Job PurposeThe Horticulturist will be responsible for the planning, development, beautification, maintenance and sustainable management of the University's landscape and green areas . The position will ensure that lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, ornamental plants, nurseries and other landscaped areas are maintained to high standards while ensuring efficient use of manpower, water, fertilizers and other resources.The role will also supervise horticulture staff and external landscaping agencies, manage seasonal plantation activities, monitor plant health and irrigation systems, and provide technical recommendations for campus landscaping and green-campus initiatives.Educational QualificationEssential:Doctorate/Masters/Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture / Agriculture / Landscape Horticulture from a recognized university/institution.Experience7–10 years of relevant experience in horticulture, landscaping, estate management or campus landscape maintenance.Experience in a large institutional, university, corporate, hotel, township or residential campus is preferred.Candidates with experience managing outsourced landscaping agencies and large teams will be preferred.Key ResponsibilitiesA. Landscape & Campus HorticulturePlan, develop and maintain lawns, gardens, flower beds, hedges, trees, shrubs, creepers, indoor plants and other landscaped areas.Develop annual and seasonal horticulture plans for the campus.Select appropriate plant species based on local climate, soil conditions, aesthetics, water availability and campus requirements.Maintain the visual appearance and overall health of the University's green areas.Plan new plantation, gap filling, transplantation and replacement of unhealthy or unsuitable plants.Develop and maintain thematic gardens, avenue plantations, ornamental areas and biodiversity zones wherever required.Coordinate with landscape architects/designers for new landscape development and modification projects.Maintain proper plant and tree inventories across the campus.B. Lawn, Tree & Plant MaintenanceSupervise mowing, edging, pruning, trimming, weeding, mulching, watering, fertilization and other routine horticultural activities.Ensure timely pruning and maintenance of trees and shrubs without compromising plant health or safety.Monitor plant diseases, pests, nutrient deficiencies and other horticultural problems.Implement appropriate preventive and corrective measures for pest and disease management.Ensure proper maintenance of seasonal flowers and ornamental plants.Develop and maintain nursery facilities for propagation of suitable plants where required.C. Irrigation & Water ManagementPlan and monitor irrigation requirements for different campus areas.Operate and maintain drip, sprinkler and other irrigation systems.Monitor water consumption and identify opportunities for conservation.Coordinate the use of treated STP/recycled water for horticulture wherever technically and legally appropriate.Ensure there is no unnecessary water wastage, leakage or over-irrigation.Develop irrigation schedules according to season, soil and plant requirements.D.



Sustainable & Environment-Friendly HorticulturePromote sustainable landscaping and environmentally responsible horticultural practices.Increase the use of native, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plant species.Promote organic manure, compost, vermicompost and other sustainable soil-management practices.Reduce unnecessary dependence on chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices wherever feasible.Support campus biodiversity, tree plantation, carbon sequestration and green-campus initiatives.Coordinate with the University's sustainability/workplace team for plantation and biodiversity programs.E. Manpower ManagementSupervise gardeners, mali staff, supervisors and other horticulture personnel.Prepare daily/weekly work allocation and manpower deployment plans.Monitor attendance, productivity, discipline and quality of work.Train horticulture staff in gardening techniques, equipment use, plant care, safety and chemical handling.Conduct regular inspections of work areas and provide corrective instructions.Ensure adequate manpower deployment during peak seasons and university events.F. Vendor & Contractor ManagementSupervise outsourced landscaping/horticulture agencies and contractors.Define work requirements and monitor service-level standards.Verify manpower deployment and quality of work before recommending bills for payment.Coordinate procurement of plants, seeds, manure, fertilizers, pesticides, tools, equipment and other horticultural materials.Evaluate the quality of plants and materials supplied by vendors.Maintain records of contractor performance, material consumption and horticultural works completed.G. Budgeting & Cost ControlPrepare annual horticulture budgets and seasonal expenditure plans.Estimate manpower, plant material, irrigation, fertilizer, equipment and maintenance requirements.Monitor expenditure against approved budgets.Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising landscape quality.Maintain appropriate records of purchases, consumption, inventory and horticultural expenditure.H. Equipment & InfrastructureEnsure proper maintenance and safe operation of lawn mowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, sprayers, irrigation equipment and other horticulture machinery.Maintain an inventory of horticultural tools and equipment.Ensure timely servicing and repair of machinery.Report damaged, obsolete or unsafe equipment for replacement.Ensure safe storage and handling of fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and gardening materials.I. University Events & Special RequirementsSupport campus beautification for convocations, annual functions, conferences, VIP visits and other major University events.Arrange temporary floral decorations, potted plants and special landscaping requirements when necessary.Coordinate with housekeeping, security, engineering, electrical and event teams for campus-wide requirements.J.



Reporting & DocumentationMaintain records of plantation, tree inventory, plant replacement and horticultural activities.Prepare daily/weekly/monthly reports on horticulture operations.Maintain records of manpower deployment, attendance, material consumption and equipment.Submit recommendations regarding plantation, landscaping, irrigation and maintenance requirements.Prepare work estimates and technical specifications for horticulture projects.Maintain documentation related to safety, chemical usage and statutory/environmental requirements.Knowledge & Technical SkillsThe candidate should have good knowledge of:Landscape development and maintenanceIdentification and selection of plantsLawn and turf managementTree and shrub managementNursery management and plant propagationSoil management and soil amendmentsFertilizers, manures and nutrient managementPest and disease identification and controlIrrigation and water conservationSeasonal plantation planningOrganic and sustainable horticultureBasic landscape designHorticulture machinery and equipmentHorticulture budgeting and cost estimationContractor/vendor managementBasic MS Office/Excel and reportingBehavioural CompetenciesStrong supervisory and team-management skillsGood planning and organizational abilityAttention to detailProblem-solving abilityAbility to work outdoors and manage field operationsGood communication and coordination skillsCost-conscious and resource-efficient approachService-oriented attitudeAbility to work under tight timelines during University eventsCommitment to environmental sustainability and campus aestheticsKey Performance Indicators (KPIs)Performance may be evaluated against:Overall quality and appearance of campus landscapeLawn, tree and plant healthTimely completion of seasonal plantation activitiesPlant survival rateReduction in plant mortality and disease incidenceWater consumption and water-saving initiativesHorticulture expenditure versus budgetManpower productivity and attendanceContractor/vendor performanceTimely completion of maintenance activitiesDevelopment of new green areas and biodiversity initiativesReduction in chemical fertilizer/pesticide usageCleanliness and proper disposal/composting of horticultural wasteCompliance with safety and environmental proceduresAuthority & AccountabilityThe Horticulturist will be accountable for the day-to-day horticultural condition of the University's campus and will have the authority, within approved budgets and University policies, to:Allocate horticulture manpower.Schedule routine horticultural activities.Recommend procurement of plants, materials and equipment.Recommend corrective action for poor contractor/staff performance.Recommend plantation and landscape improvements.Stop unsafe horticultural practices and report safety/environmental concerns to the appropriate authority.Working ConditionsThe position involves regular field work across the University campus.The incumbent may be required to work beyond normal hours during major University events or urgent horticultural requirements.The role requires regular interaction with gardeners, supervisors, contractors, vendors, administration, engineering and other campus departments.

📌 Horticultural Manager (Kanpur)
🏢 GLA University
📍 Kanpur