Groundsworker

Cal Poly Pomona; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Pomona's Facilities Planning and Management seeks a Groundsworker to maintain campus landscapes and hardscape areas. The role supports athletic field prep, pruning, planting, irrigation, and debris removal, ensuring safe and attractive outdoor spaces.

The position is full-time and probationary, based in Pomona, with schedule Monday–Friday 6:00 am to 2:30 pm. A valid California driver's license and grounds-watering knowledge are required.

Qualifications

• Current valid California driver's license and proof of insurance.
• One year experience in care and maintenance of landscaped areas or general grounds maintenance work.
• Thorough knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenance methods.
• General knowledge of planting, cultivating, and caring for hedges, trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers.
• Ability to operate small trucks and power-driven grounds equipment.
• Read and write at a level appropriate to duties and follow instructions.

Responsibilities

• Plant, cultivate, prune, trim, fertilize, and water ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, lawns, and flowers.
• Maintain assigned areas by raking leaves, removing weeds, and clearing debris, including parking lots.
• Prepare soil and planting areas for new growth.
• Operate and maintain small power equipment safely and efficiently.
• Assist with preparing and lining athletic fields for scheduled events.
• Occasionally apply horticultural chemicals or support sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, and nursery operations.
• Drive pickup trucks and other vehicles to carry out assigned tasks.
• Maintain and organize water hoses, tools, and supplies.

Skills

California Driver's License

Grounds maintenance experience

Operate small trucks and grounds power

Read and write at appropriate level

Job description

Groundsworker

Job No: 557569

Work Type: Staff

Location: Pomona

Categories: Unit 5 - CSUEU - Operations and SupportServices, Custodial/Facilities, Probationary, Full Time, On-site(work in-person at business location)

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT:

Full Time, Probationary

JOB CLASSIFICATION:

Groundsworker

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE:

$3,461-$4,056monthly

WORK SCHEDULE:

Monday-Friday 6:00 am -2:30pm

THE DEPARTMENT:

Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) serves as the leadorganization for planning, developing, and maintaining the campus'natural and built environments in support of the university'smission. The department seeks to preserve and enhance CPP'shistory, aesthetics, physical assets, and natural ecosystemsthrough coordinated planning, design, and construction ofbuildings, roads, infrastructure, landscaping and other physicalimprovements. As an advocate on behalf of the university and itsauxiliaries, FPM strives to provide facilities that meet scope,budget, operational needs and functional requirements. FPM iscomprised of approximately 200 facilities professionals (FTE) thatalso provides maintenance services including custodial services,landscaping, recycling, building and mechanical trades, energy andutility management, fleet and auto services The workforce isculturally diverse and multilingual. Its composition includes fulltime staff throughout FPM who are also earning their degrees andmany whom have graduated from Cal Poly Pomona. The staff includeslicensed architects and engineers, accountants, planners, projectmanagers, administrative staff, carpenters, plumbers, locksmiths,painters, electricians, landscape architects, computer technicians,custodians and other building and mechanical tradetechnicians

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plant, cultivate, prune, trim, fertilize, and water ornamentalplants, shrubs, trees, lawns, and flowers.
• Maintain assigned areas by raking leaves, removing weeds, andclearing debris, including parking lots.
• Prepare soil and planting areas for new growth.
• Operate and maintain small power equipment safely andefficiently
• Assist with preparing and lining athletic fields for scheduledevents.
• Occasionally apply horticultural chemicals in accordance withsafety guidelines or support qualified specialists with sprinklerrepairs, tree trimming, and nursery operations.
• Drive pickup trucks and other vehicles to carry out assignedtasks.
• Maintain and organize water hoses, tools, and supplies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid and in State Valid California Driver's License and proofof insurance.
• One year experience in the care and maintenance of landscapedareas or in general grounds maintenance work, or in related manuallabor.
• Thorough knowledge of general gardening and grounds maintenancemethods.
• General knowledge of proper methods of planting, cultivating,and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, andflowers, and in the use and care of gardening materials, tools andequipment.
• Ability to recognize the more common species of ornamentalshrubs, trees and flowers grown in California.
• Perform strenuous physical work as described for thisclassification.
• Utilize mechanical aptitude and more coordination.
• Learn to skillfully operate small trucks and power-drivengrounds equipment.
• Read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of theposition and follow simple oral and written instructions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• The incumbent must know how to operate small power equipment,power hedge trimmers, power mowers, backpack blower, and powerstring trimmer.
• Two years of experience in the care and maintenance oflandscaped areas or in general grounds maintenance work, or relatedmanual labor.
• Computer operational knowledge relating to Chemical and PestControl
• Record Keeping Arborist and Landscape Operations
• Scheduling and Record Keeping Horticulture information andpurchasing.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a networkoftwenty-three public universities providing access to a qualityeducation through the support of California taxpayers. Part ofCSU's mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals tocontribute to California's schools, economy, culture, and future.As an agency of the State of California, the CSU's businessoperations almost exclusively reside within California. The CSUOut-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees toperform CSU-related work outside California. For more information,go to CaliforniaState University Out-of-State Employment Policy.

Background Check

Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment tofinal job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of abackground check (including a criminal records check). Theconditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the backgroundcheck reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discoveredthat the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Indetermining the suitability of the candidate for the position, CalPoly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to anyinformation that the applicant submits for consideration regardingthe criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity andrecency of the conviction, the candidate's conduct, performance orrehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of thejob applied for. For more information, go to CaliforniaState University Background Check Policy.

Education Code 89521 Requirements

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have receiveda final administrative decision or final judicial decisiondetermining that they have committed sexual harassment within thelast 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet theminimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer ofemployment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages ofthe application process must also sign a release form thatauthorizes the release of information by the applicant's currentand/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiatedallegations of misconduct.

CSU Classification Salary Range

This position is part of the CSUEU bargaining unit 5. The CSUClassification Standards for this position are located on CSU Classification Standards website. The CSU Salary Scheduleis located on the CSU Salary Schedule website. The classification salary rangefor this position according to the respective skill level is:minimum $3,461 and maximum $4,752 per month. Please refer to theanticipated hiring range for the appropriate salary rate for thisparticular position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to workin the United States. In compliance with federal law, all personshired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to workin the United States and to complete the required employmenteligibility verification form upon hire. For more information, gothe I-9Acceptable Documents website.

University Driving Requirement

Positions that require driving for university business by using apersonal or state vehicle must comply with the AuthorizedUniversity Driver Policy. Driving records are monitored andevaluated by the Risk Management Department. The Risk ManagementDepartment evaluates a good driving report based on the followingcriteria. The driver must: 1. Have a valid California or otherState Driver's license. 2. Have no more than 3 motor vehicleviolations or been the cause of 3 accidents in a 12-month period(or any combination of 3 thereof) 3. Not have more than 3 DMVPoints, if their license is Class C or, 4. Not have more than 5 DMVPoints, if their license is Class A, B, or C with endorsements. Formore information, go to Authorized University Driver Policy.

Security & Fire Safety

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campussecurity legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act,California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher EducationOpportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Security Reportand Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal PolyPomona's Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Fire Safety Report.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or inany other manner discriminate against employees or applicantsbecause they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their ownpay or the pay of another employee or applicant. For moreinformation, see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision poster.

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employeeswith disabilities. Applicants with questions about access orrequiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of theapplication or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator byemail at [e-mail]. Formore information, go to Employment Notices.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CalPoly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment withoutunlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race,sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equalopportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to theresources and support they need to thrive and succeed in auniversity environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomonacomplies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX ofthe Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the CaliforniaEquity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art.I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicablestate and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU'sNondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferentialtreatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status,and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in alluniversity programs, policies, and practices.

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with the VietnamEra Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and requestspriority referral of protected veterans for our job openings.

Other Notices

For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona's Employment Notices web page.

Advertised: October 14, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific DaylightTime

Applications close: October 28, 2026 (11:55 PM)