Director, Athletics Grounds

Director, Athletics Grounds

Position Number: 40070309

Payroll Title: LANDSCAPE GROUNDS SUPV 1

Job Code: 007990

Job Open Date: 02/18/2026

Application Review Begins: 03/05/2026

Department Code (Name): ATHL (ATHLETICS)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: Grade 21

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $80,000 to $90,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $71,600 to $127,400/year.

Work Location: ICA Venues

Working Days and Hours: Monday - Sunday, as needed

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: N/A

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

UC Santa Barbara is located on the Pacific Ocean, ranks among the top-10 public universities in the nation and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The UCSB Athletics Department includes 20 intercollegiate sports teams and 450 student-athletes that compete for championships in the Big West Conference and at the NCAA Division 1 level. The Gauchos have won a record 10 Big West Conference Commissioner's Cups representing the league's all-sports champion.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Reporting to the Deputy Athletics Director - External for Intercollegiate Athletics, oversees the maintenance and operations of natural grass fields, synthetic fields, and facilities at Harder Stadium, Clemmenson Field, Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, Campus Diamond, Arnhold Tennis Center and other spaces as assigned for Intercollegiate Athletics. The employee works with coaches, staff, and the grounds crew on a daily basis to provide support to intercollegiate athletic teams and programs. Provides immediate supervision to a unit or group of operational or technical employees and must have strong skills in all areas in order to effectively oversee the staff. Supervises unit operations to ensure compliance with departmental or organizational policies, procedures, and defined internal controls. A portion of time may be spent performing individual tasks related to the unit; however, supervisory activities must constitute a primary part of the job. Ensures accountability and stewardship of department resources (operational, financial, and human) in compliance with departmental standards and procedures. Athletics fields require health monitoring, including scouting for stress, disease, and invasive weeds. They feature a variety of innovations including the synthetic sand / rubber turf mix, water cannon irrigation systems, subsurface drainage systems, and a variety of natural grass playing surfaces. Natural grass playing surfaces must maintain elite hybrid Bermuda grass to meet complex NCAA , FIFA and other collegiate and professional industry standard regulations, including precise mowing heights and playability standards. Maintenance of high-performance sports turf and synthetic surfaces field marking & logos, event preparation & practice support for NCAA Division I athletic teams, equipment operation (mowers, tractors, sweepers), irrigation installation & repair chemical application. The position also involves planning, organizing, coordinating and performing activities supporting department's sports facilities, playing fields, and exterior landscaping, including gardening, planting, landscape, grounds maintenance, erosion, pest management, and exterior fire control projects.

Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of the cultural practices required for Bermuda grass at a professional/division 1 sports level
• Ability and experience maintaining high quality low cut natural grass athletic fields.
• Ability and experience in NCAA and/or professional sport team athletic field marking and painting
• Working knowledge of reel mowers, and associated turfgrass equipment
• Working verbal and written communication skills in the English language, including active listening, flexibility, critical thinking, and the ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.
• Working decision making, reasoning, troubleshooting skills, and ability to develop original ideas to solve problems and conduct operations analysis and quality control analysis.
• Knowledge and previous experience working with NCAA Division 1/professional sport team/national sport team baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, track and field
• Working knowledge of tools and equipment related to managing a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility including lighting systems
• Knowledge of baseline irrigation system or comparable central control system
• Working, effective interpersonal and work leadership skills to provide guidance to other personnel.
• Ability to provide plant and pest identification.
• Flexibility to work varying hours
• Excellent time management skills
• Extensive knowledge of landscaping techniques and processes
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Google Docs.
• QAL (Qualified Applicators License -- pesticide applicators license) may be required.

• Bloodborne pathogen and sharps disposal training.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Turfgrass Management or related field and / or equivalent experience / training
• 3-5 years of relevant experience maintaining high quality natural and synthetic athletic fields year round. Experience in NCAA athletic field marking and painting. Experience maintaining infield diamond surfaces.

• 1-3 years Supervising grounds crews or landscape teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-3 years Working directly with NCAA coaches, athletics operations staff, and game operations
• 1-3 years Supervising union represented grounds crews or landscape teams
• Maintain QWEL Qualified Water Efficient Landscape Certifications
• Certified Reclaimed Water Site Supervisor
• Certified Landscape Water Manager

• STMA Member

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Mandated reporting requirements of Child Abuse

• UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act

• Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

• Satisfactory criminal history background check

• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 45% - Supervises and trains the facilities/landscape/groundskeeping staff as well as student crew; overseeing their day-to-day activities. Supervise and participate in the specialized maintenance of the turf and landscape at all Athletics practice and competition venues. This involves assisting with the organization and scheduling of landscape/groundskeeping operations, working with staff to provide solutions for routine and complex situations, and assisting with field maintenance on technical and operational tasks when justified. Assist with the organization and scheduling of routine landscape/groundskeeping operations. Provides on-site supervision, assists with the maintenance of intercollegiate athletics facilities-related equipment and vehicles, and works with staff to provide solutions and assists with field maintenance, potentially operating said equipment/vehicles, on technical and operational tasks and when justified.
• 20% - Creates, updates, and follows detailed facilities and field maintenance plans/schedules which highlight daily maintenance times and activities with the ability to adjust them to account for weather patterns from an agronomy perspective, yearly projects, and game-day timelines and activities for field prep.
• 10% - Monitor inventory on a facility, commodity or project basis and communicate needs to supervisor in a timely manner.
• 5% - When requested, contact vendors, receive quotes, handle logistical planning and ensure contracted projects are completed correctly.
• 5% - Checks in with coaches frequently on condition of facilities. Incorporates feedback into daily planning.
• 5% - Assist Supervisor and CFO with facility/field budget planning and maintenance.
• 5% - Ensures safety, hazardous materials and landscape/groundskeeping policies and procedures are adhered to. Maintains proper inventory needs and purchase inventory.
• 5% - Other, including professional development

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.
As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations:

The University of California endeavors to make https://jobs.ucsb.edu accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805-893-4664 or email katherine.abad@hr.ucsb.edu. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Privacy Notification Statement

Privacy Notification Statement and Notice of Availability of the UCSB Annual Security and Fire Safety Report Disclosures

Application Status: If you would like to check the status of your application, please log into the Candidate Gateway where you applied and click on 'my activities'.