Career Center

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $150,000 - $175,000

Position Summary

The Director of Grounds, Waste, and Campus Logistics provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all grounds, maintenance, landscaping, waste management, recycling, snow removal, fleet coordination, and campus logistics functions across assigned University campuses. 

Reporting to the Assistance Vice President of Operations, the Director ensures that all campus exterior environments and related operational services are maintained in a safe, compliant, and sustainable manner. This role is responsible for long-term planning, fiscal management, regulatory compliance, staff strategy, emergency response readiness, and cross-function collaboration in support of the University's operational excellence and sustainability goals. 

Responsibilities

Grounds Management:

• Oversees the maintenance and care of all turf, planting areas, trees, and landscaped environments, including long-term landscape development and habitat protection initiatives
• Develops and implements comprehensive snow removal plans and serves on call during weather-related events and campus emergencies

Waste & Sustainability Operations:

• Oversees and serves as liaison for waste removal, reduction, and recycling initiatives in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, Custodial Services, and Dining Services

Campus Logistics & Loading Dock Operations

• Oversees the operations of campus loading docks to ensure the safe, efficient, and timely receipt and distribution of goods across University facilities
• Coordinates inbound and outbound shipments with vendors, freight carriers, and internal departments to support campus logistics, special events, construction projects, and other operational needs
• Establishes and enforces loading dock policies, scheduling procedures, and access controls to maintain orderly operations and minimize congestion
• Oversees the maintenance and operational readiness of loading dock infrastructure and equipment, including dock levelers, lifts, roll-up doors, forklifts, pallet jacks, and security/access systems
• Monitors delivery volumes, carrier performance, and operational metrics to improve efficiency, service levels, and campus logistics coordination
• Coordinates centralized fleet management activities in collaboration with Transportation and ensures adherence to vehicle policies and procedures 
• Leads logistical planning and operational support for University special events and campus-wide initiatives

Operational Administration:

• Develops staffing plans, oversees recruitment, training, and performance management for union and non-union staff, and supervises contractors and vendors supporting grounds and waste operations
• Supervises personnel, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management, and develops standard operations procedures for dock operations
• Ensures compliance with all New York City, State, and Federal regulations and codes, including pesticide application standards and environmental requirements
• Ensures compliance with OSHA standards, University policies, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations; conducts routine safety inspections and maintains safe operating practices
• Monitors safety practices and promotes a culture of safety across all operational functions
• Establishes and enforces departmental policies, procedures, and service standards aligned with University objectives
• Develops and administers operating and capital budgets; monitors expenditures; maintains appropriate financial documentation and controls
• Evaluates immediate and long-range operational needs and recommends capital priorities for grounds, waste, fleet, and logistics functions
• Maintains vendor contracts and service agreements, including municipal maintenance agreements as applicable

Performs other related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in grounds management, waste management, logistics, facilities operations, or a related field 
• Horticultural training required with NYC Certified Pesticide Applicator license
• Demonstrated experience in budget administration, staffing workflows, resource and inventory management, contract oversight, and personnel development
• Experience managing unionized workforce environments strongly preferred 
• Must be available for weather related emergencies (i.e.snow), including weekends and holidays.
• Demonstrated experience in administration of budget management, staffing workflows, resource and inventory management along 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing unionized workforce environments strongly preferred 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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