Grounds & Nursery I

University of Colorado; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental, Vision, Life and Disability

Paid vacation and sick time

Retirement plan with University match

Tuition assistance

Parental leave

Housing resources

Job summary

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is seeking a Grounds & Nursery specialist to maintain landscaped spaces, floral displays, and campus grounds, while supporting sustainability efforts and snow removal. The role contributes to a safe, attractive campus for the university community.

You will join an essential services team, perform routine maintenance on grounds equipment, and assist with seasonal weather tasks to ensure accessibility and beauty for students, staff, and visitors.

Qualifications

• Background check required.
• Physical ability: push, pull, lift up to 50 lbs.
• Pre-employment drug testing.
• Driver's license required.
• Essential Services designation.

Responsibilities

• Landscape maintenance within the assigned zone, prioritize turf sections by walking traffic and building activity; repair/coordinate sprinkler fixes as needed and report findings.
• Maintain a clean and safe campus along the assigned route; ensure benches, tables, sidewalks, and rails are in good condition and report hazards.
• Perform equipment and system maintenance by checking fluids, evaluating mower blades, and scheduling sharpening.
• Snow removal and other duties as assigned, prioritizing high-priority areas, addressing slip hazards, operating snow removal equipment, and emergency response.
• Determine the proper time to apply pre-emergent chemicals and other weed-control treatments based on conditions.

Job description

Grounds & Nursery I Facilities Services

Applications

Applications for this position will be accepted through 11/8/2026.

Candidate Requirements

Candidates are required to submit the following to be considered for this position:

• Resume, with date ranges, whether it was full or part time, and hours per week worked.
• DD-214 for veteran applicants.
• Colorado law requires that candidates for state government jobs be residents of Colorado at the time of application.
• This is an essential service position (Required to be on duty to perform essential and/or emergency services of the agency without delay and/or interruption).

What We Offer

• The salary for this position starts at $44,376 ($3,698 /month)
• This position has been determined to be eligible for overtime (non-exempt) under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits , some of which include Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (starting 8 hours of vacation and 6.66 hours of sick accrued per month, prorated if part-time)
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Off Campus Housing Resources

Work Location

Onsite

Description

This position plays a key role in creating and maintaining an attractive, safe, and welcoming campus environment for Auxiliary Funded spaces. Responsibilities include maintaining landscaped areas and floral displays, caring for campus grounds, supporting sustainability efforts through recycling programs, collecting litter and debris, performing routine maintenance on grounds equipment, and assisting with seasonal snow and ice removal. Through attention to detail and a commitment to service, this position helps preserve the beauty, accessibility, and functionality of the campus for the entire university community.

Key Responsibilities

• Landscape Maintenance 65 %Working within the assigned zone, decide what turf sections need to be maintained first, based on campus walking traffic and noise related to building activity.If during the mowing process a sprinkler head gets broken, determine repair strategy based on complexity of the break and its location.If visual turf condition indicates stress assess the condition, then report the findings to the GNII or Supervisor so corrections can be made.
• Maintaining a clean and safe campus 10 %During the assigned route, when trash is spotted on the ground trash is picked up.Assess bench and table cleanliness daily. Makes decision to wipe down or postpone to next day based on surface condition.During route identifies sidewalk has a raised edge causing a safety condition. Determines temporary method to identify hazard and communicates the issue to the supervisor.Evaluates handrail paint condition. If the surface condition is poor, creates a work order and schedules rail painting.
• Equipment and System maintenance 5%Assesses equipment condition and determines cleaning schedule.Checks fluids daily and determines amounts to be added based on specs.Evaluates condition of mower blades based on performance. Sharpen blades or turns a work request in to the maintenance team for sharpening.
• Snow removal & Other Duties as Assigned 15%Determine high priority surface areas, clean and sand first.Identify slip, fall hazards from weather, and apply ice melt per the manufacturer's recommendation.When driving a snow removal vehicle determines snow, push locations and the impact of that location on roadway or parking space use.Emergency response.Short term re-assignment
• Chemical application 5%Determine proper time to apply pre-emergent chemical.Identify when weeds are present if manual removal or chemical treatment is the better method.Identify if weather conditions are suitable for product applications.

Eligibility and Compliances

• Successfully pass a background check
• Pre-employment Physical: Must be able to push, pull, lift, carry up to 50lbs.
• Pre-employment Drug Testing
• Driver's License Requirement
• Essential Services Designation
• Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare
• Employee may be expected to work various shifts to include nights, weekends and holidays, depending on the needs of the building or work group
• Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials
• Lab areas & exposure to cleaning products
• Possible exposure to Infectious Materials/Human Blood or Bodily Fluids

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: 11/08/2026.
• Potential interview dates: 11/18/2026 - 11/25/2026.
• Potential start date: 12/14/2026.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learn