Landscape Maintenance Technician

NC State University; Raleigh, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare benefits

Wellness & Recreation Membership

Wellness Programs

Job summary

NC State University is seeking a Landscape Maintenance Technician to maintain campus grounds with horticulture, turf care, and sustainable practices. You will join a team ensuring safe, attractive spaces for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The role emphasizes hands‑on landscape care across campus, using knowledge of plant materials, turf health, and equipment operation to deliver high‑quality grounds maintenance in a busy university environment.

Qualifications

• High school or GED diploma or equivalent education/experience.
• North Carolina Pesticide License may be required and can be obtained within six months.
• North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License may be required.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine landscape maintenance: mowing, edging, trimming, blowing, mulching, leaf collection, debris removal.
• Install and maintain plant materials including trees, shrubs, and sod.
• Apply herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides safely per guidelines.
• Prune shrubs and trees to promote health and seasonal bloom.
• Monitor turf health, identify pests and report concerns promptly.
• Operate landscape equipment: mowers, trimmers, blowers, utility vehicles.
• Assist with turf care: soil testing, seeding, fertilization, irrigation support.
• Collaborate with irrigation team and assist with repairs as needed.
• Maintain clean, organized, safe worksites and vehicles.
• Lift up to 60 pounds and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Skills

Experience in grounds maintenance

Knowledge of horticultural and turf

Operate landscape equipment safely

Written and verbal communication

Collaborative, service‑oriented

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Mowers

Blowers

Trimmers

Utility vehicles

Job description

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

Department Landscape Maintenance & Operations

The NC State University Facilities Division is home to nearly 900 professionals who plan, build and maintain the spaces that foster an environment where innovation, learning, and community thrive. Through this work, we help create spaces that empower students, faculty, and staff to reach their full potential. Operating year-round, we manage more than 16.7 million gross square feet of built space and oversee 4,733 acres of campus infrastructure through a series of core departments, each composed of multiple specialized units:

• Design & Construction
• Business Operations
• Campus Operations and Maintenance
• Campus Planning and Strategic Investment

Whether responding to a maintenance request, shaping future facilities or creating spaces that inspire discovery, our team is grounded in excellence, service and stewardship.

Join the pack and become part of one of the largest and most respected employers in the state, helping shape the future of our campus community. Take a look below to see what we offer!

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Do you enjoy working outdoors and taking pride in creating beautiful, healthy landscapes? Join NC State University’s Landscape Maintenance and Operations team as a Landscape Maintenance Technician and help shape the campus environment that students, faculty, staff, and visitors experience every day.

In this hands-on role, you’ll provide professional landscape care across NC State’s campus, using your knowledge of horticulture, turf management, and landscape maintenance to keep our grounds safe, attractive, and sustainable. You’ll work as part of a dedicated team that takes pride in maintaining one of the university’s most visible and important assets, its campus landscape. If you’re dependable, enjoy hands‑on work, and want to see the results of your work make a difference every day, we invite you to apply and join the NC State Facilities team!

Key responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:

• Perform routine landscape maintenance, including mowing, edging, trimming, blowing, mulching, leaf collection, and general debris removal.
• Install and maintain plant materials including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, bulbs, and sod.
• Apply herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides safely and in accordance with all regulatory and product guidelines.
• Prune shrubs, trees, and ornamental plants to promote plant health, structure, and seasonal bloom.
• Monitor turf and plant health, identify pests, diseases, and soil deficiencies, and report concerns promptly.
• Operate and perform basic maintenance on landscape equipment such as trimmers, mowers, chainsaws, blowers, and utility vehicles.
• Assist with turf care through soil testing, seeding, fertilization, irrigation support, and sod installation.
• Collaborate with the irrigation team by monitoring system performance and assisting with repairs when needed.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe worksites, vehicles, and storage areas.
• Respond to customer and field concerns professionally, escalating issues to Field Leads or Zone Managers when appropriate.
• Complete daily work logs, timesheets, and records with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Lift and transport materials weighing up to 60 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations and perform physically demanding outdoor tasks safely in various weather and terrain conditions.
• Ability to verbally communicate effectively with supervisors and the general public and understand verbal and written instructions and other communications regarding work assignments and other matters.

Other Responsibilities

• This position is essential to the operations of the University and may require the employee to work during adverse weather conditions or if the University is closed
• Cross‑train within the unit and support coworkers to meet team goals and coverage needs
• Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Qualifications

High school or General Educational Development ( GED ) diploma and possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Qualifications: North Carolina Pesticide License may be required and can be obtained within six months of employment; North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in grounds maintenance or arboriculture experience
• Knowledge of horticultural and turf care practices used in large public or university landscapes.
• Skill in safely operating and maintaining landscape equipment such as mowers, blowers, trimmers, and utility vehicles.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative, service‑oriented campus environment and strong written and verbal communication skills for interacting with teammates, supervisors, and campus partners.
• North Carolina Pesticide License may be required and can be obtained within six months of employment.

Required License or Certification

• Valid driver’s license required.
• North Carolina driver’s license required within 60 days of hire and must be maintained.

Valid NC Driver's License required

Valid NC Driver's License required Yes

Commercial Driver's License Required? No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date 08/18/2026

Earliest Close Date (Positions will be posted until 5:00 PM ET on this date. Positions remaining posted after this date are still accepting applications but may close at any time.) 08/24/2026

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability‑related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Position Details

Anticipated Hiring Range $38,000 - $40,000

Position Classification Salary Range $ 33,540 - $ 58,335

Salary Grade Equivalency NC03

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Other - Grounds & Building Services

Time Limited Position No

Position Number 00065036

Position Type SHRA

Position Classification Band Title Agricultural/Horticultural Specialist

Position Classification Band Level Journey

Alternate Option

If no applicants apply who meet the required competency level and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Department Id 445060 - Landscape Maintenance & Operations

Position Class (?)