Assistant Horticulturist

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Professional growth opportunities

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Be You. Be Bold. Be Duke. Duke University seeks an Assistant Horticulturist to maintain and enhance Duke University & Duke Health landscapes, applying advanced horticultural knowledge to diagnose issues and implement sustainable plant care across the campus.

You will join a collaborative team focused on beautiful, resilient outdoor spaces that support teaching, research, healthcare, and campus life. This role emphasizes safety, autonomy, and teamwork in all weather conditions.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in horticulture or related field.
• NC Pesticide Applicator License or ability to obtain within six months.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License.
• Three years of professional experience in horticulture or related field.
• Bachelor's degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and enhance landscapes using pruning, edging, mulching, planting, and fertilization.
• Apply IPM principles to support healthy campus landscapes.
• Inspect areas for plant stress, disease, pests, and soil issues; recommend corrective actions.
• Serve as a plant care resource for assigned campus areas.
• Operate and maintain horticultural equipment and tools safely.
• Assist with landscape planning and installation of seasonal plantings.
• Provide technical guidance to grounds maintenance staff.
• Monitor landscape conditions and report findings to supervisors.
• Assist with cleanup, severe weather response, and landscape recovery.
• Support snow and ice removal operations as needed.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Pruning techniques

Pest management

IPM practices

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Safety

Outdoor work

Heavy lifting

Education

Associate degree in Horticulture

NC Pesticide License

Driver's license

Tools

Horticultural equipment

Landscape maintenance tools

Job description

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Date: Oct 15, 2026

Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the expertise each team member brings to our campus environment. As an Assistant Horticulturist, you will play a key role in maintaining and enhancing Duke University's world-class landscapes while contributing your horticultural knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills. You will join a collaborative team dedicated to creating beautiful, sustainable outdoor spaces that support the Duke community's teaching, research, healthcare, and campus experiences.

Be Bold.

As an Assistant Horticulturist, you'll apply advanced horticultural expertise to help preserve and improve some of Duke's most visible and dynamic landscapes. From diagnosing plant health issues to implementing sustainable plant care strategies, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across campus.

What You'll Do

• Maintain and enhance Duke University and Duke Health landscapes through proper horticultural practices, including pruning, edging, mulching, watering, planting, fertilization, and weed management.
• Apply integrated pest management (IPM) principles and sound horticultural practices to support healthy and sustainable campus landscapes.
• Inspect landscape areas to identify plant stress, disease, insect activity, soil erosion, and other landscape concerns; recommend and implement corrective actions.
• Serve as a plant care resource and subject matter expert for assigned campus areas.
• Safely operate and maintain specialized horticultural equipment, garden tools, and hand-held power equipment.
• Assist with landscape planning, enhancement projects, and installation of seasonal plantings.
• Support grounds maintenance personnel by providing technical expertise, guidance, and advanced horticultural knowledge.
• Monitor landscape conditions and communicate findings and recommendations to supervisors.
• Assist with cleanup, emergency response, and landscape recovery efforts during severe weather events and other campus emergencies.
• Support snow and ice removal operations as required.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

Education

• Associate degree in Horticulture, Botany, Landscape Management, or a closely related field.
• North Carolina Pesticide Applicator License, or the ability to obtain within six months of hire.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License.

Experience

• Three years of professional experience in horticulture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, or related plant care work.
• Experience with plant cultivation, pruning, plant selection, disease identification, and application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
• A Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or a related field may substitute for two years of required experience.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and ornamental plant materials.
• Knowledge of proper pruning techniques and plant health management.
• Ability to identify common plant pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.
• Understanding of integrated pest management practices.
• Strong planning, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to interpret and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Commitment to workplace safety and safe operation of vehicles, equipment, and machinery.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions throughout the year.
• Ability to frequently lift, carry, and maneuver materials and equipment weighing 50 pounds or more.
• Availability to support snow and ice removal activities and emergency weather response efforts.

Choose Duke.

At Duke, you'll do more than maintain landscapes. You'll help shape the environment of one of the nation's leading academic and healthcare institutions. Your work will contribute directly to the beauty, sustainability, and functionality of a campus that serves thousands of students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors every day.

Duke offers a collaborative culture, opportunities for professional growth, comprehensive benefits, and the chance to work alongside dedicated professionals who are passionate about excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires knowledge of botany or horticulture normally acquired through a two year Associate degree program in horticulture or two years post secondary education in botany or a related field. Must be able to obtain North Carolina Pesticide License

Experience

Work requires one year of experience in horticulture or related area to acquire technical skills necessary to perform such duties as plant cultivation, plant propagation, plant selection and other duties consistent with greenhouse maintenance. Public Garden experience preferred. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE A valid driver's license is required.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $20.00 to USD $27.15. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).

Nearest Major Market: Durham

Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

about Duke's commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.