"Horticultural Specialist"

Horticultural Specialist

Company:
North Carolina State University

Job Location:

Category:
Farming and Agriculture

Type:
Full-Time

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers in North Carolina, offering a large range of career opportunities. Visit us at https://jobs.hr.ncsu.edu/.

Department: 445060 - Landscape Maintenance & Operations

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:
The Horticultural Specialist plays a vital role in enhancing and sustaining the beauty, health, and variation of plant life across the university campus. This position provides technical expertise, hands-on training, and leadership in applied horticultural sciences while supporting high-quality landscape installation, maintenance, and plant care practices. Working collaboratively with campus partners, the Horticultural Specialist ensures compliance with standards and best practices, contributing to a welcoming and vibrant campus environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for a knowledgeable and passionate horticulture professional who enjoys mentoring others, applying scientific principles in the field, and making a lasting impact on a dynamic university landscape. If you are motivated by teamwork, stewardship, and excellence in campus environments, we encourage you to apply and join a team dedicated to cultivating a thriving campus community.

Key Responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide Hands-On Technical Instruction in applied horticultural sciences to improve plant care, turf management, and landscape installation techniques for departmental staff.
• Act as a training resource based on in-depth knowledge and experience in landscape installation and maintenance practices (e.g., proper tree/shrub planting, mulching, soil amendments).
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex plant, turf, erosion, and stormwater issues, including monitoring and identifying diseased plants and analyzing test results to implement corrective solutions.
• Prepare and oversee all aspects of the landscape watering and warranty program.
• Physically work as a lead during landscape installations and Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) maintenance activities.
• Schedule and oversee project turnovers with the planner upon completion.
• Assist with SCM maintenance, inspections, and weed management.
• Coordinate with Landscape Construction Services (LCS) leadership to inspect materials upon delivery to job sites and schedule necessary equipment for installations and watering.
• Document all chemical applications, including those for SCMs.
• Serve as a potential liaison to regulatory agencies such as the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to ensure compliance with state and local regulations.
• Develop and maintain historical data on all projects for five years.
• Adhere to and promote all campus safety standards and assist with documenting weekly or mandatory safety trainings.
• Organize work crews and provide clear instructions regarding expectations and assigned tasks.
• Operate and move small equipment (mowers, trimmers, mini-skid steers, mini-excavators) to various campus locations using a truck and trailer.
• Lift and transport materials weighing up to 60 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations and perform physically demanding outdoor tasks safely in various weather and terrain conditions.
• Follows complex verbal and written instructions to complete work assignments accurately while maintaining professional, clear communication with supervisors and the general public.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• The position serves in a critical role and is essential to the operations of the university. May be required to work during adverse weather conditions and work even if the university closes. Aid in snow removal 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.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally with supervisors and the general public.
• Must be able to understand verbal and written instructions and other communications regarding work assignments and other matters.
• Position serves in a critical role and employee must work during adverse weather conditions and may be required to work even if the University is closed to normal operations.
• Experience in landscape installation, erosion control, SCM device maintenance and installation, horticulture and/or arboriculture.
• Must be able to lift up to 60 pounds frequently, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A high level of applicable turf and irrigation and trade knowledge. Installation, erosion control, SCM device maintenance and installation, horticulture and/or arboriculture experience.
• Ability to verbally communicate effectively with supervisors and the general public and understand verbal and written instructions and other communications regarding work assignments and other matters.
• North Carolina Pesticide License with Aquatics endorsement preferred.

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: 00107085