Parks & Maintenance Worker Trainee / Parks & Maintenance Worker

The Town of Los Gatos is accepting applications for the position of:

Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee

$28.6832 - $36.6079 per hour

or

Parks & Maintenance Worker

$35.1208 - $44.8239 per hour

Plus excellent benefits and 3% salary increases scheduled for July 2025 and July 2026.

This recruitment closes on February 2, 2025 or when we receive 100 applications. Don't wait, apply now.

The Town of Los Gatos is recruiting for a Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee or Parks and Maintenance Worker in the Parks and Public Works Department. Placement in the Trainee or Worker position will be based on the candidate's work experience as it relates to the position. This recruitment will be used to fill one vacancy and create an eligibility list for future vacancies.

The Ideal Candidate

Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee: The ideal candidate for the Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee position is a motivated individual who thrives both as a team player and when working independently, and has a willingness and eagerness to learn. The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong work ethic, a proactive attitude, and a commitment to providing excellent service to maintain and enhance public spaces. They should be adaptable, reliable, and excited about developing new skills in a hands-on environment.

Parks and Maintenance Worker: We are seeking a highly self-motivated and reliable Parks Maintenance Worker to join our dedicated team in the Parks Division. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in landscape maintenance, with hands-on experience in tasks such as tree trimming, brush clearing, and maintaining turf and plant life. A solid understanding of irrigation systems, including the ability to troubleshoot, repair, and adjust components, is essential. The candidate should also be well-versed in the safe application of pesticides and fertilizers, adhering to all safety protocols and environmental guidelines.

In addition to landscape upkeep, this position requires the ability to conduct regular inspections, perform repairs, and make adjustments to playground equipment, ensuring all facilities are safe, functional, and up to code. Successful candidates will be proactive in identifying maintenance needs, able to work independently with minimal supervision, and possess a strong work ethic. The ideal worker will also have excellent problem-solving skills and a keen attention to detail, ensuring that the parks are not only maintained but enhanced for community use. The ability to follow safety regulations and communicate effectively with both team members and the public is a must.
About the Position
Parks & Maintenance personnel perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled assignments in the maintenance of streets, parks, and drainage systems. Click here to view the full job description for both classifications.

Parks Division: Incumbents assigned to the Parks Division possess current knowledge and experience in general parks landscape maintenance, including tree trimming, clearing brush, working with landscape irrigation systems, applying pesticides, and practicing safe work protocols. The position will also maintain and make repairs and adjustments to irrigation systems and playground equipment.

Streets Division: Incumbents possess current knowledge and experience in general road and sidewalk maintenance and repair, such as forming and finishing concrete and reconstruction of streets and roadways, and practicing safe work protocols. Incumbents are responsible for activities and equipment operation in the construction, maintenance and general services related to street, storm drain, pavement marking and street signing activities.

Schedule: The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Weekend work may be required to meet operational needs. Employees in both classifications are required to respond to emergency calls in the event of storms, floods, or other after-hours emergencies, and will be assigned to work stand-by on a rotational basis.

The positions are non-exempt classifications represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

About the Department
The Parks and Public Works Department (PPW) is responsible for the maintenance and improvements of the Town's public parks, facilities, streets, and other infrastructure. Our goal is to efficiently provide residents, businesses, and visitors with the highest quality service possible, with dedication and professionalism. The Department has five service areas: Engineering, Capital Improvement, Streets and Signals, Parks, and Environmental Services. The Department also collaborates with all Town departments, and external partners and stakeholders.

• Environment Services: The Environmental Services team ensures that the Town is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. This team also manages the Town’s utilities, including the contract with West Valley Collection and Recycling for garbage service Town wide.
  
  
• Engineering Services: The Engineering team provides services in the areas of encroachment permits and permitting and inspection of other work in the public right of way, including situations where new developments need to provide improvements in the right of way.
  
  
• Capital Improvement: The Capital Improvement team develops and constructs capital projects across all Town assets, including improvements to roads, streetlights, parks, and Town buildings. See the Annual Capital Budget for a list of current capital projects.
  
  
• Streets and Signals: The Streets and Signals team maintains the Town’s roadways, signs, and traffic signals. Traffic plays a big part in this team’s daily work as they seek to meet the needs of the community. This includes traffic on major streets as well as on neighborhood streets where traffic calming can be a solution.
  
  
• Park Services: The Park Services team maintains the Town’s parks, trails, open spaces, facility grounds, median islands, parking lot landscaping, downtown planters, and the urban forest as well as administering park use fees and reservations.

About the Town
The Town of Los Gatos is a general law city operating under the Council/Manager form of government. The Town Manager and Town Attorney are appointed and directly report to the Town Council. The Town’s 150 full- and part-time employees are organized into the following departments: Parks & Public Works, Community Development, Police, Library; and Administrative Services. The Town’s fiscal year 2023/2024 General Fund budget is $52.9 million.

Duties and Responsibilities

Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee: The Trainee is the entry level of the Parks and Maintenance Worker job classification. Duties include:

• Assist in the maintenance of medians, grounds, equipment and facilities in a designated geographical area. Water, weed, apply pesticides, prune, empty trash containers and perform minor repairs and custodial maintenance to restrooms.
• Assist in the maintenance and repair of sprinkler systems, plumbing fixtures and light standards.
• Assist in locating the proper storm lines through maps, operate rodding and flushing equipment.
• Paint traffic messages on curbs, pavements and crosswalks.
• Fabricate and paint street signs and may mark streets for the painting of traffic lines.
• Perform manual work on maintenance, repair and construction projects such as street patching and resurfacing, concrete finishing, and installation of guardrails, retaining walls, and storm lines, building of concrete installations, installation of metal fences, painting, and fabrication shelves, bins, playground and exercise equipment.
• Set up traffic control devices and assist in the direction of traffic.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools and operate light motorized equipment.
• May operate a variety of light and medium equipment, including but not limited to: pick-up trucks, loaders, rollers and street sweepers, dump trucks, power mowers, sprayers, tractors, and lift trucks.
• May assist in making minor repairs to tools, parts and materials. May assist in making wooden signs, using router, planer, table saw, and drill press.
• As assigned, work extended or irregular hours, storm patrol and emergency repair work.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Parks and Maintenance Worker: The Parks & Maintenance Worker is the next step in the series from Parks and Maintenance Worker Trainee. Employees in this class are differentiated from the trainee class by experience and possession of a Class A or Class B Drivers License. Duties include:

• Maintain all medians, grounds, equipment and facilities in a designated geographical area. Water, weed, apply pesticides, prune, empty trash containers and perform minor repairs and custodial maintenance to restrooms.
• Maintain the repair of sprinkler systems, plumbing fixtures and light standards.
• Serve as the leader of the sewer cleaning crew. Locate the proper storm lines through maps, operate rodding and flushing equipment and instruct and direct the work of a helper.
• Serve as the leader of a paint crew. Paint traffic messages on curbs, pavements and crosswalks and instruct and direct the work of a helper. Fabricate and paint street signs and may mark streets for the painting of traffic lines.
• Perform the more skilled manual work on maintenance, repair and construction projects such as street patching and resurfacing, concrete finishing, and installation of guardrails, retaining walls, and storm lines.
• Assist in a variety of maintenance and construction projects including building of concrete installations, installation of metal fences, painting, and fabrication of walls, shelves, bins and playground and exercise equipment.
• Set up traffic control devices and directs traffic; takes all necessary precautions to safeguard crew members, the general public and property.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools and operate light motorized equipment.
• Operate a variety of light, medium and some heavy equipment, including but not limited to pick-up trucks, loaders, rollers and street sweepers, dump trucks, power mowers, sprayers, tractors, and lift trucks. May occasionally operate heavier or more complex equipment such as backhoes.
• Maintain a supply and inventory control system, which includes the issuance of tools, parts and material to other personnel.
• Make minor repairs to tools, parts and materials.
• Make wooden signs, using router, planer, table saw, and drill press.
• As assigned, work extended or irregular hours in the performance of storm patrol and emergency repair work.
• May serve as a lead worker over small crews of part-time or temporary personnel. Performs other work-related duties as assigned.
• May operate welding equipment in connection with the above duties.
• May regularly direct the work of a helper or occasionally lead a small crew.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
• Provide oversight of work release program attendees as required.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Parks & Maintenance Worker Trainee:
Experience: One year of construction and maintenance experience related to streets and roads, or park maintenance, including operation of light motorized equipment.

Education: Completion of high school or equivalent.

License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class C Driver's License in the state of CA with a satisfactory driving record is required.

Parks & Maintenance Worker:
Experience: Two years of construction and maintenance experience related to streets and roads, or park maintenance, including operation of light motorized equipment.

Education: Completion of high school or equivalent.

License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class A or Class B Driver's License in the state of CA with a satisfactory driving record is required.

Special Requirements (both positions): Must be able to safely lift a minimum of 60 pounds.

Testing Process: The testing process will include a practical exercise and panel interviews.

Background Process: Final candidates for the position will be subject to a thorough background investigation that may include criminal history, Department of Justice fingerprinting, medical exam, drug screening and DMV driving record check as a condition of employment.

Application and Selection Process

To be considered for this career opportunity, click on the "Apply" button to complete the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Resumes may be attached but not accepted in place of a complete online application. Only complete applications will be accepted.
Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee continuation in the process. Only the most qualified applicants with the most relevant experience and education will be invited to continue in the selection process.

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

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The Town of Los Gatos is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, medical, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by law. Qualified individuals with a disability will receive reasonable accommodation, as required by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, during any phase of the selection process, providing such request is made to Human Resources at least five working days in advance. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation. Under federal law, all employees must provide documents that authorize the right to work in the United States.

This classification is represented by theAmerican Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Please refer to the Benefit Summaries postedon theTown of Los Gatos Human Resources Department Webpage.

Closing Date/Time: 2/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• Town of Los Gatos

• 408-399-6829

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