Job Listings
Horticultural Specialist
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Department: 445060 - Landscape Maintenance & Operations
Location: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties:
Join NC State University's Landscape Maintenance and Operations (LM&O) team as a Horticultural Specialist and help shape the beauty, sustainability, and long-term health of our award-winning campus landscapes. This position is ideal for someone who loves hands-on work, appreciates the natural environment, and takes pride in creating vibrant, well-maintained outdoor spaces. As a key plant-care expert for assigned campus zones, you will apply your horticultural knowledge, problem-solving skills, and creativity to support the university's landscape standards, sustainability goals, and student engagement initiatives.
You will also serve as a trusted resource to LM&O staff, helping mentor team members in best practices for plant care, seasonal maintenance, and thoughtful landscape design. If you're passionate about working outdoors, making a visible impact, and being part of a collaborative and mission-driven team, this role offers meaningful, year-round work in a supportive environment.
Key responsibilities and duties include but not limited to:
- Perform hands-on landscape tasks including pruning, weeding, mulching, planting, watering, blowing, and debris removal.
- Apply horticultural best practices and integrated pest management procedures across assigned campus zones.
- Monitor plant health and diagnose issues such as diseases, pests, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental stress; recommend and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with plant maintenance service agreements, including fertilization, soil testing, pruning schedules, and routine care standards.
- Evaluate plant conditions and provide clear reports and recommendations to the supervisor.
- Serve as a horticultural resource and mentor to LM&O staff by offering training, demonstrations, and guidance on effective plant care techniques.
- Troubleshoot landscape maintenance concerns and communicate findings promptly to the supervisor.
- Maintain and care for green roof landscapes, ensuring proper plant selection, watering needs, and adherence to rooftop safety procedures.
- Monitor indoor plant installations and ensure proper watering, lighting conditions, and timely plant replacement.
- Support student-led projects by consulting on plant selection, providing instructional guidance, and ensuring alignment with campus landscape standards.
- Support student workdays and internships by preparing tools, offering hands-on training, and ensuring safe field practices.
- Collaborate with Landscape Field Leads and Zone Managers on planting design, seasonal planning, and landscape project implementation.
- Advise LM&O staff on sustainable landscape practices, seasonal plant selection, biodiversity, and strategies that enhance long-term campus aesthetic and ecological health.
- Lift and transport materials weighing up to 60 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodations, and perform a wide range of physically demanding tasks in varied outdoor environments while maintaining safe handling procedures and consistent productivity.
- Understand verbal and written instructions regarding work assignments and other matter.
If you're energized by outdoor work, passionate about horticulture, and looking for a role where your contributions will be seen and valued every day, we invite you to apply and join our LM&O team at NC State University. Your expertise can help shape a campus environment that inspires students, staff, and visitors year-round.
Other Work/Responsibilities:
- Position serves in a critical role requiring the employee to potentially work during adverse weather conditions even if the University is closed to normal operations
- Aid in snow, debris removal and/or storm damage as directed by supervisors
- Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.
Minimum Experience/Education:
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.
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.
Required Qualifications:
- Must be able to effectively communicate verbally with supervisors and the general public
- Position should be able to understand verbal and written instructions regarding work assignments and other matter
- Horticultural/Grounds maintenance experience
- Ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 60 pounds, as well as perform physically demanding tasks in various outdoor conditions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of regional plant varieties and the ability to diagnose common plant health issues in a campus landscape setting.
- Experience using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in large, varied outdoor environments.
- Familiarity with sustainable landscaping approaches, especially those suited for public or university grounds.
- Ability to interpret basic landscape plans and support design or seasonal installation projects.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to support staff and student workers in a collaborative university setting.
Required license or certification:
- Valid driver's license required
- North Carolina driver's license required within 60 days of hire and must be maintained
Position Number: 00061172
AA/EEO Statement:
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 (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
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.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
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.
