Campus

OSU-Oklahoma City

Contact Name & Email

Ryan Hightower, ryan.hightower@okstate.edu

Work Schedule

Schedule varies depending on the needs of the department.

Appointment Length

Regular Continuous/Until Further Notice

Hiring Range

$19.08 - $19.84 Hourly

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references.

About this Position

Carries out day-to-day management, supervisory, and hands-on operational duties associated with the greenhouses, gardens, and grounds at the John Kirkpatrick Building. Supervises work-study students, temporary personnel, volunteer workers, and any horticulture technicians assigned to the area.

Performs skilled-level horticultural work under general guidance and supervision to support the operation and maintenance of the greenhouse and garden facilities. Completes duties regarding production, propagation, planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest scouting and treatment, equipment operation, and grounds maintenance tasks as workload requires.

This position will follow generally standardized operating policies and procedures and develop and coordinate safety training and work-practice standards and requires working with the public, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers, as well as other campus departments and divisions.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Associate's Degree in Horticulture or related field

Experience:

• Two years greenhouse experience, production practices, and grounds maintenance experience.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining greenhouse and grounds power equipment, including mowers, tillers, and sprayers.

Certifications, Registrations, and/or Licenses:

• Must have valid Oklahoma driver's license and maintain ability to operate university fleet vehicle.
• Ability to obtain and maintain licensure as a certified applicator or pesticides through the State of Oklahoma Department of Agriculture within six months of employment.

Skills, Proficiencies, and/or Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of crop production and horticultural practices and techniques, including propagation and care of floral, bedding plant, woody, tropical, and vegetable crops.
• Proficient with garden and hand tools, sprayers, and aerators, and skilled in the safe operation and routine maintenance of grounds and greenhouse power equipment.
• Skilled in the application of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, with ability to read and interpret chemical labels, charts, diagrams, and equipment instruction materials.
• Ability to follow and enforce safe work practices and policies and to recognize and identify potentially hazardous workplace conditions.
• Ability to lead, supervise, and train employees, understand and give job instructions, and foster a cooperative work environment with faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.
• Skilled in project management and strongly organized, with the ability to track and assign duties, handle multiple projects and deadlines, and prioritize effectively with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Communicates with faculty, staff, students, and the public in a professional and hospitable manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate diplomatically, clearly, and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• High degree of initiative to work independently and collaboratively, including flexibility to respond to weather-related and emergency grounds needs outside normal hours in coordination with campus Facilities staff.
• Ability to prepare written reports and to record, interpret, and summarize production, pesticide application, and equipment maintenance data, using standard office technology and Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated history of ethical and professional behavior, including strict confidentiality in sensitive matters, and a passion for representing the OSU-OKC and OSU brand with positivity and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications:

Two to three years of experience operating and maintaining greenhouse and grounds equipment, knowledge of safety practices, and experience working with horticultural plants.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Effective budget management, cost containment, and project management of multiple projects are required. Manage P-Card transactions while ensuring compliance with organizational policies, regulations, and internal controls.
2. Plans work schedules, assigns, records, and schedules work, and conveys task expectations and technical direction to horticulture technicians, work-study students, temporary personnel, and volunteer workers.
3. Coordinates and delivers equipment use, pesticide, and general safety training for personnel.
4. Responsible for the production, propagation, growth, and care of floral crops, bedding plant crops, woody plant materials, tropical, and vegetable crops, including tracking, recording, and repotting of greenhouse crops.
5. Coordinates and personally conducts watering, fertilizing, transplanting, weeding, cultivation, and routine maintenance operations for the greenhouses, gardens, and Horticulture Technologies grounds.
6. Develops and implements pest management and nutrition programs, monitors and scouts’ crops for disease and insect problems, and performs or directs control measures.
7. Responsible for the design, layout, planting, and preparation of flower beds and demonstration and display beds around the John Kirkpatrick Building and the surrounding gardens.
8. Coordinates, plans, and performs grounds-related maintenance activities for the John Kirkpatrick Building and surrounding gardens and operates grounds and greenhouse power equipment including push mowers, tillers, and sprayers.
9. Responsible for the general upkeep and cleanliness of the greenhouses, gardens, and indoor areas of the Agriculture Resource Center (John Kirkpatrick Building), including associated trash removal.
10. Responsible for the general maintenance of structures, systems, and equipment related to greenhouse and facility operations, maintains an equipment maintenance log, and reports issues to the faculty, Department Chair and/or Facilities Operations
11. Provides support to the campus facilities operations as directed, including during and following weather events. Support may include snow and ice removal, clearing storm debris and downed limbs, securing greenhouse structures, equipment, and plant materials ahead of severe weather, and assisting with damage assessment and recovery.
12. Works closely with Horticulture faculty on greenhouse and garden-related instructional and laboratory activities and ensures proper preparation and setup of materials for laboratory work and other coursework.
13. Ensures seasonal greenhouse crops are high-quality and cost-contained, plans and manages crop sales as needed, provides input into the budget planning process, and orders plant materials, supplies, and equipment.
14. Conducts and maintains the physical inventory of equipment and chemicals.
15. Prepares written reports and records and summarizes production, application, and maintenance data as requested, and supports the provision, design, and delivery of continuing education courses in horticulture or related disciplines.
16. Complies with all state and university policies, completes all mandatory training, and participates in a minimum of two professional development activities each year.
17. Performs other duties as assigned.

The duties listed in this job description are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Working Conditions

• Work will be performed in an environment that requires working outdoors and in greenhouses with temperature changes and extremes; operating motorized equipment; proper handling of toxic materials and exposure to chemicals, dust, fumes, gases, etc., with appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Position may require working on occasional weekends and evenings and/or assisting with special events outside of normal working hours.
• Position may be designated as essential personnel and required to report or remain on duty outside normal working hours, including during inclement weather, campus closures, and storm recovery operations.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand/walk approximately 7-8 hours per day.
• Significant physical stamina to perform tasks that require frequent or continuous physical activity.
• Position requires frequent continuous bending/stooping, squatting/crouching, and pushing/pulling.
• Position requires frequent carrying/lifting of materials up to 45 lbs. (If an object weighs more than 45 lbs., OSU-Oklahoma City requires this to be a two-person lift). On occasion, may lift weight over 75 lbs. using proper lifting techniques
• Individual must be able to use both feet for repetitive movements as in operating foot controls on equipment.
• Individual must also be able to use both hands for repetitive actions requiring simple/firm grasping and/or fine manipulation.
• Ability and skill to operate the tools and equipment required for the job. 

The work environment and physical demands described herein are representative of those required of an employee to be able to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.