Horticultural Attendant

About the role

The Horticultural Attendant provides essential labor to maintain the university’s landscaped grounds, ensuring they remain clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. This onsite position involves operating a variety of hand and power equipment and performing routine plant care.

Key responsibilities

• Operate power riding mowers, string trimmers, blowers, hedgers, edgers, and other equipment to maintain lawns, sidewalks, plazas, and building perimeters.
• Assist arboriculture crews with limb chipping, debris hauling, chain‑saw work, pruning, and chemical spraying.
• Apply herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and mulch; perform weed removal and litter control.
• Care for interior plants, including watering, pruning, fertilizing, and disease treatment.
• Support irrigation, grading, drain cleaning, concrete repair, and other site‑maintenance tasks.
• Inspect and perform basic maintenance on mowers and other mobile equipment, including blade changes and tire replacement.
• Provide litter control and cleanup for special events on campus.

Required profile

• At least one year of experience in groundskeeping, tree and shrub care, or related farming work, OR six semester hours in plant science or landscape studies.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, including overtime and weekends.
• Willingness to undergo drug/alcohol testing per university policy.

Required skills

• Operation of power riding mower (≤25 HP)
• Use of string trimmers, blowers, hedgers, edgers, and chain saws
• Chemical application for weed, pest, and soil management
• Pruning and basic arboriculture tasks
• Basic irrigation and drainage assistance
• Equipment inspection and preventative maintenance
• Litter collection and event cleanup