Position Overview:

The Horticulturist / Groundskeeper supports the health, appearance, and functionality of the university’s outdoor spaces. This role combines horticultural expertise with comprehensive groundskeeping responsibilities, ensuring a safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environment for the university community. The position requires adaptability, physical stamina, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Horticultural Duties:

Perform routine care and maintenance of trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns, including watering, pruning, mulching, weeding, fertilizing, and pest control. Trim and manage vegetation at locations such as Point Trotter, surface lots, and landscaped areas. Apply herbicides (weedicide) safely and in accordance with university and environmental guidelines.

Groundskeeping & Maintenance Tasks:

Maintain athletic and recreational field (e.g., Cohos Commons Field), ensuring safe and presentable conditions. Clean and maintain sand bins and other outdoor assets. Patch roadways using asphalt; conduct minor surface repairs as needed. Power wash walkways, walls, and common areas. Perform ladder work and remove graffiti from campus buildings and structures. Remove dead animals (e.g., mice, birds) from property in a sanitary and timely manner. Empty garbage bins bi-weekly at areas including P6 and surface lots; attend to SAITWorks and ad hoc work requests. Pick up litter and cigarette butts regularly to maintain a clean appearance across campus. Snow and ice maintenance. I.e. shoveling, spreading deicer, checking and clearing entrances and steps, etc.   

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

Certificate or diploma in Horticulture, Landscape Maintenance, Environmental Sciences, or related field preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Familiarity with safe handling of herbicides and chemicals. Ability to identify and care for a range of plants and landscape elements. Comfortable with physical labor, ladder use, and working in varied weather conditions. Experience using hand tools, power washers, utility vehicles, and lawn care equipment. Strong attention to detail, time management, and the ability to follow verbal and written instructions.  

Work Conditions:

Outdoor work year-round; may include exposure to extreme weather. Indoor tasks and custodial support as needed. Regular lifting (up to 50 lbs), climbing, bending, and walking. Use of PPE and adherence to health and safety standards required.