Overview of Director, Grounds and Landscape
The Director of Grounds and Landscape leads the strategic stewardship and daily operations of Purdue University Northwest’s exterior environments at the Hammond Campus, ensuring a safe, sustainable, and welcoming setting that reflects the University’s academic mission and brand standards. This role oversees horticulture and arboriculture programs; turf and irrigation; landscape construction and renewal; hardscapes and outdoor furnishings; and vendor/contractor performance. The Director is responsible for snow and ice response leadership, ensuring timely and effective mitigation of winter weather hazards to maintain campus safety and accessibility.
The Director also manages event support for campus activities, including commencement, athletics, and other special events, coordinating grounds preparation and restoration to enhance the experience for all participants.
In addition to on-site leadership at Hammond, the Director serves in an advisory role to support grounds-related issues at the Westville Campus and Gabis Arboretum, offering technical guidance, standards alignment, project consultation, and coordination of shared best practices. Through collaborative leadership of staff and service partners, proactive communication, and data-informed decision making, the Director advances campus appearance, resilience, and user experience across all supported locations.
Salary Range: $65,000 - $77,000
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Duties and Responsiblities of Director, Grounds and Landscape
- Directs all daily operations for grounds and landscape at the Hammond Campus, including horticulture, turf management, irrigation, hardscape maintenance, pond management and vendor oversight.
- Ensures campus appearance, safety, and compliance with environmental and accessibility standards.
- Leads planning and execution of snow and ice mitigation strategies to maintain campus safety and accessibility during winter weather events.
- Coordinates staff, equipment, and external partners for timely response and recovery.
- Coordinates grounds preparation, restoration, and support for campus events such as commencement, athletics, alumni gatherings, and other special functions.
- Partners with event organizers to ensure grounds readiness and post-event recovery.
- Provides technical guidance, standards alignment, and project consultation for grounds-related issues at the Westville Campus and Gabis Arboretum.
- Facilitates best practice sharing and supports local teams in problem-solving and planning.
- Manages and develops grounds staff, oversees training and performance, and leads long-range planning for landscape improvements.
- Develops and manages budgets, sets service levels, and ensures alignment with university goals and stakeholder expectations.
Benefits of Director, Grounds and Landscape
- Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
- Accrue 22 days’ vacation plus roll over
- University contribution of 10% to retirement immediately
- University contributions to Health Savings Account –
- Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
- 10 paid holidays
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
- Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus
For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Education of Director, Grounds and Landscape
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Bachelor’s degree required.
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Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Facilities Management, or a related field is preferred.
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An Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience of Director, Grounds and Landscape
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience managing grounds, landscape, or facilities operations in an institutional, commercial, or public environment or related field.
- Demonstrated managerial experience within a diverse workforce and multi-department setting.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between campuses as needed.
- Must meet the Minimum Driver Qualifications as defined by the Use of Vehicles for University Business Policy.
- Ability to respond to after-hours campus emergencies and inclement weather events.
- Possess an Indiana Pesticide License 3A and/or 3B.
Core Competencies of Director, Grounds and Landscape
- Strong knowledge of turf and plant material maintenance, landscape design, and snow/ice removal operations.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Personnel management, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff.
- Budget development and fiscal management.
- Proficiency with basic computer programs (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) and work order systems.
- Ability to troubleshoot grounds and facilities issues and coordinate solutions.
- Knowledge of environmental, safety, and accessibility standards relevant to grounds operations.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and provide technical guidance in an advisory capacity.
Additional Information
Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.
Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.
Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.
PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.