Gardens Custodian

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS INC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Denver Botanic Gardens is seeking a Seasonal Gardens Custodian in our Operations Department to maintain the public spaces, assist with events, and ensure a welcoming environment for visitors and staff.

The role emphasizes reliability, teamwork, safety, and a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays, with a strong focus on guest services and facilities cleanliness.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service, interpersonal and communication with the public.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and handle stressful situations.
• Flexible and willing to adapt plans during the day.
• Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Ensure positive presentation and experience of facilities for visitors and staff.
• Set up and move event spaces, furniture and items as requested.
• Clean up spaces after events and return for public use.
• Monitor events and traffic flow, perform timely cleanup.
• Maintain exterior hardscapes and trash pickup.
• Collect recyclables and dispose waste properly.
• Operate radios and respond to service requests promptly.
• Clean offices and public areas including trash, dusting, vacuuming, windows.
• Operate pressure washer and external cleaning equipment.
• Assist in snow removal and safety during events.
• Report safety hazards to supervisor.
• Attend meetings and communicate absences.
• Possibly respond to emergencies; perform light maintenance.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Pressure handling

Flexibility

Flexible schedule

Microsoft Office

Overtime availability

Team player

Safety minded

Education

High school diploma or GED

First Aid/CPR certification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Description

Core Values

• Sustainability. We are devoted to an institutional, environmental and human sustainability.
• Diversity. We champion inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for all we encounter, and also support programmatic, ecological and plant diversity.
• Relevance. We make connections with all people using a lens of inclusion, equity and responsiveness.
• Transformation. We believe ever-evolving public gardens change the world and lead to positive transformation of human spirit and knowledge.

Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world‑class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs.

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a Seasonal Gardens Custodian in our Operations Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Applications will be accepted through October 9, 2026, or until a candidate is found.

Position Summary

This position acts as a customer‑oriented liaison between Denver Botanic Gardens and the public. It is a sometimes physically demanding position in a lovely environment that is responsible for cleaning, maintaining and setting up public/service areas and equipment for visitors, employees and volunteers and ensures a positive appearance of the Gardens facilities for visitors and staff. During our summer events season this position will act as support to our security team. Under general supervision, this position performs and maintains the internal and external appearance of the Gardens.

Requirements

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures overall positive presentation and experience of all physical facilities for visitors and staff.
• Works closely with other departments for public and private events. Moves and sets up furniture, stanchions and other items requested.
• Assure event spaces are properly set up. After the event is over, the space must be cleaned and returned for public use.
• Monitors events and traffic flow of visitors throughout the gardens and buildings, performing timely clean‑up including emptying trash cans, cleaning restroom facilities, picking up trash, cleaning spills etc.
• Proactively maintains cleanliness of exterior hardscapes, including sweeping of sidewalks and trash pick‑up if necessary.
• Collects recycled materials, and ensures waste is placed in the proper dumpster.
• Maintains proper use of Denver Botanic Gardens radios and ensures service requests are responded to in a timely manner.
• Cleans public and office areas, including emptying trash, dusting, vacuuming, windows, etc. to ensure consistently clean and safe presentations.
• Regularly empties interior and exterior trash cans within gardens and public areas.
• Operate pressure washer to ensure all exterior hardscapes are clean and free of debris, including mechanical power blower.
• Operates powered carts, floor cleaner and other light mechanical cleaning equipment.
• Works with light cleaning products as necessary.
• Participates in snow removal.
• Works closely with the Security staff during high volume events to ensure the safety of visitors, employees and volunteers.
• Assists in identifying safety violations during event setup.
• Ensures tripping or other safety hazards are immediately reported to the supervisor.
• Maintains a positive and professional working relationship with managers, co‑workers, members, visitors or others.
• Attend all meetings as required.
• Arrives on time to scheduled shifts and adequately communicates necessary absences or time off with superiors.
• May act as an initial response to emergency situations.
• Performs light maintenance of custodial equipment, other duties or special projects as requested by management.
• Regular attendance at the worksite may be required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work. Remote work is always at the discretion of management.

Position Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans, when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams.
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Must be a positive representative of DBG both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

Experience/Education:

• High school diploma / GED and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required.
• A minimum of 6 months of janitorial or light maintenance experience is preferred.
• First Aid/CPR certification or the ability to obtain one upon employment is required.
• Proven experience working as part of a team is required.

Travel:

Up to 10% travel required. Requires the ability to travel to remote locations (or other Garden locations) where environment may vary significantly.

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!