Groundsworker - Gardener

Peralta Community College District (CA); Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Peralta Community College District is seeking a Groundsworker - Gardener to maintain athletic complexes and campus grounds under general supervision. The role includes mowing, planting, irrigation, and seasonal landscaping work to support a safe, attractive campus environment.

Qualified applicants will have at least one year of full-time grounds-keeping experience and a valid California driver's license. The district emphasizes diversity, safety, and reliable teamwork in daily operations.

Qualifications

• One year of full-time experience in commercial grounds-keeping or related work.
• Must have a valid California Driver's License.
• Must be insurable under the district's insurance policy.
• Ability to work with diverse campus community.

Responsibilities

• Maintain lawns, shrubs, trees, and ground cover through watering, trimming, and fertilizing.
• Spray shrubs, trees, weeds, and lawns
• Prune trees and perform planting, transplanting, and fertilization
• Operate mowers and equipment; maintain tools and perform minor repairs
• Assist in installing landscaping projects and irrigation systems
• Prepare fields for sports and maintain athletic facilities

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Power equipment operation

Safety procedures

Cooperative relationships

Heavy physical labor

Follow directions

Tools

Lawn mowers

Trimmers

Rototillers

Sprinkler systems

Job description

Under general supervision, the Groundsworker - Gardener performs a variety of skilled gardening and grounds maintenance duties maintaining Athletic complexes, landscaped areas and/or campus grounds.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cultivates, waters, fertilizes, and trims lawns, shrubs, hedges, trees and ground cover.
• Sprays shrubs, trees, weeds and lawns.
• Prunes trees and other plants.
• Performs varied duties in the planting, transplanting, fertilizing and propagation of ornamental plants.
• Mows and edges lawns, using hand and power equipment, including gang mowers.
• Uses hand tools to work soil and to remove weeds, undergrowth, and debris from grounds and landscaped area.
• Sweeps walkways, driveways and parking lots using street sweeper, and picks up paper and rubbish, and empties garbage cans.
• Assists in the installation of landscaping projects.
• Renovates athletic facilities and other landscaping.
• Helps in the installation of and repair of sprinkler systems.
• Cleans drainage and other similar areas.
• Prepares and maintains softball, baseball, football and soccer fields.
• Mounts signs.
• Checks and services mowing tractor, power mowers, trimmers, and all gardening equipment.
• Lubricates and sharpens mowers.
• Makes adjustments to and repairs sprinkler systems and full irrigation including valves, timers, and any irrigation repairs needed. Trims trees from ground and ladder, using tree saw, chain saws and loppers.
• Sprays chemicals.
• Drives district vehicles to haul supplies and equipment to and from work areas.
• May perform general custodial duties either seasonally or incidental to grounds-keeping activities.
• May dig post holes and trenches.
• Performs minor maintenance and repair to power mowers, edgers, rototillers, vacuum sweepers, etc.
• May perform minor asphalt repair work.
• May install sign posts.
• Performs minor fence repair.
• May stripe parking lots.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

1. One (1) year of continuous full-time paid professional experience performing commercial grounds-keeping and gardening duties or any combination of training and experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities.
2. Must possess a current valid California Department of Motor Vehicle Driver’s License.
3. Must be insurable under Peralta Community College District's current insurance policy.
4. Understanding of, sensitivity to and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of Peralta Colleges’ students, faculty, staff and community.

Knowledge of:

• Safety procedures, methods, supplies, and tools used in planting, cultivating, and caring for lawns, shrubs, and trees.
• Gardening materials, tools, and equipment.
• Common plant diseases, ant insect pests, and approved method of materials used for controlling an eradication.
• District's educational mission.
• Plant cultivation, irrigation, spraying, and fertilization.
• Operation and maintenance of motorized equipment used in grounds maintenance work.
• Using computer to input/update work orders.
• Soil preparation.

Ability to:

• Perform skilled grounds maintenance work.
• Operate and maintain power mowers and other grounds maintenance equipment.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the work.
• Safely use the hand and power tools of gardening and grounds-keeping work.
• Perform heavy physical labor.
• Follow verbal and written directions.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application material that they meet the minimum qualifications of the position. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position.

1. Resume
2. ValidCalifornia Department of Motor Vehicle's Driver's License
3. List of three references

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference/background check (to include a conviction record) and may be required to pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination including a drug/alcohol screening depending upon job classification. New employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Amrit Kaur at [e-mail].