Job Description

Title: Assistant Superintendent of Grounds
Division Name: Finance and Planning
Department: Campus Services Division / Grounds

Job Summary

Under administrative supervision from the Superintendent of Grounds, this position plans, organizes, directs, and implements the goals and objectives of Grounds Operations, serving as second in command.

Responsible for 400+ acres of the campus of Illinois State University. This includes maintenance, design, and long-range planning for all outdoor lawns, pest control, trees, flower beds, and other horticultural areas.

Prepares landscape designs, approves plant selection, and oversees the installation of landscape projects throughout campus. Oversees ornamental horticulture maintenance programs for campus green spaces including greenhouses, turf areas, lawns, trees, shrubs, and other plant materials. Responsible for administrative functions such as budget planning and forecasting. Serves as the horticulture expert for campus and community events and committees such as Tree Campus Higher Education.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

For more University Benefit information: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/ 

Information regarding eligibility for participation in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program can be reviewed here https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/insurance/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$65,000 - $70,000 annual

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent

2. Any one or combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) form the categories below:

-Coursework in horticulture, landscape design, or a closely related field as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
-30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
-Associate’s degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
-90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months

3. Additional one (1) year (12 months) of supervisory work experience in grounds maintenance.

4. Valid State of Illinois driver’s license (see note)

5 Must complete a post-offer pre-employment physical. Employment is contingent on the successful results of the physical.

NOTE: Must acquire a Class C non-CDL driver’s license within first five (5) months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge of planting, care, and maintenance of lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowers including chemical applications, inspection, and assessment of plants.
2. Experience development design plans for green spaces.
3. Eligibility for licensure to apply pesticides under the Illinois Pesticides Act, the category of the license depending on the nature of the work to be performed; the license must be obtained with the probationary period.
4. Knowledge of and previous experience supervising greenhouse operations.
5. Experience with the tools and equipment required to successfully perform job duties.
6. Project management experience in supervising ornamental horticulture landscape projects of varying sizes.
7. Experience in preparing budgets for Grounds projects, annual planting needs and purchase or replacement of equipment.
8. Strong communication skills in order to interact with the general public as well as other University personnel.

Work Hours

Core work hours: Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Ability to stand for long periods of time
2. Must be able to bend, twist, kneel or crouch for up to three hours at a time
3. Ability to lift 50 pounds

Work Environment - temperatures can reach extremes in summer months and winter during planting and maintenance seasons. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors.

Proposed Starting Date

August 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Transcripts - See Special Instructions to Applicants for additional options
Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.

College or university transcripts (may be unofficial) must be submitted prior to the application deadline to receive full consideration. Transcripts can either be uploaded with your application or submitted via the options listed below.

To be eligible for Veteran's Preference points on the exam, appropriate military service documentation such as a DD-214 must be submitted prior to the application deadline.

Transcripts and/or military service documentation may be emailed, faxed, or mailed to Human Resources by the application deadline:

Fax: 309.438.0011, Attn: Colette Homan
Address: Illinois State University
Human Resources
Campus Box 1300
Normal, IL 61790-1300

The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois.

Contact Information for Applicants

Colette Homan
Human Resources
309-438-8848
cshoman@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University 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, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.