GROUNDSKEEPER I/II

THE POSITION

The City of Ventura is hiring! We have an immediate vacancy for the position of Groundskeeper I/II with the City of Ventura’s Parks and Recreation Department.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Groundskeeper I/II performs landscape maintenance, landscape construction, irrigation, groundskeeping, sport-field maintenance and includes unskilled and semi-skilled manual work in the care and maintenance of parks, beaches, sports fields, and related landscaped areas. This position may be assigned to any site or to a roving crew.

WHO YOU ARE

The ideal candidate for this position has a strong work ethic with a “can-do” attitude and can get the job done with little instruction. This person will take pride in beautifying City parks, beaches, and sports fields. The selected individual will have prior experience maintaining large, landscaped areas. The ideal candidate will work well in highly visible areas and demonstrate professionalism and will courteously interact with the public.

Work hours vary depending upon the time of the year and may include weekends, afternoons, nights and/or holidays.

Incumbent may be required to work stand-by on rotational basis and report to work on a callback basis as needed within a designated time frame. Standby assignment is at the discretion of the Division Head.

Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and may be filled at either level based on experience and demonstrated skill.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information on the duties and responsibilities of the position, refer to the job descriptions located on the City’s Career Page at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs or by clicking here Groundskeeper I/II .

THE SCHEDULE

This recruitment will follow the below timeline.

• Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 5:30pm - Application Deadline. Applications must be submitted by this date to be considered for the position.
• October 31, 2024 - Candidates will be notified by email of their status by this date.
• Week of November 4, 2024 - Oral Panel Interview are tentatively scheduled for this date. Qualifying candidates will be notified by email if they are invited to the panel interview process.
• Week of November 11, 2024 -Department Selection Interviews are tentatively scheduled for this date. Qualifying candidates will be notified by email if they are invited to the panel interview process.
• November 27, 2024 - Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the interview by this date.

The timeline dates are subject to change. Candidates will be notified as necessary.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The City offers a total compensation package that includes both a generous salary and other benefits!

• SALARY: $24.04 - $32.12 Hourly DOQ
• BENEFITS: Refer to the benefits tab on the job posting for specific information on City benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete an online City Job Application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline, Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 5:30pm

If you have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov .

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO QUALIFY

GROUNDSKEEPER I: A combination of education, training and/or experience equivalent to six months of full-time landscape maintenance, landscape construction, or landscape irrigation, groundskeeping, sportsfield maintenance, and/or professional gardening experience.

GROUNDSKEEPER II: A combination of education, training and experience equivalent to one year of experience comparable to a Groundskeeper I in the City of Ventura. (18 months related experience).

License: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required.

Possession of valid pesticide applicator license issued by the California Structural Pest
Control Board at time of application is highly desirable.

APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

YOUR APPLICATION

Submit an online City job application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline or first review date at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs . It is important that your City job application show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess. Resumes, CVs and cover letters may be attached to your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application or supplemental questionnaire. Submitting an incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire, may disqualify you from further consideration in the recruitment process.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:

Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted until Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 5:30pm

APPLICATION REVIEW:

All applications and supplemental questionnaires submitted will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Candidates will be notified about their status after the filing deadline.

INTERVIEW DATES AND INFORMATION:

A select number of candidates will be invited to a qualifying panel interview process. Select candidates will be notified of specifics after the filing deadline.

The department selection interviews will follow the panel interview process. Candidates selected to move forward will be notified.

The Eligibility List established for this classification may be used to fill other regular and temporary vacancies at the discretion of the City.

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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need an accommodation in a selection process, please notify the Human Resources Department in writing by the final filing date of the position you are interested in. The Human Resources address is: 501 Poli Street, Room 210, Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 654-7853, e-mail: recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov.

THE ORGANIZATION

The City of Ventura operates under the Council/ Manager form of government under a charter adopted by voters in 1934, with an elected seven-member City Council. This full-service municipality is supported by 11 major City departments: City Manager, City Attorney, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Fire, Police, Public Works, and Ventura Water. The City’s Adopted FY 2024/2025 Operating and Capital budget totals approximately $531 million. The City Council and the City Manager are dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, public service, and innovative approaches to governing.

To learn more about the City of Ventura, please visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov and view the FY2024-25 Adopted Budget.

CITY OF VENTURA
The City of Ventura is located just north of Los Angeles County and south of Santa Barbara County and is frequently considered one of America’s most desirable places to live. The City is a full-service municipality that was founded in 1782, incorporated in 1866, and serves nearly 110,000 residents within its 32 square miles. With nearly 700 employees, the City is dedicated to delivering key services to our businesses, residents, and visitors to ensure Ventura remains a fiscally stable, economically vibrant, safe, clean, and desirable community.

Locals and visitors enjoy Ventura’s impressive park system that includes 32 parks and historic sites, and more than 800 acres of open green space. The City offers a remarkable year-round climate, friendly people, and a spectacular coastline. Ventura is an exciting location for a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sailing, surfing, whale watching and windsurfing. Other activities include the Channel Islands National Park, championship golf, world-class shopping, wine tours, and more. Learn more about the City of Ventura at www.CityofVentura.ca.gov

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

The City of Ventura values human rights, goodwill, respect, inclusivity, equality, and recognizes that the City derives its strength from a rich diversity of thoughts, ideas, and contributions. As leaders in public service, we aspire to be an employer of choice by promoting an organizational culture that reflects these core values. We seek to attract, develop, and retain a talented and dedicated workforce where people of diverse races, genders, religions, cultures, political affiliations, and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers our employees to provide the highest level of service to our community of residents and businesses; they’re counting on us.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to attract qualified applicants from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create an environment that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our workforce. We welcome you to join our team!

Employment Information:

Right to Work : Before employment, candidates must submit documentation verifying legal right to work in the United States.

Background Check : A pre-employment verification of background, references, and medical examination will be conducted. A drug screening may be required for some positions. Applicants for positions using City vehicles will be required to submit a DMV report.

Probationary Period : Twelve months

Deferred Compensation: $442 per year will be matched in a Section 457 Plan.

Medical/Dental Insurance: Up to $691 monthly toward a selection of plans. Medical and dental insurance is effective the first of the second month after date of hire.

Vision Insurance: City paid coverage provided for employees and their dependents. Vision insurance is effective the first of the second month after date of hire.

Optional Benefits: $469 monthly, which may be applied toward medical insurance premiums. Cash-out option is not available.

Life Insurance: City paid term life insurance equal to the employee's annual salary, and dependent life insurance of $2,000 per dependent.

Disability Insurance: City paid short-term and long-term disability coverage.

Retirement:

Tier I - 2% @ 55/Single Highest Year of Compensation for Classic CalPERS members who worked for the City prior to December 31, 2012 and are returning to City employment. Employees make a 7% member contribution, and may be subject to compensation limits per Section 401(a)(17) of the IRC.

Tier II - 2% @ 60/3-Year Final Compensation Period for Classic CalPERS members with less than a six-month break in service from another CalPERS or CalPERS'-reciprocal agency. Employees make a 7% member contribution, and may be subject to compensation limits per Section 401(a)(17) of the IRC.

Tier III - 2% at 62/3-Year Final Compensation Period for New CalPERS members. Employees make a 6.25% member contribution, and are subject to compensation limits per Government Code Section 7522.10. Additional details regarding the City's retirement plan will be provided to candidates during the job offer process.

Social Security: CalPERS members do not participate in Social Security retirement so there is no payroll deduction. Receiving a CalPERS benefit may affect your Social Security upon retirement. For further information contact a Social Security office or ww.socialsecurity.gov/form1945

Medicare: Employees participate only in the Medicare portion of Social Security. There is a 1.45% payroll deduction for this benefit.

Annual Leave: 3 weeks per year, increasing to 5 weeks after 15 years service, for vacation and sick leave. New employees may take annual leave during the initial probationary period with manager and supervisor approval.

Personal Leave: 27 hours per calendar year.

Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.

Winter Holiday Break:18 hours of Winter Holiday time. City Hall closure December 25th to January 1st.

Tuition Reimbursement: $2,500 per year for tuition and books for courses taken at accredited institution and after completion of probationary period.

Student Loan Forgiveness: The City currently qualifies as an eligible employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Direct Deposit: Paychecks are automatically deposited to employee accounts.

Flexible Workweek: A 9/80 workweek is available for some positions

Wellness Program: A comprehensive program is available, including on-site gym, exercise classes, downtown/beach-walking routes, weight loss, and tips on nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

Professional Development: The City of Ventura is a LinkedIn Learning organization. LinkedIn Learning online classes are available with a library of more than 13,000 courses taught by real-world experts. Users can download certificates and customize learning paths that match their roles and competencies.

Closing Date/Time: 10/24/2024 5:30 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Ventura

• 805-654-7853

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