Gardener/Groundsperson

Property and Facilities
Full-time, permanent position.
Base salary will be in the range $70,319 to $77,400 + 17% super (HEW Level 3).
Based at our St Lucia Campus.
About This Opportunity
Make your mark on one of Australia’s most beautiful university campuses.
If you’re someone who takes genuine pride in a well-kept garden, a perfectly finished lawn and seeing the results of a good day’s work, this is an opportunity to put your horticultural skills to work in an environment unlike your typical grounds role.
As part of UQ’s Grounds team, you’ll help care for the landscaped gardens, lawns and outdoor spaces that make our St Lucia Campus such a distinctive place to study, work and visit. With more than 100 hectares of grounds and a diverse mix of established gardens, heritage landscapes, sporting areas and contemporary campus spaces, there is plenty of variety to keep the work interesting.
You’ll take responsibility for a designated area of campus, giving you the opportunity to really know your patch, take ownership of its presentation and see the impact of your work over time. One day might involve turf maintenance and garden care, while the next could see you tackling irrigation repairs, rejuvenating a garden bed or landscaping around a new development.
This is a practical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys working outdoors, being part of a supportive team and putting their horticultural knowledge into practice. Most importantly, you’ll be able to see the results of your work every day in the spaces enjoyed by thousands of students, staff and visitors across the campus.
Key responsibilities will include:
Maintain gardens, lawns, pathways and surrounding areas to a consistently high standard through mowing, edging, brush cutting, weeding, fertilising, watering, pruning and general grounds care.
Restore and enhance outdoor spaces by repairing turf, aerating and top dressing lawns, controlling pests, refurbishing gardens and undertaking landscaping around new and existing buildings.
Install, replace and repair irrigation components, drainage, mulch, tree guards and other landscape infrastructure.
Maintain a safe work environment by caring for grounds maintenance equipment, completing required records, contributing to risk assessments and following safe operating procedures.
About You
You will take pride in creating high-quality outdoor environments and enjoy contributing to a supportive team whose work is visible across the campus every day. You will bring:
Qualifications and training equivalent to a Certificate III in Horticulture, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education or training.
A current open Queensland Driver Licence.
A current commercial operator’s licence for chemical application, together with knowledge of equipment calibration and the safe application of chemicals.
Substantial experience in maintenance gardening, with a genuine interest in plant identification, plant health and landscape presentation.
Practical experience maintaining, fault-finding and repairing grounds maintenance equipment.
The ability to work safely and productively with minimal supervision while contributing positively to a collaborative team.
Strong communication skills and the ability to liaise respectfully with students, staff, contractors, consultants and visitors.
Sound judgement, professionalism and the ability to respond constructively in challenging situations.
About UQ
As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a purposeful and inclusive community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.
The presentation and care of our campuses play an important role in creating an environment where people can connect, learn and thrive. At St Lucia, you’ll work across a unique campus landscape where established gardens, open green spaces and contemporary facilities come together along the Brisbane River. As part of the Grounds team, your work will directly contribute to maintaining these spaces for the thousands of students, staff and visitors who enjoy the campus every day. Read about UQ research helping apartment dwellers grow fresh produce within their homes.
Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible start and finish times where operationally suitable, purchased leave, a condensed fortnight, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on-campus childcare, affordable parking and salary packaging.
Interested?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Michael Gower, Supervisor, Grounds, at m.gower1@uq.edu.au.
For application enquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number below in the subject line.
When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the ‘About You’ section.
Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.
Other Information
Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, professional registration, criminal history checks, mandatory immunisations, First Aid and/or CPR certification, and Blue Card checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer-sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
We’re dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.
Applications close Sunday 8th November at 11.00pm AEST (R-70139).