Grounds Maintenance Technician

Grounds Maintenance Technician (Full-Time)

Join to apply for the Grounds Maintenance Technician (Full-Time) role at Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park

Do you take pride in showing up early, working hard, and leaving every space better than you found it? Zoo Tampa is hiring a Full-Time Grounds Maintenance Technician to support horticulture operations across our campus and help maintain a clean, safe, and visually exceptional environment for animals, guests, and team members.

This is a hands‑on, high‑energy role for someone who takes pride in landscape work, thrives outdoors, and understands that details, pace, and consistency matter. We’re looking for a self‑directed team player who leads by example, elevates the work around them, and delivers results.

Before you apply, ask yourself:

• Are you passionate about animals, conservation, and contributing to an environment that supports both animal welfare and guest experience?
• Can you rise before the sun and be ready to put in a full, physically demanding day of outdoor work—consistently and with pride?
• Do you have hands‑on experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, or horticulture, and enjoy maintaining high standards across large outdoor spaces?
• Are you a motivated self‑starter who can work with limited supervision while also collaborating effectively to get the job done?
• Do you take ownership of your work, notice what needs improvement, and act without being asked?

Under the general direction of the Landscape and Maintenance Supervisor, the Grounds Maintenance Technician supports all horticulture operations across Zoo Tampa. This hands‑on position is responsible for overseeing and performing daily landscape maintenance duties including weeding, mowing, trimming, edging, litter collection, and specialized plant care, while also providing input on landscape design and improvements.

This role ensures high standards of cleanliness, safety, and aesthetic appeal across all landscaped areas and demonstrates flexibility in responding to evolving responsibilities and Zoo operational needs. The Grounds Maintenance Technician contributes to preventative maintenance efforts and supports the Zoo’s Asset Management Program by maintaining tools, equipment, and grounds infrastructure. Providing exceptional guest service and leading by example, this position helps uphold Zoo Tampa’s commitment to excellence in both environmental care and visitor experience.

Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern U.S., with over 1.2 million visitors annually. We have grown to encompass 56 acres of naturalistic wildlife habitats in a lush, tropical garden setting with wide‑ranging activities. The Zoo, accredited by Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), offers popular educational programming, fun recreational amenities, up‑close animal encounters and engaging seasonal events for which it has won awards as one of the country’s most family‑friendly zoos.

Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.

Our vision is that everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.

Join us and become a part of creating unforgettable natural connections!

• Operate light/heavy duty vehicles, riding mowers, backhoes, push mowers, rakes, shovels, blowers, sprayers, hand saws, hydraulic boom, small tools and any other equipment associated with turf care. Provide labor including fall/tractor work, loading/relocating materials, cleaning up around the shop, and operating a Zero‑turn lawn mower.
• Responsible for patrolling property and actively seeking out ways to improve quality and appearance of grounds, reporting regular work requests, and keeping the Landscape/Grounds Management informed.
• Ensure that before a project is considered complete that it has been fully inspected; all equipment, tools, and materials have been secured and put away; all blockades, ropes, and tape have been removed; and the area is completely guest‑ready.
• Perfo…