Gardener II

City of Oakland, CA; Oakland (CA); Presencial; USD 30.000 - 39.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

15 paid holidays

CalPERS retirement

Health insurance

Dental

Vision

Sick leave

Telecommuting option

Descripción de la vacante

The City of Oakland is seeking a Gardener II for the Public Works Department, Parks and Tree Services Division. The role focuses on maintaining parks, gardens, fields, and green spaces citywide while working as part of a crew or independently as needed.

You will operate equipment, support staff, and perform diverse gardening tasks in outdoor settings. Applicants should have related experience and a valid California driver’s license; long-term development and teamwork are emphasized.

Formación

• Minimum one year of relevant gardening or park maintenance experience.
• College coursework in horticulture may substitute for experience.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Responsabilidades

• Maintain landscaped parks, gardens, sports fields, and green spaces.
• Work as part of a crew or independently as assigned.
• Operate a variety of vehicles and equipment.
• Help train assigned personnel and transport staff to project sites.
• Perform complex gardening and horticultural tasks.

Conocimientos

Gardening

Landscape maintenance

Teamwork

Time management

Attention to detail

Educación

High school diploma or equivalent

Descripción del empleo

Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department – Parks and Tree Services Division?

Are you interested in being part of an urban forestry program in a diverse and dynamic city? The City of Oakland has an excellent opportunity for individuals who enjoy being outdoors, interacting with the public, and working for the benefit and beauty of the community!

The City of Oakland is looking for candidates interested in applying for the Gardener II position to fill multiple vacancies in the Oakland Public Works Department - Parks and Tree Services Division.

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic team player who follows through on job assignments and can work independently when needed, is eager to learn a variety of landscape maintenance techniques and has an interest in long‑term professional development. Parks and Tree Services is looking for a Gardener II to maintain the landscaped parks, gardens, city facility exteriors, synthetic soccer fields, sport facilities, medians, and green spaces within the City of Oakland. This position is ideal for people who enjoy being outside and in nature, like learning about plant care, and have an eye for detail. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate a solid work ethic, including a strong commitment to maintaining the City’s landscapes.

We are looking for someone who is:

• An enthusiastic team player
• Great at following directions to complete assignments and working independently when needed
• Skilled at performing a variety of landscape maintenance tasks
• Good at managing their time efficiently
• Honest and has a good work ethic
• Eager to learn and has an interest in long‑term professional development

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Maintaining landscaped parks, gardens, sports fields, and green spaces
• Working as part of a crew or independently, as assigned
• Operating a variety of vehicles and equipment
• Helping train assigned personnel and transporting staff to and from project sites
• Performing complex gardening and horticultural assignments

Read the complete job description by clicking here:

Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be working outside and interacting with nature
• You have a passion for teamwork
• You have an eye for detail and take pride in your work
• You have a strong commitment to maintaining the City of Oakland's landscapes

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will learn and master a diverse set of skills, including operating several types of equipment
• You will sometimes work near areas that contain litter and illegal dumping
• You will perform physically demanding work in challenging conditions, including inclement weather conditions

Competencies Required:

• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Manual Dexterity: Using senses, hands, and fingers in manipulating objects quickly and efficiently
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter expertise to the job
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high‑quality, timely, and cost‑effective results.
• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job‑related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the job simulation exercise (sometimes referred to as a performance exam) (weighted 100%). The tentative date of the performance exam is mid‑December.

Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by clicking on this link or by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it: https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf. Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst, Alanna Butler, at [e-mail].

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What's in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre‑tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre‑tax plan and an after‑tax ROTH 401(k) plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting.

Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker‑related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Education

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Experience

One (1) year (full‑time equivalent hours) of work experience comparable to Gardener I in the City of Oakland OR two (2) years (full‑time equivalent hours) of comparable responsible landscape gardening or park maintenance experience. College coursework in horticulture may be substituted on a year‑for‑year basis.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable.

License or Certificate / Other Requirements

Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Depending on nature of assignment, candidates who receive offers of employment may be required to pass a thorough background investigation, submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and have a physical examination including a TB screening if the assignment requires working in proximity to children or vulnerable populations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Possession of a Qualified Applicator Certificate
• Two (2) college‑level horticulture courses (6 units) such as “Introduction to Landscape Horticulture” and “Plant Identification” or their equivalent.

The signed Letter of Understanding (LOU) dated October 30, 2026 states: For the 2026 recruitment, the restricted list will be for any SEIU‑represented Temporary Part‑Time (TPT) Park Attendant, Permanent Part‑Time (PPT) Park Attendant, and Exempt Limited Duration Employees (ELDE) meeting the minimum qualifications as determined by Human Resources Management. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.