"Gardener"

Job Details

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

As a member of Rice University’s 30+ person Grounds team, the Gardener plays a vital role in creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This position is responsible for cultivating and maintaining the university’s ornamental gardens, flower beds, and more than 300 trees, ensuring the campus reflects Rice’s world-class reputation.

Reporting to the Director of Grounds & Landscape Design, the Gardener supports the university’s mission through innovative and effective landscape management. The role emphasizes excellence in plant care, including preventative maintenance and corrective procedures, to promote the health, beauty, and vibrancy of campus green spaces.

The ideal candidate is passionate about horticulture, enjoys working collaboratively within a supportive team, and takes pride in creating and sustaining beautiful outdoor spaces.

In addition to joining a meaningful and mission-driven team, employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, health insurance, tuition discounts, and access to campus facilities.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May be required to work overtime 3–4 times a year. Must be available to work occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions, especially during a campus emergency.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed hourly rate is $17.00–$18.08, depending on qualifications and experience. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• No formal education
• 2 years of hands-on landscaping, horticulture, or gardening experience

Skills:

• Dependability
• Ability to follow instructions
• Good knowledge of grounds maintenance
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of proper equipment use and maintenance

Preferences

• HS diploma or equivalent
• Willingness to obtain specialized training
• Logical and technical reasoning skills
• Ability to work both independently and/or as part of a team

Essential Functions

• Operates equipment and various vehicles to perform landscape maintenance
• Maintains landscape plants
• Trims, prunes, rakes, plants, waters, and weeds landscaped areas on campus
• Fertilizes plants
• Monitors for pests and diseases
• Completes excavating and other manual labor tasks associated with maintaining landscape
• May occasionally assist Tree or Grounds crews

Additional Functions

• Picks up litter and empties trash cans, as needed
• Cleans streets, sidewalks, loading docks, and parking lots
• Cleans assigned areas
• Keeps area drain grates clean
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Work Conditions

Work Environment: Primarily an outdoor work environment, which includes exposure to temperature and weather extremes (heat, cold, rain, etc.).

Work Hazards: Exposed to dirt, dust, fumes, pollen, noise, and hazardous chemicals such as insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Some work may occur at heightened elevations on ladders and scaffolding. Work with heavy equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, hedge trimmers, etc.

Physical Demands: HEAVY: Exert up to 70 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects. Requires walking or standing up to 8 hours per day and multi-limb coordination to operate heavy equipment and drive a vehicle. Other physical requirements of the job include the ability to bend/crouch/kneel, lift, see, reach, climb, and balance.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.