Grounds And Turf Manager

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Foundation Summary
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation envisions a Chicagoland comprised of thriving communities where all individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed, without regard to income, race, ethnicity, gender, or ZIP code. We invest in people and organizations across the region to develop educated, informed, and engaged communities. The Foundation was established in 1955 upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor, and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Foundation's philanthropic investments of more than $1.8 billion to date are currently focused on Chicago's South and West Sides and on the following issues: early childhood education, public safety, community development, veterans, and journalism.
Robert R. McCormick Charitable Trust and designated Cantigny as a public space for education and recreation. Cantigny Park is home to the McCormick House, First Division Museum, formal gardens, picnic grounds, and walking trails. Cantigny is host to numerous special events, concerts, weddings, garden tours, museum tours, lectures, horticulture workshops, fitness classes, and more throughout the year.
Position Summary
Cantigny is seeking a full-time Grounds and Turf Manager to manage and lead seasonal and daily turf grass, picnic area, hardscape operations.
The Grounds and Turf Manager has the opportunity to develop and implement policies, strategies and schedules to provide sound oversight of existing irrigation systems, lawns, permeable and impermeable hardscape surfaces, benches and picnic tables and corresponding machinery equipment. This will positively impact Cantigny's aesthetics and safety and the overall visitor experience.
This position requires an experienced grounds manager and supervisor with irrigation system and repair. The successful candidate works well and closely with other divisions of the Cantigny horticulture department and supports organizational goals and initiatives. Sound knowledge and broad perspectives are expected to make recommendations and inform solutions affecting quality of soils, turf areas and garden bed interfaces and public-space hardscapes. A high level of flexibility is required across the year as projects, tasks, equipment and workforce resources change seasonally.
Success in this job requires a collaborative, team-centered approach with excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Spanish. Independent work is expected as is use and supervision of seasonal staff or community labor support for operations.
This position will report to the Director of Horticulture and will work with staff divisions across the Cantigny horticulture department (gardens, forestry, natural areas and greenhouse), internal cohort departments (guest services, security, programming) and occasionally liaise or coordinate with contracted turf care staff on the adjacent golf course property.
Essential Functions
• Develop and implement policies, schedules and programs to and manage Cantigny's turfgrass, picnic, Tank Park and hardscape areas.
• Actively monitor and scout all turf grass areas for irrigation/watering efficacy as well as check for malfunctioning irrigation system sprinklers, valves, quick-connectors, leaks, drainage issues and initiates repair accordingly.
• Actively scout and monitor all turf grass areas for disease and pest issues and work with Director of Horticulture to create seasonal fertilization and plant protectant programs to ensures products are applied in a safe and timely manner to maximize efficacy.
• Ensure all turf areas, brick pathways/patios, sidewalks and parking lots are swept/blown, litter-free, maintained and manicured to the finest detail.
• Oversee small-scale path repairs of asphalt on roads or paths and assist with identification and planning for drainage systems, irrigation improvements and periodic landscape installations,
• Designs system, purchases components and supervising all aspects of installation.
• Winterize all existing irrigation systems throughout the property.
• Coordinate and supervise regimens of care and maintenance of all physical and technological components of the property's irrigation system.
• Hire, train and supervise seasonal staff, intern/apprentice or third-party contracted labor. Communication required in both English and Spanish.
• Communicate, coordinate, and collaborate internally with forestry division of the horticulture department any needs involving tree health, pruning or removal and the gardens division involving aesthetics, lawn-to-garden bed interfaces. Same is expected with cohort departments that related to visitor safety, special event/programming logistics, set-up, vendor site access, etc.
• Prepare reports and presentations on Grounds and Turf care operations.
• Contribute to the creation and constraints of the horticulture department annual budget to meet organization-wide initiatives and financial goals.
• Participate in operational and budgetary committee meetings and sharing the needs and concerns of grounds division of the horticulture department.
• Oversee/Manage the seasonal snow removal program from key access roads, parking lots and prioritized building egress across Cantigny and Cantigny Golf.
• Performs other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate or Bachelor Degree in turf grass, sports-turf or horticultural desirable.
Experience: Minimum of 7 years experience combined grounds, athletic field, park/recreation or turf grass management experience, including a minimum of 5 years experience with irrigation systems and minimum 3 years supervisory experience. Technical coursework or practical experience as a machine operator of large truck, tractor, skid loader, etc. desirable.
Skills: Fluency in Spanish and English. Illinois Pesticide Applicator License or ability to obtain within six (6) months of start date. Excellent written and verbal communications. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Able to lift 50 pounds. Electronic- or print-mapping talent desirable.
Supervisory Responsibility:
Participates in the hire, performance management, budgeting and coaching of seasonal turf care technicians or hardscape maintenance workers. General guidance and supervision of any third-party labor vendor assigned with seasonal tasks on the property.
Working Conditions:
Full-time position. Work is performed primarily outdoors in potentially adverse weather conditions with some indoor office obligations. Full-time position. Ability to work occasional weekends, evenings or holidays as needed to schedule activities or maintenance with minimal negative impact on human health/safety and park event programming. Occasional natural hazard-related work may be required when flooding, wind damage or heavy snow/ice events occur.
Vaccination Requirement
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation requires as a condition of employment that all employees are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) or have been approved for an accommodation based on a medical condition or conflicting religious belief.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Cantigny Park and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, individuals with disabilities, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital and housing status.