The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.
Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!
To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn. The total salary range for the Gardener classification is $62,774.40 - $76,336.00 annually. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience.
The Environmental Services Department is recruiting to fill one (1) gardener positions. Under direct supervision of the Senior Maintenance Worker are responsible for performing various gardening and grounds keeping duties in the Regional Wastewater Facility, surrounding Bufferlands, and supporting remote pump stations. Candidate must be willing and able to work weekends, holidays and/or other shifts as needed.
Duties of the Gardener position include, but are not limited to:
- Inspecting shrubs, trees, and various landscaped areas for insect/disease problems and fertilization requirements and applying fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, and other chemicals as needed.
- Planting, cultivating, irrigating and transplanting required for turf, plants, shrubs, and trees.
- Operating and maintaining cleanliness, security and safety of a broad range of equipment such as tractors with attachments, various types of trucks, backpack blowers, turf sweepers, lawn rollers, aerators, dethatches, mowers, power edgers, sprayers, rototillers, power augers, power sod cutters, power brush cutters, fertilizer spreaders, and other equipment and hand tools used in grounds maintenance.
- Providing lead direction to court referred program participants, volunteers and interns.
- Duties will also include preparing routine reports (oral and written) and data entry using work order system.
Education:High school or G.E.D. certificate.
Experience:Three (3) years semi-skilled horticultural work.
Acceptable substitutions:Three (3) years performing variety of gardening tasks that include planting, applying herbicides and pesticides, pruning/shaping of trees and shrubs.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATESPossession of a valid California Certified Commercial Applicator's license within one (1) year of appointment.
As a condition of employment in some designated positions, possession of a valid State of California Class A or B driver's license with applicable endorsements may be required in the performance of job duties.
Competencies:The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:
Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
- Ability to perform skilled gardening work and the ability to utilize various tools and power equipment to maintain horticultural areas.
- Ability to perform minor repairs and servicing of irrigation systems, including programming of controllers and timers.
- Knowledge of irrigation system layout, including identification of quick couplers, backflow valves, and other valves on site.
- Ability to recognize insects, plant diseases and noxious weeds and knowledge of their control. Ability to apply pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals as recommended and to interpret chemical labels and operations manuals.
Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
Multi-Tasking - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).
Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Selection ProcessThe selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidate whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Anthony Vu at Anthony1.Vu@sanjoseca.gov.
