Job Details

City of Portland - Horticulture Seasonal Groundskeepers

Position Number: 6947635
Location: Portland, ME
Position Type: Agriculture - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

City of Portland - Horticulture Seasonal Groundskeepers

Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department - May through November full-time or part-time schedule (16-40 hours/week).

About the City of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department:

The Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is comprised of 160 full-time and over 250 seasonal staff dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Portland, Maine. They achieve this by operating cultural venues, running community programs (including Before and After School, Swim Lessons, and Senior Adult programs), and maintaining public buildings, waterfront infrastructure, 70 parks, 40+ miles of trails, 13 cemeteries, and 30 playgrounds. Their diverse team, including Park Maintainers, Lifeguards, Event Managers, Horticulturalists, and many others, works collaboratively to provide spaces and opportunities for social connection, recreation, and community development.

Job Summary:

This position involves hands-on plant care, including planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and fertilizing to maintain gardens. This position requires physical stamina for tasks like heavy lifting and working outdoors in varied weather. Responsibilities include using tools like pruners and blowers, identifying plant pests, and ensuring tidy, well-maintained landscapes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Performing landscape gardening work, planting, maintaining City ornamental display gardens and natural spaces.
Planting, cultivating, weeding, shrub & hedge pruning, landscaping, watering, invasive species removal, and some hand mowing and string trimming.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Prior landscape/horticulture experience and/or education desired
Responsibility, maturity, dedication and the ability to work in varied weather conditions are a must.
Applicants for Groundskeeper positions must be at least 18 years old
Basic landscape/horticulture experience and/or education desired
Ability to work outside in all types of weather.
Ability to bend, kneel, dig or cultivate on a daily basis.
Ability to operate a small tractor safely for watering if assigned
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors and the public
A valid Maine Class C driver's license is preferred, and a Department of Motor Vehicle check will be conducted on those who have one.

Expected Hours/Schedule:

Daily 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m; Monday through Friday

Applications accepted until April 17, 2026.

Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.

Salary: Horticulture maintenance positions start at $18.00/hour.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please email Human Resources at jobs@portlandmaine.gov or call 207-874-8624.

The City of Portland believes that to do our best work, our employees need to reflect the diverse, vibrant community we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to celebrating all dimensions of diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 207-874-8624 or email hrinfo@portlandmaine.gov.

To apply, visit https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=282&sreq=9&form=1000&desc=HORTICULTURE%20SEASONAL%20GROUNDSKEEPERS