Horticulturist

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should attach a resume in PDF format to 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 — which stands for Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Grounds and Landscape Design, the Horticulturist works closely with the horticulture crew to provide daily care and maintenance of ornamental gardens and flower beds across the 300-acre campus. This role ensures exceptional landscape presentation and plant health through the application of industry best practices, including professional pruning, planting, fertilization, and pest management. The Horticulturist may also assist with garden bed design as needed.

The ideal candidate is a skilled and motivated horticulture professional with an advanced degree and hands-on experience in ornamental garden care, plant health, and sustainable landscape practices. They demonstrate reliability, teamwork, and a commitment to safety and stewardship while maintaining high standards of horticultural excellence across all seasons.

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, requiring all duties to be performed in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This essential, on-site position requires availability Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.

The role involves performing strenuous physical tasks in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold. Duties frequently require walking, standing, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and navigating uneven terrain. Employees regularly lift, carry, drag, and handle objects weighing up to 30 pounds (occasionally up to 50 pounds), including heavy debris, watering hoses, and items transported via powered or hand-operated carts.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed hourly rate is $20.00 – $21.56 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience. *Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent 
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
• 4 years of experience with planting, pruning, harvesting, applying soil amendments, water management, weed, and pest control
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Experienced and knowledgeable in the cultivation practices of native and non-native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, with an awareness of environmental practices that enhance local ecosystems
• Experience operating a variety of equipment, including assorted hand and power tools, chainsaws, electric and diesel gators, tractors, loaders, aerial lifts, and dump trucks
• Ability to implement proper pruning techniques for all types of woody plants

Preferences

• An Associate’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, or a closely related field, or other directly applicable certifications
• A background in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, experience, and knowledge of pesticides, including the proper application of pesticides
• Holder of a TDA pesticide applicator’s license or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire date

Essential Functions

• Performs daily inspection, planning, planting, harvesting, pruning, applying soil amendments, water management, debris removal, weed and pest control, mulching, and assisting with invasive plant management
• Uses current best practices and responsible stewardship when performing the tasks outlined above
• Works with other team members to identify and control insects, diseases, and weeds; applies insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides safely and properly, and maintains pesticide records
• Understands basic soil structure and soil health and their relationship to plant health
• Operates and maintains equipment and power tools as needed
• Maintains records of work activities and submits information for monthly reports
• Stays up-to-date and informed on the latest horticultural practices and pesticides
• Interacts positively with visitors, answering questions and giving directions
• Practices and maintains safety standards and procedures in all work areas and ensures others’ work safety as well
• Works independently with minimal supervision; certain tasks require working closely with other horticulture staff in a team setting
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation within the grounds department, with co-workers, management, and volunteers
• Performs other related duties as requested and completes special assignments; may occasionally assist Tree or Grounds crews

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

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.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.