Superintendent, Landscape Services

UC Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Santa Barbara is seeking a Landscape Grounds Supervisor 1 to lead a 28‑person Grounds team and oversee a 250‑acre campus grounds operation within Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises. The role includes managing major maintenance projects, budgets, procurement, and vendor relations.

The ideal candidate has 4–6 years in landscaping, 1–3 years supervising staff, and a California DPR license (or equivalent). Strong leadership and customer service are essential for campus-wide operations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 4–6 years of landscaping experience.
• 1–3 years of experience dealing with regulatory agencies (water districts, municipalities).
• 1–3 years of demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience.
• Must possess a valid California DPR Qualified Applicator’s License or Certificate Category A, or a California Structural Branch 2 license, with CEUs within 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate all phases of landscape operations and maintenance for the Grounds program.
• Manage Grounds budget of $2,700,000 and major maintenance projects of about $4,000,000; oversee procurement, tree work budgets, vendor relations, and scheduling.
• Oversee day-to-day maintenance and landscape projects across campus; approve timecards and vacation requests; supervise weekend work; ensure annual performance evaluations; maintain staffing to serve 10,000+ students.
• Provide training and professional development; ensure compliance with policy; participate in long-range planning; communicate changes and promote customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

Brief Summary of Job Duties

Under the general supervision of the Sr. Superintendent, the Landscape Grounds Supervisor 1 is the frontline manager for all aspects of the Grounds program involving 28 FTE Grounds staff who maintain 250 acres of campus hardscape and landscape. The incumbent assists the Sr. Superintendent in managing operational, personnel, and customer‑satisfaction objectives for all staff, and leads the implementation and management of a comprehensive grounds maintenance and landscape operation for all Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises facilities and other university‑owned areas.

Responsibilities

• 60% Grounds Maintenance and Project Management – plan and coordinate all phases of HDAE landscape operations and maintenance, manage the Grounds budget of $2,700,000 and major maintenance projects of approximately $4,000,000, and oversee procurement purchases, tree work budgets, vendor relationships, and maintenance scheduling.
• 30% Supervision – oversee the day‑to‑day maintenance and landscape projects of staff across campus; approve timecards and vacation requests; supervise weekend work; ensure performance evaluations are conducted annually; maintain staffing levels to serve over 10,000 students.
• 10% Leadership, Education, & Communication – ensure compliance with university and departmental policies, participate in long‑range planning, assess and communicate work area changes, promote a customer‑service environment, and provide training and professional development to staff.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma
• 4–6 years of experience in the landscaping industry
• 1–3 years of experience dealing with regulatory agencies (water districts, municipalities)
• 1–3 years of demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Must possess a valid California DPR Qualified Applicator’s License or Certificate Category A, or a California Structural Branch 2 license, and maintain licenses with required CEUs within 1 year.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent certification preferred

Special Conditions of Employment

• Required to hold a valid driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record per local policies.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer must disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions about misconduct within the last seven years, or any appeals of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

Vaccination Policy

Employees must comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs. Covered individuals must be up‑to‑date with required vaccines or request an exception by the compliance date. See policy details at https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations

The University of California endeavors to make https://jobs.ucsb.edu accessible to all users. Contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805‑893‑4664 or email [e-mail] for assistance completing the application process or for accessibility accommodations. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about application status.