Seasonal Facilities Open Space Technician (20732363)

Do you have a passion for outdoor recreation and open space? Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) delivers a variety of facilities projects each year to enhance public access, provide outdoor education opportunities, and support the restoration and protection of open space lands. We invite you to apply for the position of Seasonal Facilities Open Space Technician at the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). A successful candidate will be a self-starter who strives to continuously improve.  They will possess excellent customer service skills and troubleshooting aptitude and enjoy working within a group setting or autonomously.  As a small mission driven organization, every employee at Midpen makes an impact - so if you are looking for a challenging opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space preservation, we welcome your application.

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.

About the Position:  The Seasonal Facilities Open Space Technician is part of the Facilities & Fleet Department and assists with routine and nonroutine repairs and improvements at Midpen’s Administrative Office, field offices, and residences. This position works closely under the guidance of the facilities team performing preventative maintenance tasks, repairs, and minor improvement projects. This position is also responsible for operating hand and power tools to do semi-skilled carpentry, construction tasks. The position will require either knowing or having the aptitude to learn basic painting, plumbing, electrical, and general carpentry tasks while assisting in the capacity of a helper and must also be able to demonstrate basic mechanical aptitude. Additional duties include cleanup, routine maintenance in buildings and restrooms, and other tasks as required. Coveralls & personal protective equipment (PPE) are provided. Seasonal employees are provided with a uniform. Start date will be in early July 2026 and the selected individual will continue working through January 2027. See Job Description for additional information. The official job title for this position is Seasonal Open Space Technician. 

There is no seasonal housing available.

Requirements:  Basic requirements include high school diploma or G.E.D.; possession of a valid California driver’s license; skills to perform basic construction and maintenance assignments; ability to perform manual labor requiring bending, stooping, kneeling, and lifting; and the ability to work in, or around, poison oak. Highly desirable traits include experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of buildings, structures and/or related facilities, and/or prior work experience in a park, forest, or public recreation area involving work with equipment and hand tools used in park/facilities maintenance.  Candidates selected for the position will be required to successfully pass and obtain a certification in Basic First Aid/CPR, AED for Lay Responders.   

Schedules: This is a full-time (preferred), Monday through Friday position working on a 9/80 schedule, with occasional weekend and holiday work as needed. Seasonal assignments will not exceed 950 hours or 7 months, whichever comes first, and do not include benefits. Seasonal Open Space Technicians are expected to work a minimum of 6 consecutive months.

Working Conditions: While most work will focus on the maintenance and operations of Midpen’s Administrative Office, responsibilities will also extend to project work at field offices and facilities, district owned and managed residential housing, historic properties, ranch infrastructure, and public buildings such as Midpen’s Daniels Nature Center. When conducting field assignments, work may include traversing rough, difficult terrain in inclement or hot weather with exposure to poison oak, wildlife and rodent inhabitants.  Duties will include building and facility work that will require climbing ladders and entering confined spaces.  Ideal candidates will be comfortable working in these types of conditions, as well as in an office environment. Positions in this classification must possess the ability to lift and carry materials and objects weighing up to 60 pounds and must possess the ability to push and pull objects weighing up to 100 pounds, with the use of proper equipment. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

How to Apply:  Application Deadline: Monday, May  11, 2026

Apply online at CalOpps.org.  Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for interviews. A resume and answers to supplemental questions are required to be submitted with the application.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Resume 

3. Supplemental question responses

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

Employment offers are conditional upon the results of a fingerprint background check and a pre-employment physical.  Candidates who advance to reference checks must provide a current DMV report. Midpen only accepts the DMV report the candidate receives by submitting form INF 1125 to the DMV.

RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE: (we are unable to accommodate individual schedules and dates are subject to change)

• Virtual Interviews – Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - We suggest planning your calendar accordingly.
• Reference Checks – week of June 8, 2026
• Fingerprinting – week of June 22, 2026
• Pre-employment Physical – week of June 29, 2026 
• Start Date – July 2026

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department at 650-691-1200. Put your passion for Open Space to work!