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First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers is the O*NET name for people who directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Its interest code is ECR. Enterprising leads at 6.1 out of 7, so expect leading, persuading and making business decisions, with Conventional next at 5.2. The preparation level is medium preparation, typically one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. O*NET’s skill data points to time management, monitoring, and management of personnel resources as the ones to build. A regular part of the work is to establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety. If you want leading, persuading and making business decisions, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

Main tasks

  • Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
  • Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
  • Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.
  • Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
  • Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.

Skills

  • Time Management
  • Monitoring
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on time management and monitoring.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ECR takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Field Manager
  • Golf Course Superintendent
  • Grounds Crew Supervisor
  • Grounds Foreman
  • Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.