Location
GreenHouse- Leopold
Additional Compensation
- Level 1: $18.00 per hour
- Level 2: $18.75 per hour
- Employees who work during the summer months may be eligible to earn a differential (mid-May through end of August)
Hours
- 20 hours a week during peak growing season, 5-10 hours during the winter months
- Flexible scheduling based on academic availability and operational need.
- Summer hours based on operational need.
Additional Scheduling Notes
- Start Date: April 20, 2026
- Note: Start date and training dates may change but will not be any earlier than the dates listed above.
Qualifications
- Must have a completed Bachelor’s degree and be enrolled as a graduate or professional student for the upcoming academic year. If you have applied to, but have not been officially accepted into an institution, we still encourage your application.
- During pre-employment and employment, a student staff member must abide by the University Residence Halls Contract, the Student Housing Handbook and the University of Wisconsin System academic and non-academic policies and expectations.
- Preference will be given to candidates who:
- are currently pursuing a graduate degree in a plant-related field (horticulture, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, agroecology, soil science
- have one year or more left in their graduate program.
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs regularly.
- Ability to reach high or bend over.
- Ability to spend extended time standing.
- Ability to pull or drag hoses and tables inside the greenhouse.
- Ability to work in a hot environment for an extended period.
Position Summary
The Greenhouse and Garden Technician for the GreenHouse Learning Community has primary responsibility for equipping, managing and developing protocol for the greenhouse space on the fourth floor of Leopold Hall and the community garden plot located in Eagle Heights Community Gardens. The Greenhouse and Garden Technician provides guidance to staff and residents on the proper use of the greenhouse and garden space and leads educational programming for residents.
Supervisor
Assistant Director-Residence Life
Duties & Responsibilities
Division of University Housing is committed to demonstrating our Core Values: Care in how we approach people and our work; Creativity in solving problems; Integrity in our interactions with staff and customers; Optimism, focusing on opportunities and positive outcomes; Respect for the differences, strengths, and potential in people; Stewardship of human, financial and natural resources; and Excellence in customer satisfaction and communication.
- Maintain the greenhouse in Leopold Hall and organic garden plot at Eagle Heights
- Facilitate student learning by modeling and teaching proper use of materials and care for plants in greenhouse and organic farm plot.
- Develop and implement activities and events aligned with the focus of the GreenHouse learning community. This may include providing guidance to students on the proper use of the greenhouse space, as well as teaching production, propagation, and pest management techniques
- Integrate co-curricular activities and events with the learning community seminar syllabus
- Work with GreenHouse Learning Community faculty and staff to make purchasing decisions to equip the greenhouse facility and outside storage space.
- Monitor watering, nutrient requirements, and temperature/humidity regulation to correspond with greenhouse activities.
- Develop protocol for materials use and re-use in accordance with the GreenHouse theme of sustainability.
- Keep the greenhouse space healthy and productive for residents throughout the year through troubleshooting unknown environmental conditions and manipulating temperature, ventilation, and IPM techniques
- Oversight of resident volunteers or summer interns who may assist with the greenhouse and gardens
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Leadership Team members and other faculty, academic staff, House Fellows and student staff in the community.
Proficiency Level Requirements
- Additional Level 2 Requirements:
- 9 months of active work are required in this position to be eligible for Level 2 pay rate
Knowledge/Skills
- Knowledge of all facets of greenhouse management, including equipping the greenhouse space; developing protocol for student use of the space; and assessment of management regimen
- Knowledge of environmental conditions and manipulating temperature, ventilation, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques
- Experience in working with students in an educational greenhouse setting
- Experience in starting seedlings in a greenhouse and transplanting them outdoors
- Experience growing organic produce on half an acre or more of land
Application Instructions
- To apply, go to Student Employment Application and submit your online application, including: supplemental questions
- Deadline to apply is Friday March 6, 2026 12:00 PM
University Housing values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Eligibility for Student Employment: To be eligible for this and other student employment opportunities with University Housing, you must be enrolled for academic credit as a student with UW-Madison, and your presence on campus is primarily to be a student, not an employee. It is not permissible to hire a person as a student employee if they are taking credits merely to be eligible for student employment. Exceptions to this will be approved on a limited basis, as long as the person can verify they are enrolled for academic credit at another educational institution. This exception does not apply to individuals who are taking academic credits merely to be eligible for student employment.
In accordance with UW System Chapter 17.02(14) which summarizes student nonacademic disciplinary procedures, “student” is defined as any person who is registered for study in an institution for the academic period in which the misconduct occurred, or between academic periods, for continuing students. Following this definition outlined in UW System Chapter 17, you are considered a student during academic periods as well as between academic periods, if you are a continuing student.
Contact hr@housing.wisc.edu with any questions.