Gardener

Gardener

East Bay Regional Park District

Salary: $6,198.40 – $7,013.07 Monthly

Job Type: Full-time (40 hrs)

Job Number: 23-GB-26

Location: East Bay Regional Park District – Various Locations, CA

Department: ARDENWOOD

Closing: 11/30/2023 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a full-service governmental agency stewarding a metropolitan system of public open space parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of the San Francisco Bay. EBRPD spans across 125,000 acres in 73 regional parks, including over 1,250 miles of trails that are enjoyed by over 25 million visitors and the community per year. The Park District acquires, manages, and preserves natural and cultural resources for everyone to enjoy now and forever to experience nature nearby.

OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public’s trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/EBRPD-2021-Benefits-Matrix-06-24-2021.pdf https://get.adobe.com/reader/ for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Park District is currently recruiting for a Gardener to work at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, CA. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

The Ideal Candidate Is:

• A skilled and experienced gardener.
• A team player that also excels independently and has exceptional time management and customer service skills.
• Someone that works and interacts well with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Experienced in programming and repairing irrigation equipment for turf and gardens.
• Experience in the use and safety practices related to using a riding mower, a tractor, a chipper, a chainsaw and other gardening equipment is desirable.

Essential Functions

• Plants, transplants, propagates, and cultivates trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals, seeking to preserve historic character, as appropriate;
• sprays, fertilizes, prunes, trims, and waters trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and other plants;
• mulches plant beds with gravel, chips, weed cloth, etc.;
• repairs, weeds, fertilizes, aerates, maintains, and mows turf areas and lawns;
• prepares and renovates lawns and turf areas with top dressing;
• screens soil, adds amendments, and adds soil to terrains as necessary;
• identifies hazardous trees and recommends trimming or removal;
• controls obnoxious weeds and plants, damaging insects and fungus, and exterminates gophers, rodents, and other pests;
• catches and transports raccoons, rattlesnakes, etc.; applies integrated pest management practices.
• Designs, installs, renovates, and reconfigures watering systems; irrigates lawns and turf areas using drip, sprinklers, and various other types of irrigation systems; troubleshoots valves, impact heads, wiring, and broken pipes; mends, repairs, and maintains sprinklers, hoses, and watering systems; documents location of water lines.
• Performs grounds maintenance tasks, such as hauling debris, maintaining rock walls, rough mowing, adding gravel to roads, pathways, and walkways; clearing brush; etc.; picks up and removes litter; cleans and stocks restrooms; empties garbage cans and dumpsters and changes trash liners; removes graffiti; rakes and cleans campsites, maintains picnic areas, and opens and closes gates and buildings.
• Patrols parks, trails, and waterways to check for potential hazards, assist in protecting the natural resources of parks and trails by monitoring the impact and activities of grazing operations, parks users, etc., and to ensure park users adhere to park rules and regulations; gives talks and tours; supervises youth, volunteer, and docent groups and crews from other agencies; assists with special events; supervises contractors.
• Operates and maintains a variety of equipment, such as vehicles, mowers, tractors, aerifiers, hand and power tools, rakes, edgers, weed eaters, chain saws, chippers, sprayers, etc.
• Performs administrative tasks, such as ordering and purchasing supplies, preparing reports, writing up, monitoring, and enforcing contracts and lease agreements, completing fixed asset inventories, etc., and acting as Park Supervisor.
• Additional tasks include assisting with special events; maintaining tool inventories, replenishing appropriate materials as necessary; maintaining personal protective gear; attending ongoing education on horticulture and botany; writing articles for journals and newsletters; updating accession file databases relating to the history of plants and their life cycle. Performs related tasks as assigned.
• May perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Equivalent to completion of twelfth grade; and

Experience: Three years experience in general gardening work involving the care of turf, shrubs, native plants, and/or flowers.

Substitution: College level course work, which includes classes related to this classification, may be substituted for the experience requirement on the basis of one year of completed college equating to six months of experience, up to a maximum of (2) two years experience; OR
Two years in the East Bay Regional Park District classification of Park Ranger II.

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of gardening methods and practices, plant diseases and pests, tools and materials.
Ability to operate and maintain a variety of tools and equipment; lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to work outside and under adverse working conditions, including the ability to walk on steep and/or uneven terrain.

Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse public, with a focus on quality service to internal and external customers.

Additional Information
Conditions of Employment:

• All East Bay Park Regional District employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
• A valid California State driver’s license is a condition of initial and continued employment in this position.
• Required to work in a prescribed uniform.
• Required to maintain the ability to wear a respirator.
• The selected candidate must pass the Park District’s Level 1 background check, which consists of Department of Justice (DOJ) fingerprinting, professional references, and education verification. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all hired applicants will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:
• A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
• Completed supplemental questions Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. If you have previously applied on GovernmentJobs.com, please take care to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Union Affiliation: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in an Agreement between the Park District and Local 2428. The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

Salary Range: The starting salary for this vacancy will be at Step A of the salary range.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the disposition of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.

Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154.
Tentative Date of Examinations:Written Exams: 12/15/23Panel Interviews: Early January
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

To apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/4778138

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