How to hire a buildings and grounds director

How to hire a buildings and grounds director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step buildings and grounds director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a buildings and grounds director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new buildings and grounds director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the buildings and grounds director you need to hire. Certain buildings and grounds director roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A buildings and grounds director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, buildings and grounds directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of buildings and grounds director salaries for various roles:

   Type of Buildings And Grounds Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Buildings And Grounds Director		$12-36
   Janitorial Supervisor	A janitorial supervisor acts as an overseer to the janitorial staff. Their job is to monitor and assist day-to-day work, schedule shifts, and work hours with other crew members... Show more	$12-20
   Lead Custodian	A Lead Custodian supervises the custodian division to maintain cleanliness in the office, building, and property at a given time, typically in the morning and evening. They are the ones in charge of performing minor maintenance, furniture, and other office equipment... Show more	$11-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • HVAC
   • Business Development
   • Safety Committee
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Capital Projects
   • Grounds Maintenance
   • Snow Removal
   • Construction Projects
   • Lawn Care
   • Direct Reports
   • Maintenance Program
   • Facilities Management
   • Mowing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Administer yearly budget, purchase orders and inventory control for the building and grounds department to manage the district assets.
   • Manage physical plant for rehabilitation hospital, CORF and satelliteclinics.
   • Maintain grounds by mowing and plant flowers.
   • Maintain security and safety procedures in compliance with OSHA.
   • Institutionalize the college's first web base CMMS program.
   • Upgrade buildings to energy efficient lighting and efficient HVAC systems.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your buildings and grounds director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A buildings and grounds director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, buildings and grounds directors' average salary in new mexico is 58% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level buildings and grounds directors earn 64% less than senior-level buildings and grounds directors.
   • Certifications. A buildings and grounds director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a buildings and grounds director's salary.

   Average buildings and grounds director salary

   $45,213yearly

   $21.74 hourly rate

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   Entry-level buildings and grounds director salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a buildings and grounds director job description

   A buildings and grounds director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a buildings and grounds director job description:

   Buildings and grounds director job description example

   The City of Hutchinson, Kansas is currently seeking qualified applicants for its Director of Building & Neighborhood Services position. This leadership position is responsible for directing and managing the city's Building Inspection and Code Compliance department.
   THE COMMUNITY: Located just 45 minutes northwest of Wichita, the City of Hutchinson is the county seat of Reno County, has a population of 42,000, and covers 61 square miles. Called the "Salt City" due to its rich salt mining history, the community is proud to be the home of the Smithsonian-affiliated Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center and the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. It also is the home of the Kansas State Fair and National Junior College Athletic Association Basketball Tournament and hosts a number of other NJCAA tournaments.
   While preserving the spirit of small-town living, Hutchinson offers many of the amenities and comforts that are often only found in larger metropolitan communities. These include the Hutchinson Sport Arena, the Dillon Nature Center, Salt City Splash Aquatic Center, Hutchinson Zoo, the historic Fox Theatre, Carey Park Golf Course, and the historic Prairie Dunes Country Club Golf Course, which is frequently ranked among the best golf courses in the US. The surrounding highway system is superb and provides commutes to other amenities such as Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, which is 51 miles away and provides nationwide commercial air service.
   In addition to its strong agricultural base, the community has a diverse service and manufacturing economy with large employers that include Siemens Gamesa, Cargill, Sonoco, Dillon Companies, and Tyson. Through the Hutchinson Regional Hospital, the Hutchinson Clinic and many other high-quality providers, Hutchinson also serves as a regional hub for healthcare services.
   Through its Council-Manager form of government, City of Hutchinson provides a full range of municipal services to its citizens. It also has a proud of its tradition of long-serving City Managers, a Moody's bond rating of AA3, and stable reserve and utility funds. The City currently employs 403 full-time employees and has an annual operating budget of $42.2 million.
   POSITION OVERVIEW: Under the general direction of the City Manager, the Building Official is primarily responsible for managing the city's building code compliance and inspection program which includes:
   Managing the residential and commercial building permit process, which involves technical review of construction related documents (building and site plans, etc.) for compliance with City building codes; Interpreting and explaining related laws, ordinances, and code provisions to architects, engineers, designers, contractors/ tradespersons, and the general public; Managing and supervising the work of City building code inspectors engaged in building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, life safety inspections throughout all phases of construction; Managing and supervising the work of inspectors enforcing property maintenance and nuisance related ordinances (tall weeds, inoperable vehicles, etc.); Investigating complaints regarding illegal construction, safety, or hazardous conditions and manages the condemnation and demolition of unsafe structures. Serving as the primary staff liaison to the Building Trades Board and representing the City on policy and program issues or when responding to public inquiries, complaints, suggestions, and information requests.
   THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION: Qualified candidates should possess an Associate Degree in construction management or other closely related field required. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in architecture, construction science or other closely related field is preferred. EXPERIENCE: Minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible experience as a building inspector, including at least two years' experience in a supervisory or lead capacity. CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSE: Must possess at time of hire a minimum of 3 ICC Residential and/or Commercial certifications in adopted building code areas: mechanical, plumbing, electrical, structural, or life safety. Must also possess a Certified Building Official certification from the International Code Council within 6 months of hire. A valid Kansas Driver's License and acceptable driving record is required.
   COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: The salary range for the Director of Building & Neighborhood Services is $66,114 - $99,182, depending on qualifications. The City of Hutchinson strongly supports professional development and work-life balance, and offers an excellent total compensation package. Benefits include: health, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care, KPERS retirement & 457 retirement savings plan, life insurance & optional voluntary life insurance, insured disability, death benefit, vacation leave, sick leave, floating holidays, city designated holidays, and an employee assistance program.
   The City of Hutchinson employs over 400 employees that serve our community every day. City employees make Hutchinson a great place to live, work, and play. We take pride in our work and it shows. Come be a part of a workforce that makes a difference! We're always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. City of Hutchinson is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find buildings and grounds directors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your buildings and grounds director job on Zippia to find and recruit buildings and grounds director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting buildings and grounds directors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new buildings and grounds director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the buildings and grounds director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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