Grounds Supervisor/Manager

Voted one of Baltimore’s top workplaces, the St. Paul’s Schools, a family of independent schools, located in Brooklandville, Maryland is pleased to announce an opening for a full-time Grounds Superintendent to start as soon as possible.   

School Overview: 

With more than 1,400 students from ages 6 weeks to grade 12, St. Paul’s Pre and Lower School (coed), St. Paul’s School for Boys, and St. Paul’s School for Girls share a 120-acre campus, an Episcopal affiliation, and a focus on developing confident, well-balanced students who will use their education and ethics to improve the world. 

A coordinated structure allows The St. Paul’s Schools to preserve the small school feel within each school while sharing resources and certain programs to maximize opportunities for students. With St. Paul’s unique model, boys and girls are taught together and separately at just the right times in their development.  The St. Paul’s School is a community that leads with love and creates and a community of authentic belonging. 

St. Paul’s School for Boys, founded in 1849, is a college-preparatory day school serving boys in grades 5 through 12. The school’s mission, “Seek truth, knowledge, and excellence; live by faith, compassion, and integrity,” is the daily standard for all members of our community. St. Paul’s School for Boys’ students are thoughtful young men who thrive in an educational community that emphasizes strong relationships, personal growth, and the collective pursuit of integrity. 

Success Traits of the Candidate:

• Ability to inspire, motivate, and lead teams effectively while fostering collaboration and strong communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills to provide exceptional service, address needs promptly, and ensure satisfaction.
• Demonstrates reliability, dedication, and a commitment to consistently delivering high-quality results.
• A proactive, enthusiastic attitude towards implementing improvements and driving positive change.

Key Responsibilities, Knowledge, Aptitude and Other Traits: 

The primary responsibilities for this position would include oversight of all grounds upkeep of our 120-acre campus that is composed of various common areas, roadways, walkways, landscape beds, and athletic fields. This is a 12-month position reporting to our Director of Operations. 

Grounds Management: 

• Plan, direct, and supervise all activities related to the maintenance of school grounds, including lawns, gardens, athletic fields, playgrounds, and parking lots.
• Develop and implement schedules for mowing, pruning, fertilizing, irrigation, pest control, and general upkeep of outdoor areas.
• Oversee preparation and maintenance of athletic fields to meet safety and performance standards.
• Coordinate and promptly plan for and respond to weather-related emergencies, such as snow or storms. 
• Serve as additional staff member for large event setups on campus such as graduations, celebrations and ‘all hands-on deck’ needs.

Personnel Management:

• Recruit, train, and supervise groundskeeping staff, ensuring work is completed efficiently and to a high standard.
• Schedule and assign tasks to team members, ensuring optimal productivity and effective resource use.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide feedback to employees.
• Participate in and attend all operations teams’ meetings as a positive contributor to the team.

 Equipment and Supplies:

• Maintain an inventory of groundskeeping tools, vehicles, and equipment, ensuring proper maintenance and safe operation.
•  Coordinate repairs, replacements, and procurement of new equipment as necessary.
• Monitor and manage budgets for groundskeeping supplies and equipment.
• Develop and enforce policies for the safe use of chemicals, machinery, and tools.

 Planning and Reporting:

• Develop long-term plans for landscaping improvements and maintenance projects.
• Prepare reports and recommendations on groundskeeping activities, costs, and future needs.
• Collaborate with the director of operations to plan and prioritize special projects or events. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required with a degree in horticulture, landscaping, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2-4 years of proven experience as a Grounds Superintendent or other managerial role with experience in planning grounds operations. 
• Must be well versed in all maintenance processes including health and safety regulations with solid understanding of technical aspects of chemical applications, irrigation systems, fertilizer applications, horticultural techniques, athletic field setup, and snow removal processes.
• Working knowledge of Grounds machines and equipment.
• Must be able to communicate with all campus constituencies.
• Possess outstanding organizational and leadership abilities.
• On a regular and continuous basis, exercise sound judgement and assume responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on people, costs, and/or quality of service within the maintenance department.
• Possess a Maryland State Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicators License or the ability to acquire within 90 days of employment

Compensation and Benefits:

At St. Paul’s Schools, we are dedicated to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every individual is celebrated for their unique strengths and contributions. We believe that diversity enriches education, empowering students to reach their fullest potential. By embracing a culture of inclusion, we prepare our students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. We stand firmly against all forms of prejudice, including those related to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical appearance. 

The St. Paul’s Schools has a compensation scale based on direct years of experience and degree held.  Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidates’ years of experience, education and skills.  For this opportunity, our salary range is $65,000 to $68,000 annually.   Candidates with additional experience or qualifications may be offered a salary outside of the range shown.  In addition, full-time team members gain access to our robust benefits package designed to support your well-being, inside and outside of work. This includes a competitive healthcare package (medical, dental, and vision), disability protection, participation in our 403(b)-retirement plan which has an immediate employer contribution and a generous time off package, including wellness days because we believe you may need a day off ‘just because!’. 

Beyond the basics, we offer extras like a lunch stipend, access to multiple fitness centers on campus and professional development experiences to continue your learning.  In addition, full-time employees who choose The St. Paul’s Schools for their children’s educational journey, are eligible to receive a tuition remission benefit.  Your salary will be commensurate with your experience and reflect the value you bring to our team. 

Ready to join our team? Please submit your cover letter, resume, and list of references to Shannon Duckett, Executive Director of Human Resources, at sduckett@stpaulsmd.org. The St. Paul’s Schools embraces diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.