"Maintenance and Grounds Manager"

Maintenance and Grounds Manager

Walla Walla Community College

Salary: $82,104.00 - $92,893.00 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 2025-1548

Location: Walla Walla, WA

Department: BUSINESS SERVICES

Closing: Continuous

Join our team to help inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services.

Description

Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking applicants for a full time Maintenance and Grounds Manager position at the Walla Walla campus.

At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by December 28, 2025 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section for more information

General Description:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Facilities and Capital Projects, the Maintenance and Grounds Manager serves as a first-line supervisor responsible for the effective oversight and operation of the Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) Maintenance and Grounds Department. This role ensures the proper care, upkeep, and functionality of all college facilities through strategic planning and daily management of department activities.

The Maintenance and Grounds Manager directs day-to-day operations, prioritizes tasks, sets project timelines, and coordinates work schedules. Responsibilities include managing department budget, assigning personnel, equipment, and resources; providing instruction on facility repairs and predictive maintenance; and ensuring safe practices in equipment operation, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and handling of hazardous materials. The position also oversees the scheduling, coordination, and documentation of all training related to maintenance services and leads campus snow and ice removal efforts, ensuring safe and uninterrupted campus operations during inclement weather and/or natural disasters.

This position requires moderate expertise in skilled trades including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, locksmithing, carpentry, and landscaping.

Essential Functions:

• Manage a team of 8-10 technicians, delegating responsibilities to ensure timely and accurate delivery of preventive, predictive, and on-call services.
• Ensure team members are properly trained and consistently follow safety protocols and established procedures.
• Develop, direct, and maintain a comprehensive campus-wide preventive, predictive, and planned maintenance and turf management program, utilizing the institutional work-order system.
• Establish departmental priorities and coordinate team activities to deliver campus-wide repair and maintenance services.
• Coordinate with campus stakeholders (faculty, staff, students) to prioritize needs, monitor work progress, and ensure timely resolution of issues.
• Conduct initial assessments of equipment/system failures and customer complaints; coordinate solutions with stakeholders and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with the Safety Manager to ensure compliance with training and regulatory requirements (local, state, federal).
• Maintain knowledge of major building systems to support technicians and building personnel.
• Direct seasonal campus turf and landscape maintenance plans. Adjust plans as necessary based on soil evaluation.
• Oversee campus irrigation network to balance watering schedules for turf health balanced with water conservation.
• Stay informed on best practices in higher education maintenance support services.
• Administer and optimize the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to manage activities, including scheduling preventive maintenance, tracking work orders, managing inventory and assets for HVAC, Building Automation System (BAS), and facilities systems;
• Analyze CMMS data to improve efficiency and identify recurring issues; ensure accurate documentation for compliance and reporting; and train staff to effectively utilize the CMMS for operational success.
• Oversee the operation, repair, and maintenance of HVAC systems to ensure optimal comfort, air quality, and system performance.
• Oversee service maintenance contracts for compliance with specifications and cost agreements.
• Manage the BAS to monitor, control, and optimize building systems, including HVAC, lighting, security, and energy management.
• Develop and implement strategies for energy efficiency and cost-effective operation of HVAC and BAS.
• Ensure critical systems (e.g., fire suppression, exit lighting) are operational and compliant with current codes.
• Serve as liaison with the Walla Walla Fire Department for inspections and compliance reporting.
• Direct annual maintenance programs, including seasonal testing, start-up, and shutdown procedures for mechanical and irrigation systems.
• Monitor stakeholder satisfaction with maintenance services and take action to improve service quality and communication.
• Build, lead, and develop teams aligned with organizational goals.
• Interview, hire, train, and manage staff; conduct performance appraisals and resolve workplace concerns.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain associated records and reports.
• Read and interpret safety rules, operating instructions, blueprints, and procedure manuals.
• Schedule inspections for elevators, boilers, and pressure vessels with state agencies.
• Manage compliance with state regulations for pesticide usage and tracking, refrigerant usage and clean buildings compliance reporting.
• Recommend projects for internal completion or outsourcing based on scope and cost.
• Operate trucks, lifts, tractors, and attachments as needed
• Communicate matters involving personnel and facilities in a current and timely manner with the Director of Facilities.
• Direct snow removal and ice abatement during inclement weather to reduce campus liability during inclement weather as required based on college operations.
• Assist in creating and managing department budget.

Competencies

• Clear, direct, effective, and compassionate written and verbal communication style.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate complex issues and develop creative, responsive solutions.
• Ability to develop, implement, and enforce safety programs or protocols.
• Skills in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Knowledge and understanding of the design and implementation of building preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local codes and ordinances.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, drawings, and blueprints.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office suite of products,
• Ability to supervise and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

Supervises Maintenance Mechanics, Grounds and Nursery Specialists, temporary employees, and/or student employees.

Decision Making and Policy Impact

Operational Management: Prioritizes maintenance, allocates resources, selects vendors, and develops emergency and safety protocols for efficient and safe operations.
Operational Guidelines: Establishes rules and procedures for maintenance, space allocation, building use, and contractor management.

Financial & Budget Authority:

Reports to the Executive Director of Facilities. Budgets and expenditures are completed through a composite effort between these two positions. WWCC facilities funds are authorized through an annual budget process.

Required Qualifications:

• Any combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job may be considered by the college.
• Associate's degree or trade school education related to Facilities work
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of hands-on maintenance and/or skilled trades experience is areas such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, locksmithing, and carpentry.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience in facilities, maintenance, or project environments
• Knowledge of principles and practices of grounds keeping, landscape maintenance, irrigation, fertilization and pest control.
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent trade certification in the maintenance, engineering, or construction field along with applicable work experience.
• Background in safety, compliance, and/or regulatory operations
• Experience with academic environments
• Bilingual English/Spanish

You don't check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying.

Conditions/Terms of Employment

This position is in a bargaining unit for which AFT is the exclusive representative.

This is a full-time, non eligible for overtime professional position. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Official college transcripts required at time of hire. Candidates may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. The college is a tobacco free institution.

Position will require the ability to sit, stand, climb, and operate vehicles and equipment. May work in dusty areas, elevated noise, hot/cold environments, etc. Will occasionally need to travel to branch campus 1.75 hours away.

Compensation:

Annual salary range for initial placement based on the represented exempt salary schedule is PR08, Step A-F:$82,104 - $92,893, with scheduled salary increment increases every 12 months until you reach the top of the scale. The college has an excellent benefit program including paid sick leave; paid vacation leave; medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; retirement and two optional deferred compensation programs. All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). All administrative exempt staff set aside 1% of their gross salary in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (VEBA). All exempt employees are required to participate in this program. Walla Walla Community College requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary.

Required Application Materials

This position is open until filled with priority consideration given to those applicants who submit a complete application by December 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

• Online NEOGOV application.
• Cover letter + Provide a cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Please describe any professional experience, training, or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate.
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• Answers to two (2) supplemental questions
• Unofficial transcripts for application purposes; official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.

Please ensure you have attached all required application materials as you will not be able to attach any documents after you have submitted your application. If you have difficulty logging into your account, attaching documents, submitting your application, etc., please call NEOGOV Applicant Support at 1-855-524-5627 or email them directly at support@governmentjobs.com.

Walla Walla Community College is committed to provide equal opportunity and nondiscrimination... [EEO statement abbreviated for brevity]