Groundskeeper/Groundsworker - Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services

Are you ready to join a team that is “Building Community Through Fun?” Are you ready to make a difference?

The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live and work. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation and neighborhood services for an active San José. ActivateSJ, PRNS’s 20-year strategic plan identifies the approach and projects to support healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of Stewardship, Nature, Equity & Access, Identity and Public Life.

The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 209 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds and almost 61 miles of trails, programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

For more information, please visit activatesj.org.

To learn more about the PRNS Department, click here.

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all new hires to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical or religious exemption. “Fully vaccinated” means the employee has received two doses of Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

The total salary range for both the Groundskeeper classification and Groundsworker classification is $56,368.00 - $68,577.60 annually. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The Parks Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is recruiting to fill multiple full-time Groundskeeper and Groundsworker positions. Some assignments require candidates to be willing and able to work weekends, holidays and/or other shifts as needed.

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.

Groundskeeper

Under general supervision, performs skilled and semi-skilled groundskeeping and maintenance functions of moderate difficulty to maintain baseball, softball, soccer, football, and other athletic playing fields. Performs related work as required.

Duties of the Groundskeeper position include, but are not limited to:

• Maintains the turf, infields, outfields, base plates, base paths, and pitcher’s mounds, and makes minor building repairs at professional athletic facilities, lighted baseball and softball playing fields, and other athletic fields.
• Maintains, the lighted and unlighted playing fields in conformance with standards necessary for various levels of baseball, softball, soccer, football and youth programs.
• Grades and prepares base paths, applies top dressing, lays sod and seeds athletic infields and outfields.
• Maintains grandstand and adjacent parking areas and facilities.
• Operates equipment such as chalk liners, airless line strippers, triplex gang/rotary mowers, power edgers, sod cutters, aerators, turf sweepers, backpack blowers, rollers, spray rigs, skip loaders, loam screeners, trucks, and other equipment and tools.
• Applies fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers. Performs watering, cultivating, aerating, pruning, and planting of a variety of turf, trees and shrubs.
• May occasionally need to lift up to 100 pounds.
• May lead less experienced personnel in assigned work.

Groundsworker

Under general supervision, the Groundsworker performs semi-skilled and skilled grounds maintenance duties in support of the City’s parks and recreation facilities. The Groundsworker operates a wide range of hand, mechanical and power tools, as well as a variety of light and heavy vehicles, trucks and equipment relevant to work performed, ensuring compliance with safe working practices.

Duties of the Groundsworker position include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining park grounds which may include, but is not limited to: irrigation, cultivation, pruning, planting, and transplanting a variety of turf, shrubs, trees, and plants.
• Operating mowing equipment in parks and athletic fields and operating triplex gang/rotary mowers, power edgers, tractors, rototillers, sprayers, dump and other trucks, power chain saws and other light power equipment and hand tools used in grounds and maintenance work.
• Applying fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers.
• Maintaining and making minor repairs to playgrounds, picnic areas, athletic fields and sport courts, park trails, and firebreaks as well as make minor repairs and adjustments to irrigation systems, mowers, and miscellaneous equipment.
• Performing clean-up and litter pick-up functions, cleaning pools and fountains, scheduling automatic irrigation controllers, maintaining work-related records, and preparing corresponding reports.
• Explaining programs and policies to the public, providing lead guidance to less experienced workers, assisting in firefighting and rescue duties in wilderness park areas, and may be responsible for vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety in work areas.
• Must be willing and able to lead various unpaid labor and volunteer participants.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Successful completion of high school, General Education Development (G.E.D.) Certificate or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience: Two (2) years (equivalent to 4,160 hours) of grounds maintenance experience, in the maintaining of athletic playing fields or similar areas.

Licensing/Certifications: Possession of a valid California Driver's License (Class C) may be required; 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.

Other Qualifications

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.

Background Check: Candidates will be required to undergo a background check, including a criminal history records check, before being considered for a position.

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.

Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; 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).

Reliability: Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfill responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

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 candidates 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 will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

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 regarding the duties of the positions, please contact Lisa Diebolt, Division Analyst at lisa.diebolt@sanjoseca.gov.

If you have questions about the duties of this position, the selection, or hiring processes, please contact Employee Services Analyst, Jessica De Vera at jessica.devera@sanjoseca.gov.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

For more information, see Benefits page.

For more information, see California Equal Pay Act page.

The application deadline is 11:59 PM on Friday, August 4, 2023. 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 CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285, or Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.