Supervisor, Grounds Operations

Texas State University; San Marcos (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas State University in San Marcos is seeking a Supervisor, Grounds Operations to lead campus landscaping teams, ensure safe, well-maintained grounds, and coordinate irrigation, pesticides, and event prep.

The role requires oversight of crews, adherence to safety standards, and collaboration with Facilities Services to keep the grounds professional.

Qualifications

• Experience managing turf and plant materials.
• Knowledge of chemical usage policies and safety procedures.
• Ability to supervise multiple staff and coordinate with other departments.
• Strong record-keeping, budgeting, and training capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Supervise mowing/beds crew in daily maintenance of turf and beds.
• Schedule weekly, monthly, and long-range work, including events.
• Provide crews with clear, specific duties and QA staff performance.
• Monitor employee time and ensure training compliance.
• Provide safety training and identify hazards.
• Coordinate irrigation systems and GIS data management.
• Prepare work orders and assign tasks; track hours and chemicals.
• Assist with materials, PPE, and vendor coordination.
• Ensure pesticide application procedures and licenses are upheld.

Skills

Turf management

Equipment guidelines

Safety & SDS

Staff supervision

Work direction

Prioritization

Read labels

Records management

Communication

Math skills

Training staff

Education

Texas Department of Agriculture‑Pesticide Applicators License

Job description

Supervisor, Grounds Operations

Location: San Marcos

Department: Facilities Services

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Job Description

Responsible for supervising crews in the provision of an attractive, safe, and well‑maintained landscape by the use of tools and machinery.

Job Duties

• Responsible for supervising mowing/beds crew in daily maintenance of campus turf/beds areas and litter control.
• Daily inspection of campus to identify campus landscape needs. Schedule/prioritize weekly, monthly, and long‑range work including routine work and special events.
• Provide crews with clear and specific assigned duties.
• Provide quality control of staff performance.
• Monitor and manage employee time.
• Ensure that all employees are properly trained in all aspects of normal duties, and all employees attend required training.
• Provide safety training.
• Identify safety hazards and mitigate or inform appropriate shops.
• Manage resources used to maintain grounds in an efficient, effective, and professional manner.
• Provide employees with needed materials, equipment, and PPE.
• Map, database, describe, and locate irrigation systems and ground areas using computer and GIS software.
• Help maintain turf/beds by mowing, trimming, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, applying pesticides, monitoring irrigation.
• Inspect grounds/irrigation systems and work in progress.
• General clean up and preparation of campus for events, move‑in, move‑out, commencement, football, tailgating, and other events, before and after.
• Create work orders and assign them to staff.
• Assist other crews to help with workload.
• Help staff with computer data entry, time entry, performance management.
• Schedule vehicles and equipment repairs with the garage and outside vendors.
• Make pesticide applications.
• Maintain pesticide applicator’s license.
• Maintain TDA applicator records.
• Coordinate with outside vendors/contractors.
• Locate/contact potential vendors/contractors.
• Coordinate work with other shops.
• Coordinate work with other departments on campus.
• Track work hours, chemical use, and other items.
• Order equipment, supplies, and material needs.
• Schedule irrigation.
• Support crews in their work with materials, personnel needs, and special requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Cultural management of turf and plant materials.
• Landscape maintenance equipment guidelines.
• Policies and laws related to chemical usage; usage of materials, equipment, and tools related to grounds maintenance.
• Safety practices and procedures related to grounds maintenance including OSHA and SDS information.
• Supervising staff of 3 or more and interacting with other departments; addressing customer concerns.
• Effectively directing the work of others and motivating output.
• Prioritizing workload; problem solving and decision making.
• Read and understand technical materials, laws and regulations, and chemical labels.
• Maintain records; complete work orders, process purchase requests, monitor shop budget.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to prioritize and schedule work.
• Perform basic math; use measuring devices; review time sheets, interpret policies and procedures to staff, and communicate concerns to management.
• Prepare and conduct training for staff; establish and maintain a filing system.
• Hold a Texas Department of Agriculture‑Pesticide Applicators License.
• Over 3 years of supervising employees.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hiring, promoting and disciplinary actions of staff.
• Experience with committee participation.

Posting Notices

Applicant must have a valid Texas Driver's License and be a driver in good standing with less than ten (10) points deducted for driving infractions as determined by the employer driving standards system.

Legal and Required Notices

Texas State University is committed to a policy of non‑discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law in employment, educational programs, and activities and admissions.

Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including, but not limited to, criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, and employment eligibility verifications.

In accordance with federal law, all new employees must complete the Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States. Texas State University participates in E-Verify, and employment is contingent upon the successful verification of work authorization. Employees are required to maintain valid work authorization to satisfy the conditions of Form I‑9 at all times during their employment and the university makes no implicit or explicit promises to financially support visa or permanent residency applications.