Watershed Worker (Summer 2025) - Multiple Openings and Locations - San Francisco Public Utiliti[...]

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering utility organization as a Watershed Worker for Summer 2025! This exciting role offers hands-on experience in maintaining and protecting vital watersheds while working outdoors in diverse conditions. You'll engage in essential tasks like vegetation management and fire protection, gaining valuable skills in a supportive environment. With multiple openings across scenic locations, this is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to community interests and environmental stewardship. If you are ready to take on physical challenges and work as part of a dedicated team, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or GED required; ability to follow instructions and use tools.
• Experience with hand and power tools is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform maintenance and protection of watersheds and reservoir properties.
• Conduct vegetation management and erosion control tasks.

Skills

Ability to follow instructions

Physical strength

Teamwork

Education

High School graduate or GED

Enrollment in college or vocational program

Tools

Hand tools (rakes, hoes, axes)

Power tools (weed eaters, chainsaws)

Job description

Watershed Worker (Summer 2025) - Multiple Openings and Locations - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) (7542)

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

• Recruitment ID: TEX-7542-EXEMPT (REF50228Z)

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at sfpuc.gov.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.
To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at careers-sfpuc.

Under direct supervision, the 7542 Watershed Worker performs seasonal outdoor manual work in connection with the maintenance and protection of watersheds, with special emphasis on vegetation management, soil erosion control, fire protection, and performs related duties as required. This position will have the ability to learn specific skill sets which, at a basic level, are tied to watershed management and operations. Specifically, how to clear brush, re-establish roadside ditches, trash removal and debris, weed management, building and repairing property boundary fences, maintaining hand and power tools including chainsaws and weed whips, and working with and around chippers.

Watershed Workers can expect to work in adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, cold, or extreme heat for long periods of time. Temperatures during the work season can typically range from 50 to 100 degrees in coastal areas, and from 90 to 120 degrees in East Bay or mountain locations. Watershed Workers also risk exposure to poison oak, wild animals, rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, ticks, and various species of stinging insects.

Essential Functions:

• Assists in the protection and maintenance of watersheds, reservoir property, rights-of-way, fire breaks, and improvements thereon.
• Cleans grounds and assists in weed and ground erosion control; cuts and burns brush and weeds; sprays brush with weed killer; fights fires.
• Performs protective maintenance tasks on the areas adjacent to and surrounding dams and reservoirs; rakes and burns driftwood from shorelines.
• Assists in preventing trespass on Water Department property.
• Other duties as assigned.

Nature of work: This position requires sustained physical strength in performing assigned tasks, walking distances on uneven terrain, and climbing steep inclines for extended periods, traveling to remote locations by foot and vehicle, and the ability to wear respiratory protection, pass medical exams, and work with hazardous materials. Appropriate clothing is required: jeans or long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and work boots.

Work locations:

• Burlingame, CA (on the San Francisco Peninsula)
• Sunol, CA (in the San Francisco East Bay)
• Moccasin, CA (Moccasin is located 140 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area and requires a 5-hour round trip commute by car in fair weather)

*This recruitment will be used to fill multiple positions. Hired candidates will be assigned to work at one of the locations listed above.

How to qualify

1. High School graduate at the time of employment or GED equivalent (proof required);

2. The ability to follow oral and written instructions; use common hand tools and equipment such as rakes, hoes, axes, shovels, power weed eaters, chain saw, hand pruners, etc.;

AND

3. Possession of a current California Driver’s License.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Enrollment in a recognized college, university, or vocational program
• Experience working with hand and/or power tools
• Experience working in groups or teams

Verification of Education and Experience:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. Education verification information on verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification, or may lead to lower scores.

What else should I know?

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Job Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Human Resources Analyst, Yvane Mirabueno at [e-mail].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.