What does a grounds supervisor do?
Grounds supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real grounds supervisor resumes:
- Manage sales, run machinary, complete wekly inventory, run forklift, deliver orders, and keep financial records
- Operate vehicles/powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, or snow blowers.
- Coordinate all contract mowing and snow removal for all FCPS schools sites as well as administrative and warehouse facilities.
- Cut grass using gasoline-fuel riding lawn mowers, push (walk-behind) power lawnmowers, string trimmers and edger's.
- Mow, weed eat, trim trees and hedges.
- Develop a chemical maintenance plan that addresses the needs of both the turf grass and landscapes.
- Have worked with all equipment from mowers weed eaters to skid steers front end loaders and trucks
- Coordinate and oversee the work of personnel who care for HVAC, repair walkways, and buildings.
- Operate vehicles and a variety of power equipment, such as mowers, tractors, saws, trimmers, etc.
- Involve in all areas of grounds and maintenance from leaf control, electric pedestal installation to bath-house renovation and landscaping.
- Assign all maintenance duties to staff on a daily basis, repaired/instal electric boxes, plumbing and cable TV on campsites.
- Paint walls and floors, upkeep of elevators and the grounds, shovel snow in winter, clean and maintain laundromat.
- Perform contractor supervision and oversight during equipment end of life overhauls and new equipment installs.
- Maintain and repair the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, paint and wood work on the property.
- Perform contractor supervision and oversight during equipment end of life overhauls and new equipment installs.
Grounds supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Grounds Supervisors are proficient in Mowing, Grounds Maintenance, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Grounds Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mowing, 13%
Performed various lawn care duties including; mowing, weeding, pruning, edging and mulching.
- Grounds Maintenance, 11%
Planned and implemented seasonal floral displays and general grounds maintenance.
- Safety Procedures, 8%
Monitored grounds for safety hazards and ensured workers followed all safety procedures.
- GRASS, 7%
Cut grass using gasoline-fueled riding lawn mowers, push (walk-behind) power lawnmowers, string trimmers and edger's.
- Hand Tools, 5%
Operate hand tools and property maintenance equipment .
- Snow Removal, 4%
Snow removal, landscaping, appliance installations and delegating responsibilities to a crew of six men.
Common skills that a grounds supervisor uses to do their job include "mowing," "grounds maintenance," and "safety procedures." You can find details on the most important grounds supervisor responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a grounds supervisor to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what grounds supervisors do because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Additionally, a grounds supervisor resume shows how grounds supervisors use communication skills: "team member maintaining property grounds, house renovations, building maintenance and repair responsible for communications between residents and management"
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform grounds supervisor duties is leadership skills. Grounds supervisors responsibilities require that "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Grounds supervisors also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "operated chainsaws, wood chippers, stump grinders, and winches skills used -management -leadership -safety"
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what grounds supervisors do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to grounds supervisor responsibilities because "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical grounds supervisor tasks: "resolved customer complaints, identified solutions, and delivered exceptional customer service. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in grounds supervisor job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what grounds supervisors do. Grounds supervisor responsibilities rely on this skill because "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." You can also see how grounds supervisor duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "facilitated mowing, edging, leaf and snow removal * worked on deadlines"
The three companies that hire the most grounds supervisors are:
- ABM Industries5 grounds supervisors jobs
- Clean Harbors2 grounds supervisors jobs
- Tyson Foods2 grounds supervisors jobs
Compare different grounds supervisors
Grounds supervisor vs. Lead mechanic
A lead mechanic coordinates the teams of mechanics and ensures the timely completion of repairs. Lead mechanics supervise their subordinates, order mechanical parts, and inspect their work making sure that the standards are met. They are responsible for repairing, overhauling, and maintaining vehicles or farm equipment. It is their job to provide support and give advice on matters associated with repairs. They also conduct road tests and maintain the repair of equipment. They should also have leadership and strong communication skills.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, grounds supervisor responsibilities require skills like "mowing," "grounds maintenance," "grass," and "snow removal." Meanwhile a typical lead mechanic has skills in areas such as "preventive maintenance," "electrical systems," "mechanical equipment," and "hydraulic systems." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Lead mechanics really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $60,789. Comparatively, grounds supervisors tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $41,724.The education levels that lead mechanics earn slightly differ from grounds supervisors. In particular, lead mechanics are 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a grounds supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Grounds supervisor vs. Flight chief
A maintenance manager's role is to lead and oversee the workflow and workforce involved in the upkeep of a building or establishment. Duties include ensuring that all aspects are operational and in good condition. Some of the responsibilities of a maintenance manager are to supervise all installation and repairs in the building, arrange schedules for regular inspection, devise strategies, obtain cost-effective materials, and hire trustworthy contractors. Furthermore, maintenance managers must coordinate with all workforce involved and ensure that all operations adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, grounds supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "mowing," "grounds maintenance," "safety procedures," and "grass." Meanwhile, a flight chief has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety program," "emergency situations," "logistics," and "training programs." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Flight chiefs tend to reach higher levels of education than grounds supervisors. In fact, they're 6.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Grounds supervisor vs. Chief petty officer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a grounds supervisor is likely to be skilled in "mowing," "grounds maintenance," "safety procedures," and "grass," while a typical chief petty officer is skilled in "logistical support," "sailors," "combat systems," and "training programs."
When it comes to education, chief petty officers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to grounds supervisors. In fact, they're 6.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Grounds supervisor vs. Maintenance manager
Types of grounds supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025
