Gardener Caretaker

HACLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan

Pension Plan

Paid Holidays

PTO

Life insurance

Pre-Tax Benefits

Job summary

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is seeking a Gardener Caretaker to perform routine grounds maintenance, mowing, pruning, and general labor tasks at public housing facilities. This role operates under direct supervision and requires physical outdoor work on a regular basis.

Minimum six months of gardening experience and a valid California Class C driver’s license are required; safety certification for equipment is also needed.

Qualifications

• Six months of gardening or related experience.
• Safety Certification in operation of skid steers, riding lawn mower, stinger truck, and similar class equipment.
• Must possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Mows, waters, edges, fertilizes, renovates, seeds, and reseeds lawns.
• Cultivates, trims, and stakes trees and shrubs.
• Sweeps and removes litter from grounds.
• Sprays planted areas.
• Constructs, repairs, and removes temporary fences around newly planted areas.
• Performs other general laboring duties as required.

Skills

Gardening experience

Safety certification

California driver's license

Tools

Hand tools

Power mowers

Riding lawn mowers

Skid steers

Stinger truck

Job description

Special Note: The posted salary is an estimate of the potential annual pay. Final offer will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

Anticipated Hiring Pay Scale: $62,587.20 to $64,168.00 Annually

Have you ever thought about looking for a job that enables you to work outdoors, maintaining and helping beautify public housing facilities, and work closely with others who are passionate about gardening? Well here's an opportunity for you!

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles ("HACLA") is currently accepting applications for the organization's Gardener Caretaker position.

Job Description

Definition: Performs routine grounds maintenance in maintaining lawns and other grounds areas.

Characteristics of the Class: Positions allocable to this class performs routine gardening and general labor duties under direct supervision.

Examples Of Essential Functions

• Mows, waters, edges, fertilizes, renovates, seeds, and reseeds lawns.
• Cultivates, trims, and stakes trees and shrubs.
• Sweeps and removes litter from grounds.
• Sprays planted areas.
• Constructs, repairs, and removes temporary fences around newly planted areas.
• Performs other general laboring duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

Six months of gardening or related experience.

Safety Certification in operation of skid steers, riding lawn mower, stinger truck, and similar class equipment.

Special Requirements:

Must possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License.

Equipment Used:

Hand tools, power mowers, including but not limited to, riding lawn movers, edgers, renovators, power sweepers, motor scooters, pick-up trucks, skid steers, stinger truck, and similar class equipment.

Physical Class:

"4" - Arduous

EXAMINATION

Applications will be reviewed for relevant experience, education and training. Applications must be detailed and complete for proper evaluation. Resumes may be included but may not be submitted in lieu of application content. Only the MOST QUALIFIED APPLICANTS will be invited to the testing process, which may include any combination of oral, written and/or performance examination. Applicants must pass each phase of the testing process with a rate of 70% or higher to be placed on the "Certified List". Generation of a Certified List does not mean that there are any vacant and available positions at this time. The Certified List will be available for not less than 6 consecutive calendar months.

THE EXAMINATION FOR THIS POSITION WILL OCCUR ON MONDAY, NOVERMBER 9, 2026

If you are invited to the examination process, you will receive an email from a recruiter at the Housing Authority NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026. This will be your only notice. There will be no changes to the date(s) of the examination.

REFERRAL PROCESS

Only applicants who have been placed on the certified eligibility list will be considered for job openings. Placement on the eligibility list is neither a guarantee of employment, nor is it an implied promise of work. All applicants referred from an eligibility list for selection interview(s) will be considered for the position; however, only the best-qualified applicant(s) may be selected.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications will be reviewed for relevant experience, education and training. The application must be detailed and complete for proper evaluation.

Hiring Information

All job offers are contingent upon providing successful completion of a pre-employment evaluation, which includes: a post-offer medical examination (includes drug and alcohol screening), criminal records check, employment history and education verification, and documentation of the right to work in the United States.

Disability Accommodation

Testing Accommodations: If you require an accommodation due to a physical, mental or learning disability, please call [phone] or email [e-mail] no less than 72 hours prior to testing date for special assistance. Special testing accommodations may be arranged if verification of the disability is provided by a physician, rehabilitation counselor, or other authority.

Candidates who require a reasonable accommodation in any portion of the selection process should state their need in writing when submitting an application.

NOTE: The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

HACLA Benefits

*Short-Term Disability/Long-Term Disability/Mandatory Life:*Pension Plan:*General Leave/Holidays/PTO:*Additional Optional Benefits:

Temporary Casual/Per-Diem employee are eligible to enroll/receive the following benefits:

Note: Temporary casual/per-diem employees are able to work up to 40 hours per week as necessary.

• Medical/Dental/Vision Plan:
• HACLA will provide up to 100% of the CalPERS medical premium rate for Los Angeles, San Bernardino & Ventura Counties Kaiser rates for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• HACLA will provide 100% of basic Dental HMO rates for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• HACLA will provide 100% basic Vision coverage for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• $250 OPT OUT payment is available for employees with a qualifying health plan outside of the employer network.
• Employees have the option to choose additional optional insurance such as Dental PPO, Custom Vision, additional medical coverage, and voluntary additional life insurance.
• HACLA will provide 100% of STD/LTD/Mandatory Life premiums for all eligible employees to maintain the IRS 125 Plan
• HACLA retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years.
  • For Classic members, the pension formula is 2.7% at 55 with members contributing 8% of their wages towards their retirement.
  • For PEPRA members, the pension formula is 2% at 62, with members contributing 7.75% of their wages towards their retirement.
  • CalPERS will make the determination regarding the type of membership for which the eligible employee will qualify.
  • Annual leave accruals vary, depending upon the type of job/position (membership in employee organizational group) and years of service. Length of service increases accrual rates by employee organizational group when service requirements are met.
  • Newly Hired Annual Accruals:
    • At-Will/Non-Represented accrual per pay period 5.23 hours (17 days annually)
    • Council of Housing Professionals-Management accrual per pay period 4.15 hours (14 days annually)
    • Council of Housing Professionals-Administration accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
    • Service Employees International Union (Local 721) accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
    • Los Angeles County Building and Construction Trades Council accrual per pay period 5.23 hours (17 days annually)
    • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
  • 14 Observed Holidays:
    • New Year's Eve; New Years Day; Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday; President's Day; Cesar Chavez Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving Day; Day After Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
  • 12 Floating Holiday hours annually
  • Opportunity to earn up to 160 hours of Paid Time Off (PTO) for eligible exempt employees as comp time per calendar year. Employees may cash out up to 160 hours of accrued and unused PTO annually.
  • Pre-Tax Deferred Compensation 457 Plan
  • Group term life insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account Options
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Work Schedules
  • Partial Telework Program
  • Kaiser Medical Insurance - 50% employer covered medical through Kaiser Permanente if working 30 hours or more per week.
  • Paid Sick Time - At least 40 hours or 5 days of sick leave after 90 days of employment.
  • Eligible casual employees may enter as Classic or PEPRA members if qualifying requirements are met.
  • Per-Diem employees are not eligible for the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
  • Availability of benefits are dependent upon employment eligibility status with HACLA