Gardener – Environmental Services Department

About the Department

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 possible hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City 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.

Position Duties

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 position. 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.

Minimum Qualifications

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/CERTIFICATES
Possession 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.

Other Qualifications

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.

Selection Process
The 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 this position, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Anthony Vu at [email protected]

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility:  Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application.  If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided.  IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [email protected] and we will research the status of your application.