Gardener

Grounds Services at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) invites applications for a Gardener. The Gardener is responsible for the maintenance of grounds and landscaping. This position performs a variety of tasks, including the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and bulbs, application of herbicides and pesticides, and tree and shrub pruning. The Gardener will also support the overall groundskeeping operation of the University, including grounds maintenance tasks such as snow removal, athletic field maintenance, and litter and trash removal. Overtime work will be required for snow removal and for Special Events, including but not limited to, the WIAA State Track Meet. The normal work schedule for this position will be Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This position reports to the Grounds Services Manager.

The successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to multiculturalism, diversity and inclusive excellence and an ability to work with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

This is a full-time position with expected continuous employment and includes a State of Wisconsin benefits package. The starting salary is $18.00 per hour.

Required Qualifications:

• The ability to hold and maintain a valid drivers license meeting the criteria for driving a state vehicle.
• Individuals must have or be able to obtain a State of Wisconsin Commercial Pesticide Applicator License Category 3.0 Turf and Landscape within six months of hire and must maintain certification throughout employment.
• Ability to grasp, lift and/or carry tools, equipment, or supplies, up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Physically be able to work in various positions, i.e., with arms above your head for periods of time; bending, twisting, crawling, squatting, climbing, stooping or kneeling; on scaffolding, ladders or stairs; standing, sitting or walking, while continuously performing job functions.
• Physically be able to work in various environments without adverse physical reactions, e.g., within extreme temperature ranges; in hot, noisy, dirty or dust-filled areas; at heights above 30 feet, etc.
• Ability to wear protective equipment, i.e., respirator, breathing apparatus, hearing, or eye protection, etc.
• Knowledge of safe, efficient operation of heavy equipment.
• Ability to work overtime hours for snow removal or for other special events as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate degree or professional certification in a directly related field.
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance of heavy equipment.
• Ability to identify different varieties of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs.
• Ability to safely operate equipment in areas with high levels of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle activity.
• Knowledge of essential job functions and ability to safely perform duties with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge or ability to learn relevant software and/or computer languages to operate preventive maintenance, work order, time reporting and inventory control programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally or in writing, using the English language, in various situations, i.e., face-to-face, via phone or two-way radio, correspondence, taking messages, email, etc.

Candidates interested in the Groundskeeper position at UWL will be required to apply online. All inquiries regarding the position should be directed to Tony Meidl, Grounds Services Manager, at ameidl@uwlax.edu.

The anticipated start date for this position is July 2026. Priority consideration will be given to those who apply by the first review date of July 13, 2026.

Note: Electronic submission of application materials is required. For additional information about this position and to apply Click the apply button below

Please contact the Search and Screen Chair if you have a special need/accommodation to aid your participation in our hiring process.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWLa Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community.

UW-La Crosse's diversity and inclusion efforts are guided by our adherence to Inclusive Excellence. We define Inclusive Excellence as ... our active, intentional and ongoing commitment to bridge differences with understanding and respect so all can thrive." The goals of Inclusive Excellence are to increase the retention of diverse faculty, staff and students while encouraging a campus climate that is inviting and welcoming to all. UW-La Crosse strives to promote acceptance of all facets of diversity from racial/ethnic diversity to diversity of thought and experience. UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO).

For more than a decade, UW-La Crosse has been named one of Kiplingers 100 Best Values in Public Universities and has appeared prominently on the U.S. News & World Report list of Americas Best Colleges for more than 15 years, and is ranked #4 on its list of the Best Regional Public Universities in the Midwest.  

With a student population of roughly 10,500, the university offers 91 undergraduate programs, 21 graduate programs, and two doctoral programs in the following colleges: Liberal Studies, Science and Health, and Business Administration, including the School of Arts & Communication and the School of Education, Professional and Continuing Education. There are over 600 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 75 percent of whom hold terminal degrees. UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 83 percent, a graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent, and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates. 

UW-La Crosses strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available at On our website

The UW-La Crosse campus is nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse (pop. 52,000) located in western Wisconsin. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty, which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between.  Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small-town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth-century downtown business district, and several galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. 

UW-La Crosse is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and we encourage applications from persons with varied backgrounds and perspectives. In support of the Wisconsin Veteran Employment Initiative, we encourage veterans and veterans with disabilities to explore employment opportunities at UW-La Crosse. 

As a prospective UW-La Crosse employee, you have a right to obtain a copy of campus safety and security information (Clery Act) for this institution. You may review this information on our website 

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.  A pending criminal charge or conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, UW-La Crosse does not discriminate based on arrest or conviction record.

Salary/Compensation: $18.00 per hour