Garden Supervisor

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Garden Supervisor

Job Profile Title

Greenhouse Coordinator

Job Description Summary

The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park is a 3.5 acre garden located on the southwest corner of the University of Pennsylvania campus. It is a unique oasis that has been under the care of the Biology Department for over 100 years. The Biopond, at the heart of the garden, is one of the few remaining original features and attracts students, faculty, staff and community members throughout the year.

Job Description

The Garden Supervisor is a professional horticulturist responsible for the day-to-day upkeep and development of a 3.5 acre garden located on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. They are responsible for overseeing or performing all aspects of plant care (except arboriculture work), keeping the garden safe and clean, and assisting with events and group rentals. They are responsible for supervising and training the seasonal garden assistant and may assist with interns and student workers as needed. They work closely with the Greenhouse and Garden Manager to plan and implement improvements. The Garden Supervisor is required to become familiar with all aspects of Kaskey Park including the plant collections, history, physical structures and mechanical systems. They are to perform their work according to the highest industry standards, working towards and within the mission of Kaskey Park. The Garden Supervisor will also greet visitors, conduct tours of the grounds, and assist student and faculty researchers with projects as needed.

Duties/Job Responsibilities

• Perform and supervise all aspects of plant care and garden maintenance throughout Kaskey Park. This includes plant installation and upkeep and maintaining cleanliness of the grounds.
• Train and supervise seasonal, part time, and temporary workers.
• Pond Maintenance: clean and maintain pumps, water lines, and aeration systems. Add plants, water amendments and work toward creating a balanced, healthy ecosystem.
• Work closely with Greenhouse and Garden Manager, as well as the Garden Committee, to create and execute short term, seasonal, and long-term goals pertaining to the health and development of the garden and pond.
• Repair and maintain garden tools including 2 and 4 cycle engines, sharpen tools, and keep a clean and organized environment in the shed and other support areas.
• Interface with students, faculty and staff within the Biology Department as needed. Assist with research projects and labs. Work with Facilities and Arboretum Staff to facilitate projects and maintenance.
• Assist Greenhouse and Garden Manager with setup, cleanup and scheduling of events within the garden.
• Outreach – may include giving tours, answering questions, and contributing to the website
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Associate of Science and 2 to 3 years of horticulture experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience must include plant identification and excellent working knowledge of plants hardy to the mid-Atlantic region, planting, pruning, weeding, seasonal garden management, plant record-keeping, propagation, and weed management.
• Must have a valid Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License or be able to acquire one within 4 months.
• Must be able to safely operate standard landscaping equipment - lawn mowers, blowers, string trimmers, tractor, and chain saw.
• Ability and willingness to work in varied weather conditions.
• Ability to frequently lift 25 lbs or more.
• Work involves a high level of physical activity including walking, standing, bending, crouching, and stooping.
• Must be able to acquire certification to work with children under the age of 18 or elders.
• Must be able to acquire certification to operate a University vehicle or drive a vehicle on University business

 *For consideration, please submit a cover letter as well as a resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$24.46 - $30.77 Hourly Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay