Greenhouse and Nursery Assistant

Greenhouse and Nursery Assistant

Salary

$16.46 Hourly

Location

Salem Campus. Salem, OR

Job Type

Part-Time Hourly

Job Number

HL015H

Division

544700 Academic Affairs

Opening Date

09/23/2026

Closing Date

10/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB INFORMATION

The Greenhouse and Nursery Assistant works independently to carry out the daily operations of the Chemeketa Community College greenhouse and organic garden. This works collaboratively with Agricultural Sciences faculty and staff to ensure the successful operation of the overall horticulture program.

This is a part-time hourly pool. Applications are collected for possible immediate, or future college vacancies. This type of employment is temporary and often sporadic. You may only be contacted if a review of your application results in the intent to pursue your candidacy. 

Chemeketa is a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution that aspires to be an inclusive environment where we honor and value the unique contributions of our diverse students, employees, and community. We seek to foster cultural competence and pursue equitable solutions that support all students in achieving their educational goals. If you are interested in joining the work of the college to pursue a supportive and inclusive culture, we encourage you to apply.  

When applying for this position, please attach the electronic documents listed below. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected as an incomplete application. Any documents you provide that are not listed will not been seen by the Search Committee.

• Resume

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the daily operations and physical maintenance of the Chemeketa greenhouse facility and tools. Includes daily watering and fertilizing; operation and monitoring of greenhouse heating and cooling systems; carrying out general greenhouse sanitation and tool maintenance to ensure a safe, clean, and secure learning environment.
• Organizes and prepares horticultural tools, equipment, pots, and soil mixtures. Helps setup instructional labs for horticulture courses. Cleans and maintains tools and specialized greenhouse equipment, ensuring everything is stored safely and is in proper working order.
• Responsible for keeping detailed, accurate greenhouse operational logs. This includes tracking plant health, propagation schedules, pest monitoring logs, pesticide application records (under licensing compliance), and beneficial insect releases. Maintains technology files for administrative records.
• Works in direct collaboration with the Agricultural Sciences Dean, Horticulture Program Chair, and instructors to support class requirements. Helps setup lab exercises, coordinates student activities in the greenhouse and organic garden, and helps identify and execute additional maintenance priorities defined by faculty.
• Performs general sanitation in the greenhouse, headhouse, and immediate garden pathways, including sweeping floor surfaces, disinfecting growing benches to prevent plant diseases, and emptying waste bins to maintain professional standards.
• Carries out routine checks and minor troubleshooting/maintenance of greenhouse irrigation lines, misting systems, ventilation fans, and hand tools.
• Reports major mechanical or structural malfunctions to the supervisor.
• Instructs and guides students, hourly workers, and volunteers on the proper, safe handling of greenhouse tools, seeding/planting machinery, soil mixers, and greenhouse environmental controls.
• Answers general, procedural, and plant care questions from students working in the greenhouse or organic garden. Provides instruction on proper watering, transplanting, and integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
• Coordinates with the Program Chair to plan, schedule, and execute on-campus plant sales. Collaborates with the appropriate instructor to coordinate organic garden activities, crop plantings, and public events.

Institutional Expectations:

• Embraces diversity and actively collaborates effectively with a variety of students, staff and the public from diverse cultural, social, economic and educational backgrounds
• Participates in recruitment and retention of students at an individual and institutional level in promotion of student success
• Embraces, understands and uses appropriate technology tools to accomplish job functions
• Provides high quality, effective service to internal and external customers through continuous improvement and adoption of lean office practices

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Your application will be scored based on the minimum qualifications, core competencies, and preferred qualifications. If you are unsure whether you meet all of the qualifications listed below, we encourage you to apply and address through your application materials all of the relevant education, transferable skills, and related experience that makes you a great candidate for this position. Please ensure you include all information on your application which you wish to be considered.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma / GED 
-AND- 
One (1) year of related experience, which must include a minimum of six (6) months of direct experience working in a commercial nursery or academic greenhouse setting.

Core Competencies

• Good organizational and independent time-management skills; ability to manage crop timelines and work calendars.
• Ability to communicate well with diverse students and staff; bicultural/multicultural skills sufficient to select appropriate behaviors, values, and attitudes across cultures.
• Technical horticulture knowledge: Proper plant care, propagation, nutrition, soil preparation, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) using biological controls.
• Reliability and punctuality to ensure consistent daily plant care, watering, and ventilation monitoring.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's degree from an accredited institution with academic coursework in Horticulture.
• Two (2) years of full-time equivalent experience in greenhouse and/or nursery production/management.
• Direct hands-on experience operating and maintaining greenhouse mechanical and environmental control systems.
• Familiarity with sustainable and innovative agricultural or horticultural practices.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Part-time hourly positions will not exceed 900 working hours per fiscal year
• All positions at Chemeketa are required to be available for work onsite as requested by the college.
• Requires flexible work schedule to meet program needs, which may include evenings and/or weekends
• This position may require the use of your personal vehicle for transportation between campus locations
• If requested, you must supply official transcripts within 30-days of hire
• Employees must maintain Oregon, Washington or Idaho residency as a condition of employment.
• Successful applicants for designated positions must successfully pass a background inquiry, which may include criminal, driving, credit and full background checks. Only information relevant to the position will be considered. An individual with negative information on their background inquiry will not necessarily be denied employment. 
• Providing false information will result in rejection of an application, employment offer or dismissal

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Sedentary Work:Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary requirements are met.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE

Applicants are eligible to use Veterans' Preference when applying with Chemeketa Community College in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230 and 408.235; and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will be given only if the applicant meets the minimum criteria of the position and electronically attach the required documentation at the time of application.

For information regarding Veterans' Preference qualifications, visit http://www.oregonjobs.org/DAS/STJOBS/vetpoints.shtmlq

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE 

• One of the following:
  • MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) -OR-
  • Letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension -OR-
  • Certification that discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate
• In addition to one of the above documents, Disabled Veterans must also submit one of the following:
  • A copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs -OR-
  • Certification that medical separation from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate.

You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ 

*Please Note:As part of the first round of screening, the committee will conduct an anonymous review of the application materials and will not be able to view any personally identifiable information. Please be sure that your application is complete and thoroughly depicts how you meet the minimum qualifications, core competencies and preferred qualifications.

Required documents must be provided at the time of application. Any applications which do not have the required documents attached will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Chemeketa makes employment decisions based solely on the candidate's demonstrated competencies as related to successful performance in the position.  

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS

Chemeketa Community College is considered a qualifying public employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, full-time employees working at the College may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Questions regarding your loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or to the US Department of Education.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Chemeketa Community College does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity, or operation of the College.

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

For inquiries regarding the College’s nondiscrimination policy, contact the following:

• For students with disabilities: Section 504/ADA Coordinator in Student Accessibility Services, 503.399.5279

• For employees with disabilities: Vice President of Governance & Administration, 503.399.2537

• For sex-based discrimination: Title IX Coordinator, 503.584.7323

• For equal employment opportunities or affirmative action: Affirmative Action Officer in Human Resources, 503.315.4586

To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192. For language access, please call 503.315.4586.

WHY CHEMEKETA
Chemeketa Community College is the third largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, with approximately 50,000 students enrolled from a diversity of backgrounds. Chemeketa has seven locations, Salem campus, Yamhill Valley campus, Brooks Regional Training facility, Woodburn center, Dallas center, Center for Business & Industry and Viticulture at Eola. Chemeketa’s district encompasses nearly 2,700 square miles of the Mid-Willamette Valley and includes all of Marion, Polk, and most of Yamhill counties with a small portion of Linn county.  About 465,000 citizens live in the district, with Salem, the capitol city of the state of Oregon, comprising the largest single concentration of citizens.  Overall enrollment increased by 35% in the last five years.  

Mission
Chemeketa Community College values access and diversity which is affirmed by how we care, collaborate, and innovate with each other and the community. We promise to actively support student learning from precollege to transfer or to the workplace and lifelong learning by focusing on student success, quality, and sustainability in all of our practices and by being responsible stewards of our resources. 

Diversity
We are a college community enriched by the diversity of our students, staff, and community members. Each individual and group has the potential to contribute in our learning environment. Each has dignity. To diminish the dignity of one is to diminish the dignity of us all.
 

01 Please select the response from below that most closely matches your highest level of education as related to this position. To receive full consideration, your application and your attached transcript(s) must clearly support your response.

• I have not received a High School Diploma or GED
• I have a High School Diploma or GED
• I have completed some college coursework but have not received a degree
• I have an Associate degree from an accredited institution
• I have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• I have completed some graduate coursework but have not received a degree
• I have a Master's degree from an accredited institution
• I have a Doctorate degree from an accredited institution

02 Do you possess at least one (1) year of related experience, which includes a minimum of six (6) months of direct experience working in a commercial nursery or academic greenhouse setting?

• Yes
• No

03 I understand that my application will not be considered unless I: * Attach all required documents as specified in the job announcement. * Submit a complete application form which clearly demonstrates the minimum qualifications for the position. * Have removed my social security number from all my documents, including transcripts. Please review the supplemental information section of the job announcement for specific information about required documents. Documents containing protected information will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.

• Yes

Required Question

Employer Chemeketa Community College Address 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE

Salem, Oregon, 97305 Phone 503.399.5009
Website http://www.chemeketa.edu