Grounds Maintenance Foreman

EBMUD; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

EBMUD is looking for a Grounds Maintenance Foreman to oversee gardening and grounds maintenance work. Responsibilities include planning, directing crew work, and ensuring compliance with safety practices. Ideal candidates will have experience in landscaping and possess necessary certifications. The role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Benefits

12 days paid vacation

Family health insurance options

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan contributions

Paid sick leave

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Pest control certificate is mandatory.
• Experience in gardening, nursery work, or landscaping.

Responsibilities

• Plans and evaluates the work of a gardening crew.
• Prepares performance appraisals and schedules jobs.
• Ensures training and safety compliance among crew members.

Skills

Knowledgeable in gardening and landscape maintenance methods

Proficient in organizing and directing crew work

Ability to read and interpret maps and specifications

Safety conscious and familiar with safety practices

Able to establish effective working relationships

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Pest control certificate issued by the State of California

Job description

Join to apply for the Grounds Maintenance Foreman role at EBMUD

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Grounds Maintenance Foreman role at EBMUD

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

The Position

The Grounds Maintenance Foreman is responsible for the planning, coordination, direction and evaluation of the work of a crew engaged in a variety of gardening and grounds maintenance assignments. The scope of job duties ranges from pre-job planning and scheduling through oversight, completion, and documentation of work performed, and evaluation of overall crew, as well as individual performance.

Typical Responsibilities And Duties

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the work of and is responsible for the field conduct of a crew engaged in a
  
  

comprehensive grounds maintenance program.

• Prepares written performance plans using pre-established guidelines; prepares and conducts performance appraisals
  
  

for assigned crew members and direct reports; counsels employees (orally and in writing) to confirm standards and/or

to correct performance, behavior on the job, or violations of work rules and East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)

policies and procedures.

• Reports instances of inappropriate work behavior or poor performance to appropriate supervisor in situations that may
  
  

warrant more serious action than a counseling memo.

• Schedules jobs, sequences tasks, and sets work priorities for the crew based upon established section programs and
  
  

goals identified by next level supervisor and considering seasonal requirements and maintenance needs; inspects

assigned properties regularly to examine work accomplished and to determine work needed.

• Recommends and implements special work needed; estimates labor, material, and equipment needed to carryout
  
  

assigned work; recommends changes in labor, materials, and equipment resources based on assessment of job site,

nature of work to be performed, and skills required; verifies that material and personnel are scheduled and ready to

start work.

• Reviews written maintenance procedures and practices periodically and recommends changes needed.
• Provides for the planting of small areas or the replanting of existing areas in accordance with an approved landscaped
  
  

plan.

• Controls weeds, insects, and plant diseases; cares for soils, shrubs, trees, lawns, and gardens; provides for irrigation
  
  

and drainage; clears brush, leaves, and litter; improves existing landscaped areas.

• Ensures that employees are trained in and use safe work practices in conformance with Cal/OSHA regulations and
  
  

applicable regulatory standards and that required pest control certifications are maintained; identifies training

requirements, monitors, assists in scheduling training, and trains crew members in proper work methods used in

landscaping techniques, equipment operation, and grounds maintenance activities.

• Coaches, monitors, and provides oral and written recognition of work accomplishments and skill development of
  
  

crewmembers; recommends approval or denial of short term-leave requests; participates in hiring interviews and makes

hiring recommendations as assigned.

• Prepares and maintains accurate records on stock inventory and chemical usage; makes written reports such as crew
  
  

time and attendance, labor, equipment, and materials used, contractor hours and work completed, vendor delivered

materials, work measurement data, and other related information.

• Evaluates the effectiveness with which assignments are completed and implements corrective action; maintains
  
  

adequate work standards; resolves problems at the job site; identifies, recommends, and implements work process

improvements.

• Answers EBMUD staff and public inquiries and handles complaints regarding gardening and grounds maintenance
  
  

activities; arranges for and coordinates special work with other EBMUD work units or external organizations as

required.

• Arranges for repairs and service to tools and equipment as needed.
  
  

The Most Competitive Candidates Will Also Be

• Knowledgeable in gardening and landscape maintenance methods, techniques, tools, materials and equipment
• Proficient in organizing, planning, coordinating, directing and evaluating the work of a crew and providing for crew
  
  

member’s training

• Prepared to use initiative and independent judgment to manage assigned projects, including pre-job planning,
  
  

estimation of labor, material and equipment needs, scheduling, prioritizing, inspecting and monitoring work in progress

and upon completion for conformity to established standards

• Able to read, interpret and work from maps, drawings, specifications, and material lists
• Able to prepare computerized reports, maintain complete records and make accurate arithmetic computations
• Safety conscious and ready to observe and enforce safety practices and precautions relevant to the work
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Knowledgeable in integrated pest management programs
• In possession a Pest Control Advisor’s (PCA) license or Pest Applicator’s certificate
  
  

The salary range is $9,668 per month, increasing to $10,051, $10,659 and $11,192 after 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively.

EBMUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, marital or registered domestic partnership status, age for individuals age forty or older, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veterans status, family or medical leave status, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical condition), pregnancy disability leave status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and other categories protected by federal, state and/or local laws.

Requirements

Any combination of education and experience that has led to the acquisition of the knowledge and abilities indicated above. Typical means of acquiring the essential knowledge and abilities is a combination of training and experience equivalent to:

• A high school diploma or its equivalent; AND
• One year experience as a Grounds Maintenance Specialist II with EBMUD; OR
• Three years of experience in gardening, nursery work, landscaping or a closely related field plus at least 6 units of its equivalent of college, technical or trade school training in gardening, landscape architecture, horticulture or closely related field.
• Must possess a pest control certificate issued by the State of California.
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.
• Must possess the physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the class.
• Must be willing to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Must be willing to work where noxious plants and insects are present.
• Must be willing to work overtime as needed.
  
  

The most competitive candidates will also have experience in construction supervision of municipal, commercial, or industrial type projects.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. To be considered under the “equivalent combination of education and experience” provision, it is your responsibility to include in your application materials written evidence of employment performed at the level of the typical duties of this position and/or coursework in subject areas directly related to this position. For more information, see our FAQ page at http://www.ebmud.com/jobs/job-resources/job-faqs-frequently-asked-questions/.

The Selection Process

• Submit a completed EBMUD application and the required supplemental question responses online at www.ebmud.com by
  
  

Friday, June 13, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Only application materials submitted online during the filing period will be accepted.

• Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test part in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.
• All qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, with those candidates receiving a
  
  

passing score to be invited to a panel interview tentatively scheduled for late July 2025.

• Successful candidates will be placed on the hiring list, based on rank, for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancy, as well as others occurring over the next 12 to 24 months.
• The probation period for this position is 6 months.
• All employment offers are conditional, pending the results of a Live Scan background screening. All selected finalists
  
  

must participate in the Live Scan background screening process to remain in consideration for EBMUD employment.

Supplemental Information

As the first step in the selection process, responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted online with the regular EBMUD application. Please provide thorough, accurate descriptions of assignments you have personally performed. Should you respond with comments such as “see application” or “see resume” instead of addressing the questions directly, your application may not be considered.

Our Excellent Benefits Package Includes

• 12 days paid vacation; 16 holidays; 13 days paid sick leave;
• Family health insurance (choice of Kaiser fully paid or Sutter Health Plus or Anthem Blue Cross 85% paid);
• Fully paid family dental and vision care plans;life insurance; long-term disability insurance;
• EBMUD Retirement Plan (reciprocal with CalPERS);
• $1,000/yr. contributed to flexible spending account or cash;
• $145/mo. public transit subsidy;
• 401(k) and 457(b) tax-deferred retirement plans; Roth 401(k);
• $3,500/yr. tuition reimbursement;
• And opportunities for professional growth including training and career development.
  
  

01

Supervisory Preparation: Describe your preparation to motivate and train a crew, and to plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate their work performance.

02

Work Experience: Describe your experience in gardening and grounds maintenance work that has prepared you to plan, oversee and direct a comprehensive grounds maintenance program for multiple properties in a large geographical area.

03

Communication Experience: Describe your preparation to interact effectively with private residents, representatives of municipalities or government agencies, and other internal or external business interests that may request action or coordination of grounds maintenance activities with other projects or agendas.

• Required Question

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management and Manufacturing

• Industries

  Utilities

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at EBMUD by 2x

Get notified about new Maintenance Foreman jobs in Oakland, CA.

San Leandro, CA $88,462.00-$110,577.00 2 weeks ago

Oakland, CA $63,000.00-$68,000.00 2 weeks ago

San Francisco, CA $35.00-$38.00 3 months ago

San Francisco, CA $69,000.00-$76,875.00 1 day ago

Electrical Maintenance Technician – San Leandro, CA

Assistant Superintendent of Power Mechanical Maintenance

Maintenance Supervisor (Crystal Springs)

Pool Maintenance Technician - Aquatics ($19.01/hour - $25.65/hour)

Maintenance Technician - Fourth Street East

Concord, CA $150,000.00-$180,000.00 4 days ago

Alameda, CA $75,000.00-$85,000.00 1 day ago

Maintenance and Park Services Supervisor $85,000 - $90,000/annually

Walnut Creek, CA $50.00-$65.00 5 months ago

Lead Maintenance Technician - Oak Groves

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.