Grounds Maintenance Worker I

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Diego is seeking Grounds Maintenance Worker I to perform routine grounds maintenance at parks, golf courses, and other public facilities. Responsibilities include edging, mowing, pruning, and preparing areas for events, as well as cleaning and maintaining facilities.

Position requires driving to job sites, operating basic equipment, and lifting up to 60 pounds. Availability for varied schedules may be needed, with compliance to pre-employment checks and regulations.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older (17 if high school graduate).
• Valid California Class C Driver License required at hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine grounds maintenance at parks, recreation facilities, and golf courses.
• Edge, water, mow, prune, and trim park landscapes and golf course areas.
• Set up facilities for events and maintain restrooms and public spaces.
• Drive a pickup or other vehicle to job sites and transport equipment and supplies.
• Inspect assigned areas for safety hazards and report corrections.

Skills

CA Driver License

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT:

• Grounds Maintenance Worker II

Grounds Maintenance Worker I positions perform physically active and routine grounds maintenance and custodial tasks at recreation facilities, parks, golf courses and other public facilities; plant and replace shrubs, flowers, turf and trees; clean and maintain parks, golf courses, campgrounds and recreational areas by removing weeds, debris and trash; drive a pick-up truck or other vehicle to job sites with equipment and supplies; edge, water, mow, prune and trim park landscapes and golf courses; prepare golf course areas for play by setting cups on greens and placing tee markers; rake sand traps; repair divot holes and ensure that plugs are placed appropriately; clean and maintain buildings and other facilities; set up facilities for multiple types of functions, including meetings, dances, conferences or other events; remove graffiti; perform minor construction and maintenance work such as the placement and repair of benches and picnic tables; perform daily inspections of assigned areas for safety hazards and report necessary corrections; clean and disinfect restrooms and comfort stations at parks, recreation centers and/or golf courses; install memorial markers and assist in interment tasks at Mount Hope Cemetery; prepare reports; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Grounds Maintenance Worker I employees may be required to bend and stoop repeatedly and lift and carry items weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Grounds Maintenance Worker I employees assigned to work at Mt. Hope Cemetery may be required to lift ground tamps, metal frames for burial graves, and memorial markers that weigh between 75 and 100 pounds.
• Some Grounds Maintenance Worker I positions require unusual work schedules (e.g., weekends, holidays, nights, overtime, and shifts exceeding eight hours at certain times throughout the year).

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

AGE:

18 years of age or older; except for high school graduates (or persons with GED equivalency) who are 17.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 5 - September 11, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)