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Job Title: Director of Agronomy

Reports to: General Manager/Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Compensation: Base Salary Commensurate with Experience and Annual Incentive

Relocation: Relocation Assistance Provided by Club

Address: Lubbock Country Club

3400 Mesa Road

Lubbock, Texas 79403

About Lubbock Country Club:

Founded in 1921, Lubbock Country Club is the premier private Club in the South Plains of West Texas, just north of Lubbock, Texas. An oasis of lush, rolling fairways, mature trees, and beautiful ponds amid the cotton fields. Lubbock is a metropolitan area with a population of just over 330,000 and is the home to 40,000 students enrolled at Texas Tech University. Lubbock is known as the "Hub City" primarily because of its economic, educational, health care, and cultural influence in the region.

Lubbock Country Club’s 18-hole course is known as the oldest and finest championship golf course in the South Plains and is laid out in beautiful terrain and has beautiful tree-lined fairways routed across lush, rolling landscape. The golf course has changed little from its original design, including redesigns and renovations overseen by golf course architects George Williams (1995) and Craig Schreiner (2008).

For more information on the Club, visit their website at https://www.lubbockcc.org/.

Position Summary:

The Director of Agronomy will be a key member of the Club’s leadership team and will have full responsibility in maintaining the courses’ long-standing reputation as being one of the best and continually striving to elevate course conditions and the overall maintenance operation. The Director of Agronomy will accomplish these objectives by developing and implementing sound agronomic programs, overseeing and assisting in course maintenance and improvements, and leading, managing, overseeing, training, developing, and coaching the grounds maintenance team.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide a hands-on leadership approach through effective hiring, leading, managing, overseeing, training, developing, coaching, and assisting the team.
• Set goals and expectations, measure performance, and ensure all goals and objectives are met or exceeded.
• Implement a comprehensive safety program for staff, members and guests and conduct regular safety meetings to continue to mentor, coach and develop team members to make safety a priority.
• Oversee equipment repair and maintenance, ensuring all grounds and golf course maintenance equipment is maintained and operational.
• Manage staff schedule and work hours, making necessary adjustments for absences, missed punches, etc. according to club budgets, policies, and procedures, and entering updated weekly schedules on Fridays for the upcoming week.
• Coordinate, plan, and oversee all planting, fertilizing, and proper care of turf, plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Maintain and care for all structures, facilities, and buildings on the golf course.
• Document, record, and log all daily maintenance activities including: weather, course conditioning, cultural practices, equipment maintenance, fertilizer and pesticide applications, fuel usage, etc.
• Maintains accurate and complete HR records for all personnel in the department
• Must possess excellent communication skills and use these skills to ensure staff and members are fully informed on the operations of the maintenance department.
• Communicate with the golf and tennis professionals to discuss conditions of the facilities, maintenance plans, and scheduled events.
• Communicate with grounds, golf, house, and other applicable committees.
• Make presentations to the Board, Leadership staff, and Committee members to keep them informed of maintenance department projects and activities.
• Attend staff and management meetings representing the agronomic department.
• Attend turf conferences, equipment shows, workshops, and other educational seminars and programs to stay abreast of the latest innovations and technology in the field of golf course maintenance and recommend opportunities that would improve ground maintenance/golf course.
• Prepare annual budget for the agronomy department that is in compliance with the Club’s procedures, policies, and deadlines, taking corrective action as necessary to help ensure that all budget goals are met or exceeded.
• Complete all administrative duties including: performance reviews, accounting procedures, payroll, scheduling and daily recording documentation.
• Manage water usage to maintain the golf course at the highest possible level, which would include the proper maintenance and management of the entire irrigation system, ie: pump station, irrigation heads, controllers, central computer system, valves, and piping.
• Conduct daily facility security checks ensuring accurate inventory of equipment and keys.
• Develop a comprehensive Annual Agronomic Plan and a current operational manual which would include the proper scheduling of fertilization applications, chemical applications, cultural and mechanical practices, etc.
• Work closely with the Board and Club Leadership to develop short- and long-range plans for the golf course.
• Oversee all construction and renovation projects on the golf course.
• Ensure that all chemicals, fertilizers, petroleum, and other controlled products are used, stored, and disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Additionally, maintain required records while trying to minimize the use of chemicals and petroleum products.
• Present the highest possible golf course playing conditions on a daily basis.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience in agronomy and turf grass management practices with previous experience as a Superintendent.
• Knowledge and experience in maintaining and constructing putting greens, tees, fairways, roughs, and bunkers.
• Knowledge in planting, cultivating, and pruning of native and ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Knowledge and experience in the characteristics and proper use of various fertilizers and soil conditioners, pest control methods and materials.
• Knowledge and experience in drainage methods and watering practices and irrigation systems, including wells, pumps, and automatic controls.
• Knowledge and understanding of current federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting management of golf course operations – including, but not limited to, safety and environmental stewardship standards, laws and regulations, and a basic understanding of employment laws and best practices.
• Knowledge of financial management, including developing, creating and managing budgets and assessing and evaluating cost benefits.
• Ability to train, motivate, develop, coach and effectively direct the work of others in a safe, productive and efficient manner.
• Knowledge and understanding of the game of golf.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Agronomy, Turf Management, Plant Sciences or related field, or certificate with significant training and experience.
• A certification/licensed in pesticide usage or the ability to become certified/licensed within 6 months of employment.
• Have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Benefits:

This is a full-time salaried position with a complete benefits package including:

• Club-provided health, dental, and vision coverage available; 70% of premium paid for employee coverage and 30% paid for dependent coverage.
• Club-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• 401k Retirement Plan with a matching contribution of up to 4%.
• Paid Time Off.
• Vehicle allowance.
• Club-provided meals.
• Paid GCSAA membership and attendance at conferences and educational seminars as budgeted.