Associate Director for Grounds, Landscape, and Recycling

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director for Maintenance and Operations and working under general direction the Associate Director for Grounds Landscape and Recycling provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all campus grounds landscaping irrigation and outdoor recycling services in Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O). The incumbent establishes service standards policies and fiscal controls and ensures compliance with University CSU and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include budget development and forecasting vendor / contract administration safety and risk management regulatory compliance and enterprise-level reporting.

The Associate Director is responsible for maintaining University outdoor environment including campus grounds service levels in alignment with university beautification expectations. This position also integrates university-wide sustainability initiatives into grounds operations including AASHE STARS reporting CSU carbon neutrality goals and campus water conservation targets. The role directs implementation of ecologically managed landscape practices such as organic land care integrated pest management use of native and drought-tolerant plantings soil health and regenerative practices and sustainable stormwater management infrastructure.

The Associate Director stewards cross-departmental initiatives with the Office of Sustainability Utilities Distribution Environmental Health and Safety Planning Design and Construction and Athletics providing oversight through an Assistant Manager for Division I athletics grounds. Supports the use of campus grounds as a Living Laboratory collaborating with faculty students and the Office of Sustainability to integrate academic research applied projects and educational opportunities into grounds operations while maintaining safety and service standards.

The Associate Director oversees an assigned operating budget and directs resource allocation to ensure continuity of operations with a focus on long-term sustainability. The incumbent sets standards and approves plans for maintenance schedules performance metrics and quality assurance programs while holding employees and contractors accountable for execution and documentation through the FD&O work management system. The Associate Director authorizes procurement of contractors and vendors supervises personnel management through subordinate managers and contributes to the formulation interpretation and implementation of policies procedures and programs supporting campus grounds and recycling services.

This position is part of the Maintenance and Operations unit of FD&O which provides services to a university campus spread across five sites comprised of 167 acres 85 buildings and almost eight million gross square feet. Maintenance and Operations employs approximately 235 full-time permanent staff and up to nine part-time seasonal or contract staff. The assigned operating budget for the unit is approximately $20 million not including funds associated with maintenance and repair projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Reviews compliance reports prepared for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Office of Sustainability
• Holds managers accountable for timely pest management responses including insects bees wasps and rodents across campus buildings and grounds
• Sets standards and approves water-efficient irrigation strategies including monitoring irrigation cycles leak resolution and irrigation schedules based on ground moisture and weather data
• Sets standards and governance for the campus tree care program including policy for progressive trimming preservation and risk management and holds managers accountable for execution
• Directs soil health and fertility programs at the policy level including the use of compost organic fertilizers and regenerative soil practices while allocating resources to support long-term soil improvement
• Maintains functioning of green infrastructure planning and maintenance including rain gardens bioswales and permeable surfaces to enhance stormwater management and biodiversity
• Supports biodiversity and pollinator habitat programs including development of native plantings pollinator gardens and ecological corridors; ensures alignment with state and federal biodiversity goals
• Approves work processes and resource allocation to ensure efficient completion of assignments and responsiveness to service requests based on a prioritized deployment model
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate documentation of utility and landscape mapping systems
• Reviews and advises on deferred maintenance and major maintenance multi-year investment plans for campus grounds
• Provides feedback and guidance during the design phase of university projects and participates in construction phase oversight to ensure landscape standards and sustainability goals are met
• Approves and monitors onboarding offboarding and training programs developed by subordinate managers ensuring consistency across units and compliance with University CSU OSHA and Environmental Health and Safety standards
• Establishes performance expectations and accountability systems; reviews reports and inspections prepared by managers and directs corrective action as needed
• Provides leadership on employee performance management and progressive discipline resolving escalated issues in partnership with University Personnel and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements
• Oversees labor relations participation ensuring proper application of CSU / Union contracts; collaborates with the Associate Director on high-level labor matters
• Sets safety and workforce development priorities in partnership with Business and Administrative Services and Environmental Health and Safety ensuring training programs address risk reduction accident prevention and regulatory compliance
• Advises senior leadership on sensitive or politically complex issues providing analysis options and recommendations for resolution and ensuring unit alignment with institutional policies
• Ensures unit compliance with all regulatory requirements of local state and federal agencies having jurisdiction or authority over operational activities; to include applicable University policies and standards

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

One or more of the following qualifications are preferred :

One or more of the following qualifications are preferred :

Compensation

Classification : Administrator II

Anticipated Hiring Salary : $11667 / month

CSU Salary Range : $5053 / month - $16221 / month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents :

All applicants must apply within the specified application period : November 21 2025 through December 14 2025 . This position is open until filled; however applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 7 : 00 a.m. to 4 : 00 p.m.

Contact Information

University Personnel

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age medical condition and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found athttps : / / questions may be sent to .

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and / or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes : criminal check employment and education verification. Depending on the position a motor vehicle and / or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the universitys third-party vendor Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Officeor report any discrimination harassment and / or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification :

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements emergency preparedness and evacuation information crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at or by email at .

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at or by email at .

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age ancestry caste color disability ethnicity gender gender expression gender identity genetic information marital status medical condition military status nationality race religion religious creed sex sexual orientation sex stereotype and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students faculty and staff as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and certain other federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

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Required Experience :

Director

Key Skills

IT Sales and Marketing,Firewall,Administrative,Entry Level,Java

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1