Gardeners

University of Utah

Salt Lake City (UT)

On-site

USD 26,000 - 34,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

The University of Utah is seeking Gardeners to maintain campus landscapes, including lawns, beds, trees, and shrubs, with trimming, edging, pruning, mulching, and debris removal. The role supports safe and visually appealing grounds and requires operating and maintaining landscaping equipment and assisting with irrigation issues.

Positions are Gardener I–III, with a schedule Monday–Friday, on-call rotations for snow operations, and a driver’s license required.

Qualifications

Equivalency statement: 1 year of higher education can substitute for 1 year of directly related work experience.
Positions may be filled at Gardener I, II, or III based on qualifications and experience.

Responsibilities

Perform routine landscape maintenance: trimming, weeding, planting, mulching, and debris removal.
Maintain lawns, planting beds, trees, shrubs, and other landscaped areas.
Assist with irrigation inspections, repairs, and seasonal tasks under supervision.
Operate and maintain landscaping tools and equipment and report safety issues.

Job description

Gardeners

Job Summary

Perform landscape and grounds maintenance activities to support safe, functional, and visually appealing campus environments. Responsibilities include string trimming, edging, trash and debris removal, weeding, planting, mulching, pruning, watering, turf care, irrigation support, and seasonal landscape maintenance. Utilize knowledge of plant materials, landscape practices, and grounds management techniques to maintain lawns, planting beds, trees, shrubs, and other landscaped areas. Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot landscaping equipment and assist with identifying and resolving plant health, irrigation, and environmental concerns. May apply herbicides or pesticides in accordance with licensing requirements and safety regulations and may specialize in areas such as arboriculture, greenhouse operations, irrigation systems, or other landscape disciplines. Advanced levels may provide technical guidance, training, mentoring, work coordination, and quality oversight for other gardening staff. Adhere to organizational, environmental, and safety standards while performing all duties.

A valid driver's license is required.

Ability to be on a rotational on-call duty for snow operations.

Responsibilities

Gardener I

Perform routine landscape maintenance including string trimming, edging, weeding, watering, mulching, planting, and debris removal. Maintain lawns, planting beds, trees, shrubs, and other landscaped areas in assigned locations. Assist with seasonal ground activities including leaf removal, snow and ice removal, and general site cleanup. Operate and perform basic maintenance on landscaping tools and equipment. Assist with irrigation inspections, repairs, and watering schedules under supervision. Identify and report landscape, irrigation, safety, and equipment issues to supervisors. Maintain clean and safe work areas. Follow established work procedures, environmental practices, and safety regulations. Support department goals for appearance, cleanliness, and customer service.

Gardener II

Perform skilled landscape maintenance including turf care, planting, pruning, irrigation support, and seasonal landscape management. Monitor the health and appearance of trees, shrubs, turf, and ornamental plantings and recommend corrective actions. Identify common weeds, pests, and plant health issues and implement appropriate maintenance practices. Perform basic irrigation troubleshooting, adjustments, and repairs. Operate and maintain a variety of landscaping equipment and specialized ground-maintenance tools. Apply fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides in accordance with licensing requirements and safety standards. Assist with maintaining specialty landscape areas such as irrigation systems, greenhouse operations, or arboretum collections. Provide guidance and on-the-job training to new or entry-level gardening staff. Maintain records related to work orders, irrigation activities, and landscape maintenance tasks. Ensure compliance with departmental, environmental, and safety standards.

Gardener III

Perform advanced landscape and ground maintenance requiring extensive horticultural and grounds-management knowledge. Assess, diagnose, and resolve complex plant health, irrigation, turf, drainage, and landscape issues. Develop and implement maintenance strategies for trees, shrubs, turf, seasonal displays, and specialty landscapes. Oversee irrigation system performance, troubleshoot deficiencies, and coordinate repairs and upgrades. Identify invasive species, environmental stress factors, and pest-related concerns and recommend corrective actions. Serve as a technical resource for landscape best practices, horticulture, irrigation, and grounds management. Train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to Gardener I and Gardener II employees. Assist supervisors with work planning, project coordination, quality assurance, and prioritize assignments. Recommend landscape improvements, plant selections, and sustainable maintenance practices. Ensure compliance with all environmental, regulatory, and safety requirements. Support asset stewardship and long-term preservation of campus landscape resources.

This position may be filled at either the Gardener level 1-3. Placement will be based on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and demonstrated competencies.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience(Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels: