Building and Grounds Supervisor jobs in Oakland, CA

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

Residential and Student Service Programs (RSSP) is part of the Division of Student Affairs under the direction of the Assistant Vice Chancellor of RSSP. RSSP provides student housing, residential life programs, self-operated dining services for undergraduate and graduate students and their families, and child care services for students, faculty, and staff; it also conducts a year-round conference business, operates eleven campus restaurants, and manages twenty- six faculty apartments.

The Supervisor of Grounds is responsible for providing landscape and hardscape maintenance services for all outdoor areas of RSSP. This includes planning, organizing, coordinating and performing activities supporting campus exterior landscaping, including gardening, planting, landscape and grounds maintenance, development and monitoring of irrigation programming, erosion, pest management, and exterior fire control projects. The incumbent is responsible for long-range planning and development of the landscape. Monitoring of Albany and Codornices creeks for StormWater Permit compliance and ensuring compliance of Codornices Creek MOU with the City of Albany and City of Berkeley. The Grounds Supervisor keeps the grounds safe, in good repair, and the landscape healthy for all users. Incumbent provides direct grounds services to all properties within RSSP, setting levels of service and quality controls for the area, while adhering to State and or Federal regulations.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 03/23/2024.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day activities of grounds employees.
• Plans, organizes and directs routine and long-term operations for landscape maintenance, general grounds and hardscape maintenance.
• Creates long and short-term strategies in the planning, organizing and direction of all ground's operations.
• Responsible for quality control and improvements and identifies specialty contract service needs.
• Develops specifications and scope of work for required services such as tree trimming projects, re-landscaping and irrigation upgrades.
• Trains and supervises the grounds staff to maintain an orderly, safe, and efficient grounds operation.
• Ensures safety, hazardous materials, grounds policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Enforces bio-hazardous material and equipment policies and procedures.
• Develops strategies and procedures to reduce chemical usage and support a sustainable landscape.
• Maintains proper inventory needs and purchases inventory.
• Research equipment/tools.
• Assists with annual budget planning and monitors monthly expenses.
• Maintains scheduling and purchases within prescribed budgetary guidelines.
• Responsible for performance management and coaching of staff.
• Hire, train, evaluate, discipline and terminate staff, following labor contract and UC policies.
• Assists Director in developing Ground unit operating budgets and with budget planning and maintenance.
• Provide excellent customer service and communications for all levels of staff and customers.
• May be responsible for coordinating programs (water abatement, weed abatement & irrigation) with various municipalities such as East Bay Mud, East Bay Regional Parks, PG&E and City of Berkeley, Albany, et cetera.
• Vehicle custodian for maintenance and trades and grounds, responsible for coordination of vehicle maintenance and safety inspections.
• Responsible during emergencies to make decisions and authorize overtime.
• Develop and implement emergency procedures by staff to relieve hazardous conditions until proper repairs can be made.
• Responsible for after- hours grounds related emergency services.

Required Qualifications

• Solid working knowledge in grounds services, irrigation systems including central controllers, care and use of tools and power equipment.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills in the English language, including active listening, flexibility, critical thinking, and the ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.
• Solid decision making and reasoning skills, and ability to develop original ideas to solve problems and conduct operations analysis and quality control analysis.
• Effective interpersonal and work leadership skills to provide guidance to other personnel.
• Ability to provide plant and pest identification.
• Basic computer applications skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent training/experience.
• Academic prep in horticulture.
• 3 years of progressively responsible landscape maintenance experience
• 3 years landscape maintenance supervision.
• Experience with diverse, large scale landscape elements including but not limited to turf grass management, herbaceous and woody ornamental plant identification and culture, irrigation scheduling and troubleshooting, Integrated pest management arboriculture, landscape design and construction.
• The ability to establish short and long-range goals for a living landscape and work systematically toward their successful implementation.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to write clear, concise reports or correspondence and interact professionally and effectively within all levels of an organization.
• Experience operating and maintaining landscape maintenance equipment including but limited to the following: tractor mowers, push mowers, aerator, chain saws, line trimmers, dump trucks.
• Knowledge and understanding of safety regulations procedures requisite with landscape maintenance equipment and activities.
• Basic computer skills to work in Word, Excel, and email.
• Knowledge of ANSI A 300 Part 1 - Standard Pruning practices.
• The ability to read, understand and comment on blueprints and construction drawings.
• QAL (Qualified Applicators License -- pesticide applicators license) may be required.
• Bloodborne pathogen and sharps disposal training.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) exempt career position, which is paid monthly and eligible for UC Benefits.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $83,720.00 - $111,050.00.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

• A valid driver's license and DMV check for driving record is required.

Diversity Statement

Please include, as part of your application a brief (1-2 paragraph) statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in your professional experience.

Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our UC Berkeley Principles of Community, which states that "every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring, and humane environment in which these values can thrive."

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Physical Exam

• Employment is contingent upon passing a physical exam.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.