Manager or Director, Custodial & Grounds Operations (Facilities Maintenance)

Colgate University

Manager or Director, Custodial & Grounds Operations (Facilities Maintenance)

Requisition Number: 2026S071Posting

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Division: Finance and Administration

Department: Facilities - Grounds

Wage/Salary Range: Manager $80,000-$95,000/ Director $95,000-$100,000

Department Statement:

It is the mission of the Facilities Department at Colgate University to create the safest, cleanest, and most comfortable environment that further distinguishes Colgate University as a world-class educational institution. We work hard as part of a unified team, to make everyone who arrives on campus feel welcomed.

“One team, one mission”

The Facilities Department provides the physical environment, utilities, and facilities support services necessary to promote the educational and research activities of the university. To ensure quality service to our community, we provide strong coordination and communication between multi-functional groups and our customers, with a customer-oriented approach. Training and development of self-directed teams promotes a work environment that encourages employee initiative, engagement and development.

Accountabilities:

Accountabilities (both levels)

• Coaches, develops and supports grounds and/or custodial leadership,

helping them build teams that take pride in their work.

• Partners with grounds and/or custodial supervisors to keep campus

grounds, buildings, athletic fields, and outdoor event spaces safe, well-kept,

and up to community standards.

• Sets clear expectations for regular grounds and building inspections, follows

up with supervisors on fixes, and proactively catches safety and

maintenance issues.

• Coaches supervisors through hiring, scheduling, and disciplinary decisions,

ensuring alignment with Colgate's union agreements and employment law.

• Builds strong working relationships across campus, so other departments

view grounds and custodial services teams as responsive, trusted partners.

Additional Accountabilities at the Director Level

• Oversees both grounds and custodial functions together, coordinating

supervisors across both so campus events run smoothly and setup/cleanup

don't disrupt the rest of campus.

• Builds a clear operating plan and manages spending across both

departments, staying within budget while maintaining the campus

standards our community expects.

• Negotiates vendor terms independently and holds vendors to Colgate's

standards, so contracts and equipment purchases are cost-effective and

dependable.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (required for either level)

• Demonstrated progression of responsibility in grounds, custodial, or

facilities operations, including experience supervising staff and managing

budgets.

• Experience supervising union staff and applying collective bargaining

agreements to day-to-day staffing, scheduling, and performance decisions.

• A proven track record of building maintenance or operations plans and

execution, using scheduling or project management software to keep work

on track.

• Experience hiring, coaching, and managing performance for a team,

including fair, well-documented decisions.

• Experience managing a budget and working with vendors or contractors.

Additional Qualifications for Director-Level Consideration

• Experience independently negotiating vendor and contractor agreements.

• Experience leading both grounds and custodial functions, or leading through

supervisors across more than one function at once.

• A track record of setting multi-year operating plans and operating with a

high degree of autonomy.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working in higher education.

- Experience overseeing both grounds and custodial functions.

- Familiarity with landscaping techniques and best practices.

Education

A bachelor's degree in facilities management, horticulture, business, or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and progressive hands-on experience.

Other Information

This position is deemed essential under the University's Essential Personnel Policy.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Work Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 7a-3:30p — with some evenings/weekends needed for snowstorms, emergencies, and big campus events.

Job Open Date: 10/07/2026

Job Close Date:

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions Summary

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to: https://apptrkr.com/9886430

The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS

The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at mailto:cusafety@colgate.edu.

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