
- Experience independently negotiating vendor and contractor agreements.
- Experience leading both grounds and custodial functions, or leading through supervisors across more than one function at once.
- A track record of setting multi-year operating plans and operating with a high degree of autonomy.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in higher education.
- Experience overseeing both grounds and custodial functions.
- Familiarity with landscaping techniques and best practices.
A bachelor’s degree in facilities management, horticulture, business, or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and progressive hands-on experience.
A current valid driver’s license, in accordance with the University’s Driver Safety and Motor Vehicle Use Policy is required.
When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.
Must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Responsible for following all procedures to conduct work activities in a safe manner including but not limited to wearing PPE required for specific duties and safe handling of chemicals as outlined by University policies and/or the supervisor. Responsible for immediately reporting any unsafe conditions to the supervisor and/or Environmental Health and Safety.
This position is deemed essential under the University’s Essential Personnel Policy.
Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Colgate University offers a competitive benefits package, with most benefits effective on the date of hire. Highlights include: medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, paid family leave, health & wellness, continuing education and professional development. We also offer unique perks, such as free parking, gym discounts, bookstore savings, athletic tickets, and access to cultural and recreational facilities. Explore the full benefits package on our Benefits page.
It is the mission of the Facilities Department at Colgate University to create the safest, cleanest, and most comfortable environment that further distinguishes Colgate University as a world-class educational institution. We work hard as part of a unified team, to make everyone who arrives on campus feel welcomed.
“One team, one mission”
The Facilities Department provides the physical environment, utilities, and facilities support services necessary to promote the educational and research activities of the university. To ensure quality service to our community, we provide strong coordination and communication between multi-functional groups and our customers, with a customer-oriented approach. Training and development of self-directed teams promotes a work environment that encourages employee initiative, engagement and development.
- Coaches, develops and supports grounds and/or custodial leadership, helping them build teams that take pride in their work.
- Partners with grounds and/or custodial supervisors to keep campus grounds, buildings, athletic fields, and outdoor event spaces safe, well-kept, and up to community standards.
- Sets clear expectations for regular grounds and building inspections, follows up with supervisors on fixes, and proactively catches safety and maintenance issues.
- Coaches supervisors through hiring, scheduling, and disciplinary decisions, ensuring alignment with Colgate’s union agreements and employment law.
- Builds strong working relationships across campus, so other departments view grounds and custodial services teams as responsive, trusted partners.
- Oversees both grounds and custodial functions together, coordinating supervisors across both so campus events run smoothly and setup/cleanup don’t disrupt the rest of campus.
- Builds a clear operating plan and manages spending across both departments, staying within budget while maintaining the campus standards our community expects.
- Negotiates vendor terms independently and holds vendors to Colgate’s standards, so contracts and equipment purchases are cost-effective and dependable.
Requisition Number 2026S071Posting
Temporary
Temporary No
Monday – Friday, 7a-3:30p — with some evenings/weekends needed for snowstorms, emergencies, and big campus events.
Job Open Date 10/07/2026
Open Until Filled Yes
The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance . Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e‑mail at cusafety@colgate.edu .
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Are you currently a Colgate employee?
- Yes
- No
- * Have you ever been a Colgate employee?
- Yes
- No
- Do you have a spouse/domestic partner who currently is, or will be, employed at Colgate University?
- Yes
- No
- * Are you at least 18 years of age?
- Yes
- No
- * Please let us know how you heard about this position.
- Albany Times Union
- Binghamton Press & Sun
- BlackCoachesinSports
- Careerbuilders.com
- Cazenovia Republican
- Centralnewyorkhelpwanted.com
- Chronicle of Higher Education
- Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Colgate Employee
- Colgate Website
- CoSIDA
- Diverse Issues of Higher Education
- HERC (Upstate New York HERC)
- HigherEdJobs.com
- Indeed.com
- InsideHigherEd.com
- Mid-York Weekly
- NACWA
- naviGATE
- NCAA News
- Norwich Evening Sun
- Oneida Daily Dispatch
- Sherburne News
- Studentaffairs.com
- Syracuse Post Standard
- Utica Observer Dispatch
- Waterville Times
- WomenLeadersinCollegeSports.com
- Other
- If you selected “Colgate Employee” or “Other” for how you heard about this position, please provide the employee’s name or where you heard about/saw the position.
(Open Ended Question)
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