Lead Open Space Technician

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental and vision benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement pension through CalPERS

Job summary

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is seeking a Lead Open Space Technician who will perform a variety of tasks in the construction and maintenance of public lands. Ideal candidates will bring strong leadership and construction skills, ensuring the sustainability of natural environments and safety for visitors.

This position offers a collaborative work environment where you'll support the mission of ecosystem conservation while receiving excellent benefits, including medical and retirement plans. Candidates must meet specific educational and licensing requirements to qualify.

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience in construction, maintenance of parks, open spaces.
• Ability to obtain additional relevant certifications within twelve (12) months.

Responsibilities

• Inspect District properties to identify construction and maintenance needs.
• Lead maintenance crews for effective operation.
• Perform construction and maintenance tasks in outdoor settings.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Construction management

Resource management

Education

High school diploma and college-level coursework in park maintenance or resource management

Tools

Basic First Aid certification

CPR certification

California Class C Driver’s License

Job description

The Lead Open Space Technician position is an excellent career opportunity for a skilled and motivated individual who enjoys working outdoors while building and maintaining trails, working on open space construction projects, and providing technical and functional supervision to assigned staff on open space preserves. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and communication skills, experience across a broad range of construction, maintenance and resource management projects, and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

About Midpen

Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like‑minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well‑being of our region. Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

Assigned Location

Midpen is currently seeking to fill two Lead Open Space Technician positions, reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor. These assignments are scheduled to begin in September 2026, and based in the following locations:

• Foothills Field Office (FFO) – Cupertino (Address: 501 Rancho San Antonio Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014)
• Skyline Field Office (SFO) – La Honda (Address: 21150 Skyline Blvd., La Honda, CA 94020)
• South Area Office (SAO) – Campbell (Address: 240 Cristich Lane, Campbell, CA 95008)
• Coastal Area Outpost (CAO) – La Honda (Address: 5710 La Honda Road, San Gregorio, CA 94074)

About the Position

The Lead Open Space Technician performs a wide variety of tasks in the construction, maintenance, and repair of assigned areas. This role requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. Key responsibilities include inspecting District properties and facilities to identify construction and maintenance needs, recommending appropriate actions, leading maintenance crews and performing complex duties to ensure that District lands and facilities are well maintained and provide the highest level of safety for public and staff use.

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

Work Environment

This position is part of the Land Stewardship & Trails Department assigned to a primary field office and will visit other Midpen field sites. It may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Must wear prescribed District uniform and adhere to strict safety procedures and work habits. Depending on the exposure, the employee is required to wear head, hearing, eye, foot, face, hand, and full protection equipment. Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, and poison oak. After onboarding and meeting job performance expectations, may be eligible for the flexible work program which includes 9/80 schedules.

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college‑level coursework in park maintenance, resource management, or a related field and three (3) years of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of parks, open spaces, and/or related facilities, and/or resource management.

Licenses & Certifications Required

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, Basic First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class A Driver’s License and required endorsements within twelve (12) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Grade I Water Treatment Operator Certificate and Grade I Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) within twelve (12) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Qualified Applicators Certificate with Landscape Maintenance (Category B) for pesticide application within twelve (12) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a District approved Fire Suppression Certification within twelve (12) months of assignment into the District’s fire program.

How to Apply

Apply online at CalOpps.org. (To avoid missing email communication regarding your status in this recruitment, add [e-mail] to your contacts or list of safe senders).

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Sunday, July 19, 2026. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

Application Requirements

• Fully completed CalOpps employment application
• Cover letter
• Resume
• Supplemental question responses

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

Upon receipt of a conditional employment offer, the candidate must provide a current DMV report (request report by submitting form INF 1125 to the DMV). Employment offers are conditional upon the results of a DOJ/FBI fingerprint background check and a pre‑employment physical.

Recruitment Timeline

• First interview (virtual): Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• Skills Assessment (in‑person): Tuesday, August 11, 2026
• Final interview (in‑person): Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Note to Applicants Outside the Bay Area

Before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by contacting the Human Resources department at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

Put your passion for Open Space to work!