Horticulture Technician

About the role

The Department of Facilities Management supports the mission of the University of Denver's physical resources in order to provide a healthy and safe educational environment for campus community through services of the departments of Capital Projects and Planning, Facilities Management, Parking & Mobility Services, Auxiliaries & Real Estate, and Business & Operations.

Responsibilities

• Lay sod, plant new shrubs, trees, and flowers.
• Operates equipment to spray, fertilize and aerate lawn areas.
• Operates power lawn mowers and tractors for cutting grass.
• Operates trucks, tractors, and other machinery in the routine care of all grounds.
• Picks up, collects, removes litter and debris from all ground areas.
• Picks up material ordered by Physical Plant when not delivered by common carrier.
• Removes snow by power equipment or shovel from parking lots, sidewalks, exterior stairs, ramps, and terraces.
• Rototills, spades, rakes, weeds, and fertilizes flower-planting beds.
• Trims and/or prunes hedges, shrubs, and trees.
• Trims grass by or power edger-trimmer.
• Waters lawn and planted areas by hand or sprinkler systems.
• Moves various equipment, supplies, and furniture manually or by use of a truck.
• Makes minor repairs, lubricates and sharpens equipment.
• Reports complex repair needs to supervisor.
• Makes minor repairs to parking lots.
• Installs signs.
• Removes trees.
• Performs landscape installation.
• Drives to sites with tools and equipment.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Four years experience in grounds horticulture, landscaping, or grounds maintenance is required.
• A current State of Colorado chemical applicators license is required.
• Must possess one of the following: a Landscape Industry Certificate (LIC) in at least one of the 5 given categories (softscape installation, hardscape installation, turf maintenance, ornamental maintenance, irrigation), certified arborist, or Master Gardeners certificate.
• A valid Colorado Drivers License and insurable by the University of Denver's insurance carrier.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of standardized work routines and the ability to follow or give oral and or written instructions.
• Ability to respond to situations requiring immediate attention and to daily priorities that are established.
• Knowledgeable working with Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Familiar working with Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software, including WebTMA.
• Thorough knowledge of all types of landscaping equipment is necessary.
• Thorough Knowledge of all types of landscaping material, plants, trees, flowers is necessary.

Skills

• Ability to follow detailed procedures and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to operate equipment such as backhoe, skid loader, dump truck, bucked truck, tractor and snowplow.
• Ability to read and interpret landscape drawings from blueprints.
• Ability to report to work early in the morning, weekends, and holidays for snow removal.
• Basic computer skills.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass.