Location
Description
Applications are being accepted for the position of Groundsperson with the City of South San Francisco in the Parks & Recreation Department.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025 AT 5:00 PM OR UPON RECEIPT OF THE FIRST 100 ONLINE APPLICATIONS, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
THE CITY OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE, AS WELL AS CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN AND SOCIAL SECURITY PARTICIPATION.
The Department
The Parks and Recreation Department is the third largest department in the City and is organized by program area, with each program administered by a supervisor, coordinator, or specialist. The Parks and Recreation Department is composed of a Director and 22 full-time management positions. The department is comprised of the Recreation, Community Services, Parks, Facilities and Common Greens divisions.
The Parks Division is in charge of planning and maintaining the city’s parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and other landscaping. There are approximately 25 parks and play lots, including Sign Hill Park, which has 60 acres of open space, and Centennial Way Linear Park, a 3-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail. Amenities include Centennial Dog Park, bocce ball courts, an above-ground skate park, a variety of ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and picnic shelters and group picnic areas.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Groundsperson will have knowledge of names, characteristics, growth requirements, and care of the more common types of ornamental and shade trees and shrubs in the community; materials, equipment, and methods used in the care, trimming, and removal of trees and used in parks and landscape maintenance; arboricultural knots, ropes, and rigging techniques, including bracing and cabling trees, and line clearances; and safe work practices. The ideal candidate will also have the ability to use ropes, spurs, and other tree trimming equipment; climb and work at extreme heights; assist in performing aerial rescues, when necessary; effectively and safely perform a variety of semi-skilled and unskilled park maintenance tasks, including chopping, digging out, and removing roots and stumps; and operate a variety of vehicles, such as chipper trucks, dump trucks, front loaders, water tankers, and aerial lift trucks, and tow a trailer.
QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Experience: One year of experience in parks and landscape maintenance work, with additional experience assisting in pruning, trimming, and maintaining trees.
Training: Equivalent to graduation from high school.
Licenses/Certificates: All licenses and certificates must be maintained as a condition of employment.
• Possession of an appropriate, valid California driver’s license, and a satisfactory driving record.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain an ACRT line clearance/rescue certification or equivalent within the first 12 months of employment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR certification.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered, applicants must submit the following REQUIRED items:
- City application
- Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
- Resume
NOTE: Applications must be filled out in their entirety. Failure to complete the application and/or supplemental questions or failure to include a required attachment will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process. Failure to list work experience, education or training or indicating “see resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application and subject to disqualification.
THE SELECTION PROCESS:
The most highly suitable and qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a performance skills examination. This assessment is tentatively scheduled for the week of June 2, 2025.
To review complete job descriptions which include all special requirements, go to www.ssf.net
Benefits
Retirement: CalPERS retirement formula is 2% at age 60 for Classic members or; 2% at age 62 for “new members” as defined by Government Code §7522.04(e). Social Security and Medicare participation and the option to participate in 457 deferred compensation plans. City contributes equivalent of 1.5% of base pay towards a medical after-retirement account.
Health Insurance: City offers a choice of medical HMO (two providers) or PPO plan, and offers vision and dental coverage. City pays 100% of vision and dental premiums for employee and eligible dependents. Employees shall contribute 10% of the HMO premium cost based on category of coverage (single, two, family). For PPO, employee pays cost difference between PPO and HMO plans. City provides 100% City-paid short- and long-term disability insurances. The City offers a discretionary benefit account for employees who demonstrate health coverage elsewhere.
Vacation: Fifteen to thirty working days annual vacation, based on the length of service.
Holidays: Thirteen total paid holidays per year plus one floating holiday.
Programs: 457 Deferred Compensation, Paid Family Leave, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Long-Term Care, Disability and Life Insurance Programs, City Recreation Classes, Reduced-fee Childcare Programs and Commuter Benefit Programs are available.
This classification is in an employee bargaining unit.
Special Instructions
Prior to appointment, candidates will be required to submit to any or all of the following (as applicable):
- Reference Check
- Department of Justice (DOJ) Fingerprint Check
- Pre-Employment Medical Examination and Drug Screen
A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to the nature and recency of the conviction and relationship to job duties. All City standards must be met before the final appointment is made.
Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process should advise the Human Resources Department upon submittal of application.
Candidates requesting veteran’s preference must provide a copy of U.S. Government DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" as an attachment to their CalOpps application.
The policy of the City of South San Francisco is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of South San Francisco that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The City of South San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).