THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND                   Class Code: 0197

Position Description             

TITLE: Assistant Director, Facilities Services/Landscape & Grounds

DIVISION: Business and Finance

REPORTS TO: Associate Director, Facilities and Operations

GRADE: 13

SUPERVISES: Lands and grounds staff and supervisory personnel.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Supervise a staff to maintain all lands and grounds at the University of Rhode Island. Develop and maintain landscape, grounds and hardscape. Organize and assign personnel, equipment, materials and contracts necessary for care and preservation of the grounds. Manage heavy construction equipment for projects as needed. Improve and repair access routes, parking areas and pedestrian walkways, and ensure that they are available for traffic and/or parking, as appropriate, during all weather conditions or other unforeseen conditions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Plan, organize, direct, review and evaluate work of personnel assigned to the Landscape and Grounds Division; provide supervisory advice and counsel, as appropriate, on difficult problems.

Develop and execute the department’s annual budget, and manage all departmental resources.

Prepare plans and specifications for small construction and landscape projects, and manage contractors in the execution of those contracts, and other construction and landscape contracts, as necessary.

Develop sections of the Master Plan for review by higher authority, specifying areas to be altered or modified.

Using available resources, develop and execute plans that implement best management practices for all areas of responsibility and that result in the most attractive campus setting possible.

Review assigned objectives and work schedules to determine most efficient assignment of personnel, equipment and consumable supplies; issue necessary directives for reassignments as required.

Determine work standards to ensure maximum output of effort; review work accomplished to ensure compliance and quality standards are met.

Maintain vehicle and pedestrian accessibility to the University under all weather conditions.

Direct snow plowing and other related services such as sanding, during winter storms and other emergencies in order to provide safe movement for the University’s staff, students and visitors.

Provide necessary support and liaison to other related departments.

Prepare reports of progress for all Landscape and Grounds activity.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Initiate and present factual and statistical studies, which contain findings, analyses and recommendations.

Perform additional duties as required.

LICENSES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

Valid driver’s license required. Pesticide application license required, or attainable within 6 months.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is subject to both inside and outside work and extreme cold and hot temperatures can be encountered. The potential exists where noise, vibration, hazards, atmospheric conditions, oils and wearing a respirator might also be encountered. This position involves traveling throughout the University and could on occasion require bending, reaching, ascending and descending ladders and stairs, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, feeling, talking, and hearing. This position requires 24-hour call back in cases of emergency and supervisory presence, when required, on all shifts.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required: Bachelor's degree in agronomy, forestry, conservation of horticulture, engineering, building construction, or related field; a minimum of three years of experience supervising a full-scale grounds operation; a thorough knowledge of plant materials; ability to read and interpret construction plans and specifications; a thorough understanding of the principles applied in the development and maintenance of a large-scale landscape and grounds operation; extensive knowledge of the functions, resources and capabilities of the various skills, manpower, as a detailed knowledge of proper automotive and construction equipment usage; ability to speak effectively before faculty and administrative staff members on assigned work and related subjects; familiarity with and ability to effectively use standard computer programs, preferably Microsoft Word, Excel and Access; ability to travel throughout the campus; ability to interpret institutional policies, plans, and regulations, and to communicate the interpretation to others; ability to prepare and present detailed studies and make recommendations. Preferred: Minimum of 6 years of experience supervising a full-scale grounds operation involving the development, management and operations of similar functions in private industry or a government agency.

TO APPLY:

Submit (no emails or faxes, please) a resume and cover letter postmarked by 07-14-08 to:

Salary Range: $57,155-$72,151
Jerome B. Sidio, Search Chair
Requisition # 12195
University of Rhode Island
PO Box G
Kingston, RI 02881

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.