The Grounds team consists of 20-plus groundskeepers, arborists, and other specialists who develop and maintain our 300-acre, tree-lined campus in an environmentally sensitive and aesthetically pleasing manner. This dedicated team works throughout the year in all weather conditions while caring for our trees, fields, gardens, and lawns. Our mission is to create a great first impression and support the university’s mission of teaching and research through our effective and innovative stewardship of the campus landscape.
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Campus Grounds, the Grounds Supervisor directs and oversees daily field operations to ensure the efficient execution of landscape maintenance and campus upkeep. The Supervisor enforces operational efficiency, safety protocols, and rigorous quality control across assigned functional areas, including turf mowing, solid waste removal, recycling, and pest control. Additionally, this role manages administrative duties such as scheduling, resource allocation, and performance tracking to ensure all operations are executed on time and precisely aligned with the high standards and strategic direction set by the Assistant Director and Director of Campus Grounds & Landscape Design.
The ideal candidate is a results-driven landscaping professional with a deep passion for horticulture and at least three years of grounds management experience, preferably within a higher education campus or equivalent high-quality setting. They must be an effective people manager capable of managing a bilingual group of direct reports to effectively direct operations and execute administrative duties.
Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format, to avoid any formatting issues.
Workplace Requirements
- This position is fully on-site and requires all duties to be performed in person, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with occasional overtime expected approximately 3–4 times per year and flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.
- The role is designated as essential on campus, requiring consistent on-site presence to support critical operations and respond during campus emergencies.
- The work is performed primarily in an outdoor environment with frequent exposure to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, and rain, as well as environmental factors such as dirt, dust, fumes, pollen, noise, and hazardous chemicals, including insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers.
- Duties may also involve working at elevated heights on ladders or scaffolding and operating heavy equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, and hedge trimmers.
- This position is classified as heavy work, requiring the ability to exert up to 70 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds frequently, and up to 20 pounds continuously. The role also requires standing and/or walking for up to 8 hours per day, coordinating multiple limbs to safely operate equipment and vehicles, and performing physical activities such as bending, crouching, kneeling, lifting, reaching, climbing, balancing, and maintaining visual awareness for safe task execution. Occasional exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc.
- This individual must have the flexibility to work nights, weekends, be on call, and work overtime as needed to meet operational deadlines and remain accessible to leadership.
- During emergencies or crises, the employee is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions.
Hiring Range
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring range is $23.00 to 25.00 an hour , contingent upon qualifications and experience. *Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements
- Associate degree in Horticulture, Resource Management, Environmental Science, Sports Field Management, or a related field
- In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
- 3+ years of related experience in a leadership role in landscape maintenance, furniture moving, recycling, or a related field, including at least 2 years of supervisory experience
- Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at-fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.
Skills:
- Dependability
- Ability to follow instructions and manage multiple priorities
- Advanced knowledge of grounds maintenance
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Leadership skills
- Advanced knowledge of proper equipment use and maintenance
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced knowledge of grounds maintenance and custodial practices
Preferences
- Vocational training, college coursework, or an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Grounds Maintenance, Horticulture, Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related field
- Prior experience working within a university or higher education campus environment
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (ability to speak, read, and understand Spanish is strongly preferred)
- Experience utilizing technology and work task systems such as TRIRIGA or equivalent work control/facilities management software
- Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Certified Pest Control Applicator License or a relevant Chemical Application License
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Licensed Irrigator certification
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) certification, Certified Grounds Technician certification, or other grounds management-related certifications
Essential Functions
- Supervises, leads, and assigns daily tasks to the grounds and custodial crew to ensure efficient execution of landscape maintenance, horticulture, and campus upkeep.
- Manages assigned grounds operations, such as turf mowing, solid waste/recycling removal, irrigation systems, and pest control.
- Handles administrative duties, including crew scheduling, work order tracking, resource allocation, and recordkeeping, to ensure all operations and projects are completed on time.
- Evaluates staff performance, provides counseling, and delivers on-the-job training (including commercial outdoor power equipment safety and upkeep) to maintain a skilled, safe, and accountable workforce.
- Ensures high-quality control, adherence to safety protocols, and alignment with the strategic direction set by the Assistant Director and Director of Campus Grounds & Landscape Design.
- Conducts routine inspections of assigned areas to ensure cleaning and landscaping standards are consistently met.
- May assist with general landscape maintenance activities, including mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, raking, planting, watering, weeding, tree and shrub care, minor irrigation repair, and weed control.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected] . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
