Executive Director

JOB SUMMARY

This position reports under the District Manager and oversees the maintenance, management, and operations of designated golf courses within The Villages. Through the oversight and supervision of construction and maintenance contractors and working directly with Village Community Development District staff including Property Management, Arnett Environmental, and any other related/required Villages departments, ensures all contractual obligations are met, resulting in consistent playing conditions throughout The Villages that meet or exceed the residents’ expectations.  

Of equal importance, this position is responsible for maintaining and/or enhancing resident and community relations through:

• Proactive response and resolution to resident concerns regarding Executive golf course conditions, along with
• The provision of ongoing resident education as to course conditions, upcoming projects, challenges, etc.                                                  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Includes, but not limited to)  

General

• Communicates regularly with required members of management group(s) to discuss activities, goals, plans, and resident input.
• Attends and actively participates in Executive Golf Advisory Group.
• Attends all other required committee, resident and/or Board meetings as required. 

Budget/Finance

• Prepares annual budget for maintenance and capital improvements to courses reflecting necessary and requested expenditures with required documentation and support, and within indicated timeframe.
• Prepares and maintains required reports necessary to accurately reflect actual costs to current budgets.

Project Management

• Develops and maintains an ongoing project list for all assigned golf courses and submit resulting proposals through the Districts budgetary process to ensure approval within necessary timeframes.
• Works within District protocols and procedures related to bid process to establish contracts, source, and select contractors.
• Oversees all projects through completion, to ensure project goals are met within timeframe, degreed levels of performance and cost constraints agreed upon.

Resident/Community Relations

• Responds to and handles resident problems and complaints.
• Identifies areas of improvement, review findings with management team and develop action plans to successfully meet objectives.
• Coordinates activities with golf course professionals and staff, always maintaining good public relations.
• Develops and maintains ongoing communication mediums (i.e., website, speaking at meetings, etc.) to educate the residents on course conditions, upcoming maintenance procedures, and projects.  

Course Maintenance and Evaluation

• Works with Arnett Environmental and District Property Management on water allocation and associated issues, ensuring that contractors are managing water use effectively.
• Works with District Property Management to resolve issues that arise regarding maintenance of buildings and well as issues on the golf course outside of standard maintenance (i.e., depressions, etc.).
• Works with Golf Operations Manager regarding maintenance closures.
• Tours routinely courses with appropriate staff/contractor a minimum of once a month, more often as needed, to ensure contractors are meeting requirements in accurately determining the need for irrigation, seeding rates, fertilization rates, sod cutting, and cutting turf grass on fairways, tees, greens, and roughs; raking sand traps, proper care and cultivation of shrubs, trees, and flowers; pruning, trimming and spraying, including the application of pesticides, fertilizer, fungicides, and insecticides to treat the course.
• Creates and maintains an approved course evaluation system to ensure expectations are being met.

Additional                                                                             

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May be expected to perform additional duties in an emergency.          

ESSENTIAL EXPECTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOR (Includes, but not limited to)

• Cultivates and maintains effective working relations within the department, the District, as well as outside of the organization.

• Models behavior to the District Core Values at all times.
• Cultivates and maintains effective working relations within the department, the District, as well as outside of the organization.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE  

• Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, or Horticulture plus two (2) years of turf management which must have been in a supervisory or lead worker capacity, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with southern grasses.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as a golf course superintendent; multiple course oversight a plus.  

MINIMUM CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid Florida Driver’s License required.
• Required FEMA (ICS) certifications must be completed within six months of hire.
• Noncommercial Pesticide Applications Certificate.
• All candidates and employees must successfully pass background screening.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge

• Demonstrates proven and considerable knowledge in:
  • Financial management, including developing operating budgets, forecasting, capital expenditure planning.
  • Bid process and contracts administration.
  • Methods, equipment and materials used in maintaining a golf course; mixing and administering chemicals used in treating turf; automatic irrigation systems.
• Intermediate or better proficiency in computer systems and programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Exhibits good knowledge of:
  • General repair and maintenance procedures; landscaping equipment including tractors, irrigation systems, sprinklers and edger’s.

• Practices and principles of effective supervision Understanding and current knowledge of the rules of golf, as well as federal, state, and local laws on golf course operations including but not limited to employment, safety and environmental stewardship standards, laws and regulations.

Skills                                                                    

• Perform work requiring a moderate amount of physical stamina outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• High degree of administrative and executive ability, especially in terms of problem solving and decision making.  

Abilities

• Able to successfully build collaborative working relationships, and deal effectively and in a positive manner with residents, public, contractors/vendors, and all other business associates.
• Able to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and electronically; to successfully understand, follow and transmit written and oral instructions.

EQUIPMENT

Position regularly requires the use of office equipment, including but not limited to telephones, personal computers and productivity software; Vehicle (truck, car or golf cart) and occasional use of digital cameras.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS  

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job the employee will be exposed to the following:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the following applies:

• Regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand; talk or hear, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
• Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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