The posting
SUMMARY Take leadership of Northern Michigan’s premier resort landscapes. As the Director of Agronomy at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, you will oversee all aspects of outdoor maintenance, championship golf course conditioning, groundskeeping, and fleet maintenance. This critical role ensures our vast property meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and visual appeal expected by our guests, members, and residents. If you are an experienced agronomy professional with a passion for leading high-performing teams, managing complex operations, and upholding top-tier resort standards, we invite you to lead our outdoor operations. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Golf & Grounds Operations and Standards
Lead the golf course and ground maintenance operations, including but not limited to course maintenance, fleet equipment and vehicle repair, management of resort grounds, landscaping, and employee housing property grounds Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive turf and landscape maintenance programs, including mowing, fertilizing, pesticide application, irrigation, and snow removal Foster a culture of professionalism, safety, training, and continuous improvement Maintain the highest standards of course conditioning and member satisfaction Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive turf and landscape maintenance programs, including mowing, fertilizing, pesticide application, irrigation, and snow removal Maintain compliance with all Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations, including pesticide and fertilizer applications Supervise and coordinate work with outside contractors for grounds or fleet projects Respond to guest and internal requests for grounds maintenance and facility support with professionalism and a sense of urgency Analyze and evaluate golf courses and provide effective direction & support ensuring quality course conditions and implementation of best practices. Maintain a daily record log for weather, course conditioning, cultural practices, equipment maintenance, fertilizer, and pesticide applications, etc. Make daily decisions with sound judgment and that are consistent with the Resort core values. Schedule to proper business levels and within budgeted staffing guides. Establish and uphold workplace health and safety operating procedures, ensure they adhered to and comply with MIOSHA/OSHA Exemplify and model GTRS Core Values in all interactions
Oversee the departmental SOP for employee injury and accident reporting procedures; ensure employees and managers report timely and additional training is provided, as needed, ensuring unnecessary injuries and/or MIOSHA violations are prevented.
People Management
Communicate with Human Resources on staff needs, opens position requisitions, reviews resumes/applicants daily, conducts interviews and selects candidates based upon required KSA’s of the positions. Ensure employees are treated fairly, equitably and consistently; creates a workplace culture of open communication and respect while ensuring employee retention. Lead by example. Set the benchmark of performance to the department in the areas of motivation, teamwork, sense of ownership, and dedication to quality of product. Hold all team members accountable for their areas of responsibility. Identify the developmental needs of others and coaches, mentors, trains and develop others; improving their knowledge or skills. Build schedules; maintains appropriate staffing to budget levels, approves time away requests and timecards, ensures direct reports are managing call in, call off and/or tardy documentation SOP timely. Supervise team members in accordance with the Resort policies and procedures; including planning, assigning and at times performing activities of team members supervised. Administers performance reviews for direct reports and rest of the team as needed, etc. Manage the employee progressive discipline procedures for areas of responsibility; hold team accountability for addressing employee behaviors, policy violations, performance expectations and guest experience Ensure disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to expected process, company policy/procedure including timely handling of coaching and counseling, disciplinary action and/or terminations. Model and enforce dress, grooming, and conduct standards as set forth by the Employee Handbook and departmental expectations Provide information to executive team members, GM, CFO, managers and supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Maintain Outlook calendar, responds timely to email and meeting invitations; attends all required meetings and provides necessary communication and/or documentation.
Budgeting, Capital Projects and Strategic Leadership
Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating and capital budgets Oversee planning and execution of major capital improvement projects Ensure the Resort is meeting and/or exceeding the established standards for guest satisfaction as well as labor and operating expense management. Establish long term plans (1-5 yrs) of continuous improvement of playing surfaces, turf health and overall playability & aesthetics. Implement new methods and procedures designed to minimize operational costs and maximize resources. Ensure agronomic practices align with the Resort’s standards and long-term goals Collaborate with the General Manager, Vice President of Finance, and other Directors. Proactively develop innovative ideas to facilitate the continual delivery of exceptional quality products and profit contributions to the Resort.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, or related field (required) Minimum five years of supervisory experience in golf course or grounds maintenance Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in golf course maintenance leadership (4–7 years considered with strong qualifications) Current and valid Restricted Use Pesticide license in at least three categories (core, 3a, 3b) Valid Michigan driver’s license and insurable under company policy Demonstrated experience managing large teams and complex budgets Previous experience with bent grass management and Northern Michigan climate agronomy Previous long range, large-scale capital projects planning and execution experience Irrigation systems and components knowledge related to best agronomic practices Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and maintenance tracking systems Able to pass an employment background screening and drug screen as a condition of employment
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Proven ability to motivate, lead, and develop staff to meet deadlines and quality standards Team-oriented with strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to work with a variety of personalities Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities, guest needs, and environmental conditions Strong time management, organization, and decision-making abilities
TYPICAL PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS
Perform manual labor, including shoveling, raking, pushing spreaders, hand watering, and lifting up to 60lbs Operate power equipment and fleet vehicles as needed Ability to stand, bend, kneel, reach, twist, squat and use arm-hand coordination on a consistent basis and/or for long periods of time as needed Adapt quickly to last-minute changes and requests Handle stressful and challenging situations while remaining focused and professional Communicate effectively by radio, telephone, and in person Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals Organize team performance, leverage individual strengths, and devise alternative plans with minimal notice Analytical with a strategic mindset; ability to compute rates, rations, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, volumes of cones, cylinders, etc.; ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; knowledge of ordering/purchasing, inventory control, budget management and P&L accountability. Strong understanding of mechanical operations of all equipment, engines and hydraulics for guidance of equipment managers; thorough understanding of preventative maintenance systems; ability to calibrate sprayers, spreaders, scientific instruments, computer software, irrigation systems, etc.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Full-time, salaried exempt role with long hours at times, early start times (typically 5am-6am; as early as 4am during snow removal times) and a varying schedule; will require evenings, nights, weekends, holidays as needed Regularly required to stand, reach, bend, twist, squat, grasp and use arm- hand coordination on a consistent basis and/or for long periods of time Regular outdoor work in varying weather conditions (cold, heat, wet, dry, wind, sun) Frequently exposed to moving mechanical equipment and parts, with associated noise levels related to those items. Occasionally exposed to high, precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and vibration. Employee parking proximity to resort entrance varies season to season and department to department due to business volume
