Horticulture Technician

Apply now Job no: 498445
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Maintenance / Grounds / Skilled Trades, Facilities Management & Planning
Division: Facilities Planning & Management

Under general supervision of the Grounds Foreman and/or Assistant Grounds Foreman, this position performs skilled or technical types of work associated with the Maintenance of lawns, fertilization, irrigation, trees, shrubs and flower beds and is expected to supervise other grounds personnel as assigned.

In addition to following the University of Denver’s policies and procedures, principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• 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.
• Operates truck , hand cart, dolly, hand truck , forklift, and other equipment in the moving and setup of equipment on all university properties.
• 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.
• Trim 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.
• Performs minor repairs, lubricates and sharpens equipment. Reports complex repair needs to supervisor.
• Makes minor repairs to parking lots.
• Installs signs.
• Removes trees.
• Drives to sites with tools and equipment.

• Ability to follow detailed procedures and follow oral and written instructions. Ability to respond to situations requiring immediate attention and to daily priorities that are established.
• Must possess knowledge of standardized work routines and the ability to follow or give oral and or written instructions involving multiple tasks.
• Ability to operate equipment such as backhoe, skid loader, dump truck, bucked truck, tractor and snowplow. Must be able to read and interpret landscape drawings from blueprints.
• Must be able to report to work early in the morning, weekends, and holidays for snow removal.
• Must provide own transportation to and from work .
• Basic computer skills. 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.

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Four years experience in grounds horticulture, landscaping, or grounds maintenance is required.
• 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.
• Valid Colorado Drivers License and insurable by the University of Denver's insurance carrier.
• Pass a pre-employment physical exam, and lift 100 lbs.

• BA in Biology and/or Botany
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions.
• The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and /or humid conditions, toxic and caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

• Moderate to strenuous physical effort required.
• Worker must be able to withstand long periods of time bending,…