Landscape Technician

State Title: Landscape Technician
Bargaining Unit: IFPTE
Employment Type: 40 hours per week/Full-time/Wednesday - Sunday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Internal salary: Range 15/$50,059.28 - $72,549.68
External salary: Range 15/$50,059.28 - $56,806.40

UNION POSITIONS: The internal salary range is used for applicants who are current NJ state employees with underlying classified status for promotional calculations who meet the requirements below. The external salary range is used for candidates who are not NJ state employees who meet the requirements below.

About TCNJ

Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

Position Overview:

Under the direction of the Crew Supervisor of Building & Grounds, the Landscape Technician conducts the duties and responsibilities of varied maintenance tasks of grounds, including but not limited to specialized pesticide work, shrub and tree planting and maintenance, grass maintenance and construction, soil maintenance, and operating landscape and snow equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Performs duties related to the maintenance and care of institutional grounds, including soil preparation, seeding, fertilizing, aerating, watering, mowing, edging, and trimming lawns and turf areas. Plants, transplants, cultivates, fertilizes, prunes, and removes trees and shrubs in accordance with accepted horticultural and arboricultural standards.
• Renovates turf areas and landscape beds as needed. Removes dirt, rubbish, snow, leaves, and other refuse. Assists in maintaining roads, lawns, parking areas, walkways, benches, and related campus grounds infrastructure.
• Operates, maintains, and performs minor repairs or adjustments to landscaping equipment including tractors, mowers, trimmers, aerators, spreaders, seeders, and related groundskeeping tools. Ensures equipment and materials are used properly and safely.
• Identifies plant health concerns, turf deficiencies, and environmental conditions requiring corrective action.
• Performs duties of a Registered Commercial Pesticide Applicator in compliance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations and State pesticide control laws.
• Applies herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and other approved treatments to manage invasive species, noxious weeds, turf diseases, and harmful insects affecting campus grounds and right-of-way areas.
• Transports, stores, mixes, and applies pesticides in accordance with label instructions, OSHA standards, and environmental safety regulations. Calibrates spraying and spreading equipment to ensure accurate application rates.
• Maintains detailed daily pesticide application records as required by NJDEP regulations. Responsible for oversight of pesticide applications performed by non-certified crew members to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Provides instruction and on-the-job training to crew members on safe handling, mixing, application procedures, spill prevention, and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Attends NJDEP authorized training programs to maintain licensure and remain current on evolving pesticide laws, application techniques, and environmental standards.
• Confers with supervisors and appropriate officials in matters related to pesticide compliance, inspections, or environmental concerns when required.
• Reports unfamiliar incidents, hazardous conditions, pest outbreaks, or unsafe situations observed on campus grounds. Takes appropriate steps to ensure safe and orderly conditions.
• Performs snow and ice removal operations including plowing, salting, sanding, and de-icing walkways and roadways. Responds to emergency landscape conditions such as storm damage, fallen trees, or natural events impacting campus operations. May be required to work nights, weekends, or extended hours during emergencies.

Required Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of experience in the construction and maintenance of landscape areas, including the use of pesticides.
• The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.
• Appointee will be required to obtain a Registered Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification issued by the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, valid in New Jersey, within six (6) months of appointment. The inability of the employee to attain the certification and necessary endorsements within six (6) months of hire shall constitute grounds for removal.
• Knowledge of methods used to plan, lay out, and perform lawn, turf, and landscape maintenance work, including pest and vegetation management.
• Knowledge of safe pesticide handling, mixing, storage, application techniques, and recordkeeping requirements in accordance with NJDEP regulations.
• Ability to properly operate and maintain landscaping equipment, snow removal equipment, and pesticide application equipment.
• Ability to identify common turf diseases, invasive species, insects, and plant health deficiencies and take appropriate corrective action.
• Ability to follow safety procedures, read and interpret pesticide labels, and maintain accurate compliance documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in turf management, or landscape maintenance in an institutional or commercial setting preferred.

Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.

Employer Qualifications

Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I-9).

Residency Requirement: In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees in certain positions (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed.

Accommodation: Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview should contact hr@tcnj.edu.

Employee Benefits

As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public college career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:

• Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
• Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
• Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
• Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee affinity groups
• New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
• Access to extensive learning opportunities

To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more!

SAME Applicants

If you are applying under the New Jersey "SAME" program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references by the closing date listed above to: same@tcnj.edu. For more information on the SAME program, visit their website at: https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, email: SAME@csc.nj.gov, or call CSC at: 833-691-0404.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable finalist has been found.

The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of our community and strive to create an environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. We encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests align with our institutional mission of academic excellence, access, and integrity.