Nursery Worker

Title: Nursery Worker
Division Name: Finance and Planning
Department: Campus Services Division / Grounds

Job Summary

Oversee Grounds greenhouse(s) including the propagation, growth, design, scheduling, and maintaining of ornamental horticulture plants throughout campus. Oversee nursery production and plant material holding properties to include proper plant growth and care for installations in the campus landscape. Design, determine, schedule, and install various landscape plant materials for ornamental landscape beds throughout campus.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$30.68 per hour

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.

2. Any one or combination totaling eighteen months (18 months) from the categories below:
Coursework in botany, plant biology, horticulture, plant and soil science, or a closely related field ( such as biology, forestry, and floriculture) as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
-30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
-Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
-Work experience in greenhouse or nursery operations.

3. Valid State of Illinois driver's license.

4. A final candidate must complete a post-offer pre-employment physical exam. Employment is contingent on the successful result of the pre-employment physical.

NOTE: Must obtain a Class C Non-CDL license within five (5) months from the date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge in the operation of greenhouse production and scheduling.
2. Two years of experience in the maintenance of gardens, lawns, shrubs or trees .
3. A valid pesticide applicator license must be obtained within the first 12 months of hire.

Work Hours

Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

Ability to stand for long periods of time; must be able to bend, twist, kneel or crouch for up to three hours at a time; manual dexterity for transplanting and floral design; Ability to lift 75 pounds.

Work Environment- Temperature can reach extremes in the summer months during planting and maintenance seasons. Work is performed both indoors and out.

Proposed Starting Date

August 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Transcript - See Special Instructions to Applicants for additional options
Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hou