Campus Grounds Supervisor

Covenant College

Campus Grounds Supervisor

Be part of a team shaping biblically grounded men and women for extraordinary callings in ordinary places. At Covenant College, our work is rooted in Reformed theology and a commitment to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

Our 400-acre campus atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, offers breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains and seven states, while keeping you just minutes from the vibrancy of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Here, faith, learning, and service intersect, creating a culture where you can grow, lead, and make a lasting impact.

Bring your gifts to Covenant College and help shape the next generation of servant leaders in a community that values excellence, mission, and faith-driven purpose.

Job Title: Campus Grounds Supervisor

Reports to: Assistant Director of Facilities Management

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Summary

The Campus Grounds Supervisor reports to the Assistant Director of Facilities Management to manage the operations and performance of the entire campus grounds, which include the main campus, athletic fields, and cross country trails, and for timely campus inclement weather response as needed. The position is responsible for providing high quality campus grounds experience to the community.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manage student and staff employee labor in the department.

• Manage, develop, and motivate staff. Completing timely communication of performance evaluations. Inspecting the quality of work expected to be completed.

• Ensure campus needs are met, and all work practices remain consistent with all safety, quality, and department policy expectations.

• Conducting training, inspecting work products and procedures, tracking, and approving time.

• Ensure the department's full participation in the electronic work-request and preventative maintenance system in order to achieve appropriate performance metrics of the Grounds department staff, workload, and budget.

• Establish standards and procedures, focusing on strategies for departmental effectiveness.

• Work with the Assistant Director to plan ground renewal projects by evaluating campus landscapes and turf for improvement opportunities in quality, vitality, and aesthetic beauty.

• Watch for long-term care issues as they relate to campus landscapes, turf, shrubs, and trees. (i.e., disease, erosion, rot, pests, etc.)

• Oversee all areas of safety procedures and policies.

• Maintenance of the department's MSDS information.

• Participate in the development of the safety and emergency response plan for inclement weather, particularly for winter storms, which may include responding in the event of storms throughout the year.

• Maintain a safe and orderly shop work area, as well as work sites around campus.

• Identify and ensure the use of proper personal protective equipment and proper procedure in all chemical handling, confined space entry, and fire/explosion hazards within the department.

• Be able to work closely with the campus community in providing clear communication and assistance by:

• Responding to needs for outdoor campus events.

• Maintenance schedule conflicts and problematic grounds conditions.

• Identify, schedule, manage, and perform all cultural activities required for the health and vitality of campus grounds, including but not limited to fertilizing, aerating, topdressing, chemical spraying, pesticides, pruning, mulching, and leaf removal.

• Manage contracts with outside vendors.

• Evaluate and approve requisitions, as well as track supplies and materials in relation to keeping the department within budget.

• Work with the Assistant Director to develop annual grounds budgets and goals, assessing progress periodically.

• Plan and manage routine and preventative maintenance schedules of the equipment and property, participating as needed in the maintenance and repair.

• Plan reclamation and development projects for improving safety function, visibility, and scenic vistas.

• Ensure all maintenance and project areas remain tidy in appearance and track all work to be completed.

• Be on call for safety and emergency response efforts in the event of storms throughout the year, particularly winter storms. Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Assistant Director.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Ability to use workplace technologies and quickly learn, adapt to, and effectively navigate new software, systems, and digital tools.
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to effectively interact with a wide range of internal and external constituencies
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Self-motivated with the ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision
• Ability to drive campus vehicles
• Ability to coordinate priorities, manage workflow demands, and support other departments.

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This role is expected to be performed on campus unless otherwise directed or arranged for, and operates primarily outdoors or in maintenance facilities and occasionally in a professional office environment.
• Generally, college hours of operation for full-time staff are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, as needed.
Travel is not required for this position other than for occasional training or professional advancement opportunities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• This position is physically demanding and will require any or all of the following: Standing, walking, sitting, lifting, pushing, carrying, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing, balancing, reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, operating, proper body mechanics, mechanical rolling accommodation, color vision, environmental condition wet, humid, hot, cold, noise and vibration.
• Able to work in environments where grass, plants, flowers, pollen, etc., are present, without diminished capacity due to allergies.
• Expressing or exchanging ideas, directives, and conversation using spoken and written English fluently.
• Use of standard office equipment.
• Ability to regularly lift 30 lbs

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Pesticide applicator license or the ability to obtain.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-faceted department as well as creatively solve problems, motivate employees, and exercise sound judgment.
• Minimum 7 years of applicable work experience in planning and organizational management or in landscape and turf maintenance strategies.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Management experience

FAITHMISSION ALIGNMENT

• Acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, demonstrated in personal life and conduct.
• An understanding of the mission and purpose of Covenant College.
• Ability to assent to Covenant's Statement of Community Beliefs and Staff Commitments.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants should apply at the Covenant College Job Board and submit both a rsum and a statement of faith or Christian experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.