Assistant Horticulture Supervisor

Job no : 495712

Work type : Full Time

Location : Swarthmore

Categories : Staff, Hourly (Non-Exempt), On Campus

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are :

We are the Scott Arboretum & Gardens which consists of 400+ acres of Swarthmore College’s academic and residential campus and the Crum Woods. The Arboretum’s plant collections and garden spaces surround all of the campus buildings and outdoor athletic areas. Our department consists of all aspects of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens which include horticulture, learning and engagement, and grounds operations.

The opportunity :

Provides timely and reliable support for assisting with the supervision of gardeners, as well as directly performing gardening care and maintenance of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens plant collections and garden areas. Coordinates restoration projects and regular maintenance of the Crum Woods and coordinates and implements the deer control program. Ensures proper record keeping and inventory of horticultural chemicals, pesticides, application equipment, and personal protection equipment for the department. Assists in supervising horticulturists, interns, and student workers. Provides knowledge and guidance for sustainable landscapes and integrated pest management, and monitors for insects and diseases for the department. Performs necessary grounds maintenance tasks. Assists in the execution of and participates in the Arboretum’s educational and outreach programs. Performs grounds maintenance tasks such as turf renovation, snow removal, event setup, and other jobs to support College and Arboretum events and classes. Works to fulfill the missions of the Arboretum and Swarthmore College.

Essential Responsibilities

HORTICULTURAL TASKS 50%

• Performs horticultural tasks and maintains the plant collections and garden spaces by doing timely planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, leaf raking and other plant cultural practices in order to maintain campus aesthetics and provide proper horticultural care, and supervises others to do the same.
• Maintains specialty garden areas such as Bond Rose Garden, Cosby Courtyard, Harry Wood Garden, Lang Fragrance Garden, Singer Hall landscape, Winter Garden, cherry border, peony collection, gravel culture, Scott Outdoor Amphitheater, various courtyard gardens and major horticultural collections as the most intensively-maintained gardens on campus.
• Coordinates restoration projects and regular maintenance of the Crum Woods. Coordinates and implements the deer control program of the Crum Woods.
• Ensures proper record keeping and inventory of horticultural chemicals, pesticides, application equipment, and personal protection equipment for the department.
• Provides knowledge and guidance for sustainable landscapes and integrated pest management, and monitors for insects and diseases for the department.

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 30%

OPERATES AND MAINTAINS EQUIPMENT 10%

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 10%

Supervisory Responsibilities

Who you are :

What you bring :

Required Qualifications

Physical Demands

Working Conditions

Preferred Qualifications

What You Will Get :

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by October 24, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $28.00-$37.00 per hour, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

MVR Clearance Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer . We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Advertised : Sep 12 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close : Open until filled

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