Grounds Maintenance Worker II

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Diego is hiring for a Grounds Maintenance Worker II to perform a broad range of grounds and facility maintenance duties across city parks and recreation facilities. The role includes maintaining landscapes, operating equipment and irrigation systems, and ensuring safety of work areas.

The position requires one year of paid grounds maintenance experience and related qualifications. Depending on assignments, duties may involve weekends or evenings, with opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• One year of PAID experience in grounds maintenance work including fertilizing and planting turf, shrubs, trees and ground covers, and pruning trees and shrubs.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and service park landscapes: edge, fertilize, water, mow, prune and trim.
• Clean and maintain parks, facilities, restrooms and common areas.
• Inspect assigned areas for safety hazards and report needs beyond routine grounds tasks.
• Operate and maintain grounds equipment and irrigation systems as required.
• Assist in minor maintenance or repair tasks and set up sites for events.

Skills

Grounds maintenance experience

Irrigation system operation

Playground equipment maintenance

Brush management and pruning

Floor cleaning and waxing

Wall/window/office cleaning

Restroom cleaning and disinfection

Job description

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

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT(S):

• Grounds Maintenance Worker I

Grounds Maintenance Worker II positions work at parks, recreation centers and other City facilities to perform a variety of grounds and facility maintenance duties such as plant and replace shrubs, flowers, turf and trees; clean and maintain parks, campgrounds and recreational areas by removing weeds, debris and trash; edge, fertilize, water, mow, prune and trim park landscapes; perform minor maintenance and repair of irrigation systems; clean and maintain buildings and other facilities, including mopping, sweeping, waxing, dusting and similar tasks; set up facilities for multiple types of functions, including meetings, dances, conferences, or other events; perform minor painting, including the removal of 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 complete written inspection forms; report necessary repairs and significant maintenance needs, outside of scope of grounds maintenance work to supervisors and others; may lead the work of assigned workers and volunteers; drive a pick-up truck or other vehicle to job sites with equipment and supplies; maintain and prepare athletic fields and sports areas; clean and disinfect restrooms, and comfort stations at parks and/or recreation centers; install memorial markers, set concrete monument foundations and assist in interment tasks at Mount Hope Cemetery; prepare reports; and perform other duties as assigned.

• 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 II employees may be required to bend and stoop repeatedly and lift and carry items weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Grounds Maintenance Worker II 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 to 100 pounds.
• Some Grounds Maintenance Worker II positions may require unusual work schedules (e.g., weekends, holidays, nights, overtime and shifts that exceed eight hours during certain times throughout the year).

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

EXPERIENCE

One year of PAID experience in grounds maintenance work which may include fertilizing and planting turf, shrubs, trees and ground covers, and pruning trees and shrubs.

Qualifying experience MUST also include ONE of the following

• The operation and maintenance, or repair of grounds maintenance equipment.
• The operation and minor repair, or installation of irrigation systems.
• The inspection and maintenance, or repair of playground equipment.
• Brush management activities to include plant and animal species identification, performing minor grade work, and applying pruning methods and soil preparation treatments.
• Cleaning, stripping, buffing and waxing floors.
• Cleaning walls, windows and office furniture.
• Cleaning and disinfecting restrooms and comfort stations.

NOTES

• If self-employment is used to qualify, you MUST provide proof of self-employment and/or references with your application.
• Personal gardening and/or unpaid volunteer work is NOT qualifying.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE

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

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Knowledge and experience in the operation, minor repair, and/or installation of irrigation systems.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION)

• Proof of self-employment and/or references, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

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)