Job Title: Garden Specialist

Department: Grounds

Campus Location: Main Campus

FLSA Status: Nonexempt/ Hourly

Position Type/ Work Schedule

• 2080 Hours per year
• 12 Months per year
• 40 Hours per week (Estimated)

About Us

At Colorado College, 2,300 students learn and live on our beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs. We attract top students seeking new perspectives with an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment. Here, students take only one class at a time to facilitate deep exploration of a topic. We call this the Block Plan. This unique approach allows members of our campus community to share a rhythm of experience as we work together to fulfill our mission. 

Job Summary

Maintains campus gardens, xeriscape, and other landscapes; collaborates with the grounds team to make sure all campus gardens are maintained properly.

Responsibilities

• Assist grounds manager in the design of gardens and plant materials and select species used; re-landscapes areas of campus including xeriscape areas and ornamental planting beds.
• Remove dead or undesirable plants; determine proper seasonal timing for plant maintenance activities; suggest alternative plants that will be successful in different climates on campus.
• Identify diseases and insect infestation; spray plants; maintain and plant flower beds throughout campus.
• Spray herbicides throughout campus in spring and summer.
• Help generate the campus annual flower order. This includes, cost, calculating volume, design, and species of plant.
• Serve as a resource for plant management to the grounds team in completing plant maintenance tasks. Provide hands on training for plant maintenance.
• Provide feedback on all new campus landscape designs to the grounds manager.
• Provide safety procedures and knowledge of methods, practices, tools and materials used in plant care.
• Provide daily direct field supervision and training for student employees on the grounds team.
• During winter months fill in where needed on the grounds staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate plus a minimum of three years related experience to include horticulture, grounds maintenance, and/or natural resource management;
• knowledge of grounds maintenance practices and equipment;
• knowledge of shrub and plant material species, preparation, care, and maintenance;
• knowledge of occupational hazards and safety equipment;
• ability to read, interpret, and work from rough sketches, drawings, and blueprints;
• ability to use a personal computer, basic gardening tools, trucks and tractors, front loader, backhoe, aerial basket, various mowers, weed eaters, 80-pound jackhammer, edger, chain saw, aerator, and rototiller, etc.

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is insurable by Colorado College’s motor vehicle insurance carrier.

Physical requirements include heavy physical effort (lifting/moving in excess of 100 pounds of force); frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and carrying loads up and down stairs; occasional climbing of ladders; walking, sometimes on rough terrain pushing or pulling tools and equipment; working outdoors in all weather conditions as well as noisy, dusty conditions; occasional exposure to chemicals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some college, vocational/ technical school in related field;
• grounds maintenance certification such as Associated Landscape Contractors or CSU Master Gardener

Applicants are welcome to apply even if you do not meet the preferred qualifications. We value diverse perspectives and encourage individuals with a genuine interest in the role to submit their applications. 

Other Position Details:

• Does not supervise others
• Position requires driving CC vehicles (drivers must be eligible for coverage under CC's insurance plan)

Application Instructions

• Continuous Recruitment: For full consideration, apply by 9/22/25.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.  

In alignment with our commitment to reduce potential bias in hiring, applicants may redact any information that discloses their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from educational institutions on resumes, certifications, transcripts, or other application materials. There will be no penalties for the omission of such information.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range:

• $20.44 to $24.31 per hour

What We Offer:

As part of the total compensation for Staff and Faculty roles, we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time - accrual of 0.085 vacation hours for each hour worked and 0.0462 hours of sick time for each hour worked
• Paid seasonal breaks and holidays
• 403(b) retirement plans where employees contribute 5% of pay and CC contributes 10%
• Tuition benefits for employee and eligible dependents
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Assistance Program
• Wellness benefits include free access to the sports center, swimming pool, arts and crafts, outdoor programs, and financial consultants

Accommodation Statement:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Colorado College’s policies, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Colorado College, or if you cannot use the online application system, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (719) 389-6421 or HR@ColoradoCollege.edu

E-Verify Information:

This organization participates in E-Verify. For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov.

Benefit Information:

Please refer to https://mybensite.com/coloradocollege/

Leave Information:

Please refer to https://www.coloradocollege.edu/basics/welcome/leadership/policies/vacation-leave-and-accrual.html