Job Description

Organizational Summary:

The USF Botanical Gardens is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. It consists of about 16 acres of
gardens and greenbelt on the USF Tampa campus. The Gardens maintains a living collection of more
than 3,000 of plants, animals and natural habitats.

Attracting thousands of visitors annually, the gardens serve as an important outreach component of USF. Plant festivals and other events attract enthusiasts from around the state to shop for rare and unusual plants and learn about sustainable gardening. The Gardens supports ongoing research in medical botany, biology, engineering, for
example, and provide opportunities for service-learning to USF students. From student organizations
to many Tampa Bay area volunteers, there are many ways to get involved on campus.

Senior Groundskeepers are responsible for assigning and overseeing the work of Groundskeeper, ensuring that all of work for the shift has been completed in an acceptable manner, and assists in landscaping and maintaining assigned areas. Maintenance of the assigned areas includes keeping the grounds in clean and orderly condition. Senior Groundskeepers are responsible for general maintenance and upkeep of grounds areas as well as specific detailing of the landscape and flowerbeds.

• Mows, edges and maintains USF lawn / ground areas.
• Trims, prunes, & stakes trees, shrubs, vines and plants.
• Treats foliage, trees, shrubs for insects and weeds with appropriate pesticides and/or fertilizers as needed (using unrestricted chemicals).
• Performs seasonal maintenance and preparation of grounds such as trimming branches and trees, removing moss from large trees, seasonal planting and fertilization, etc.
• Pulls weeds, refuse and other debris from flowerbeds and mulched areas.
• Plants flowers, shrubs, trees, seeds, bulbs, etc. in flowerbeds or appropriate areas.
• Performs minor adjustments and repairs to equipment and machinery.
• Gathers appropriate supplies, materials and landscaping tools.
• Check motorized vehicles to ensure they are in good, operative condition for the shift, or oversees this responsibility
• May assist with purchasing of plants and landscaping materials as needed.
• Assist in projections for new projects within the Garden.
• Assist with coordinating with contractors and the project operations.
• Develops long-term plans, plans work schedules, makes work assignments, and inspects both finished projects as well as work in progress.
• Recommends and implements methods and procedures designed to increase overall effectiveness of the grounds operation.
• May plan and supervises a preventative maintenance and repair program.
• Plans the landscaping schedule for the shift, assigns each Groundskeeper to an area/task, and makes any adjustments as needed.
• Continually monitors Groundskeepers through out the shift to resolve any problems that arise, ensure landscaping duties are being completed in a timely manner, and confirms that these duties are being performed in accordance with USF standards.
• Reports and discusses any serious or recurring problems regarding poor performance, repeated attendance issues, employee relations concerns, etc. with the Grounds Supervisor.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

This position requires completion of the 9th grade and one year of landscaping/grounds keeping experience. A valid Florida Driver's License may be required if motorized vehicles of any kind are operated.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.