MAINTENANCE TRAINEE - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
TREE SERVICES DIVISION
Limited Term Employment - Maximum of 4,160 hours
Part-Time/Full-Time
$22.68 - $23.82 per hour
This recruitment will close at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026 or once 100 applications have been received, whichever comes first.
Maintenance Trainee positions are available as part of the City's Training and Employment Preparation Program. The Program provides an opportunity for hourly trainees to learn job skills and gain work experience in one or more assignments. These are "at will" employment opportunities of the City and may be terminated at any time and without cause within the total discretion of the appointing authority. Full participation in the program is based on continued satisfactory performance. Participation in, or completion of, the program does not guarantee further employment with the City of Lakewood beyond participation in this trainee program. Maintenance Trainee positions are limited to a maximum employment period of 4,160 hours (the program can be completed in two years if the incumbent is appointed to work 40 hours per week). The provisions of this program do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provision of this program may be modified or revoked without notice.
The City of Lakewood is seeking hard-working and responsible candidates to fill a vacant full-time, limited term position and to create an eligibility list of Maintenance Trainee candidates in the Public Works Department, Tree Services Division. Under direct supervision, trainees will work as crew members in the care maintenance of city trees and hardscape around city facilities and along roadsides; learn and perform moderate to heavy manual labor using a variety of tools and equipment; learn new skills and/or enhance current skills; and learn and apply the basic safety techniques and practices. This is an at-will position and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of City Manager or designee.
Trainees in the Tree Services Section will learn and apply the basic principles of Arboriculture in performing daily tasks in the areas of pruning, fertilizing, and maintaining various species of trees throughout the City. Trainees will learn to identify trees commonly found in Lakewood parks, right-of-ways and landscaped areas, and their basic characteristics and care requirements. Trainees will learn and operate power equipment including, but not limited to: backpack blowers, chippers, axes, pole and hand pruners, chain saws, telescopic chainsaws and concrete grinders (walk behind and hand held types).
Education & Experience – Graduation from High School or equivalent, and some tree maintenance experience is desired.
Special Requirements – Possession of a valid Class "C" Operator's license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and a good driving record. Trainees must be at least 18 years of age.
Skills & Abilities – Learn and acquire skills in various areas of tree service maintenance; perform unskilled and semi-skilled maintenance duties in a variety of settings, using hand and power-driven tools; perform heavy manual labor; be safety conscious and learn and apply all safety procedures and practices related to work being performed; work well with supervisors, coworkers and the public; and read, write and carry out oral and written instructions.
Physical and Mental Demands – Must be able to work with a full range of body movements involving reaching, bending, stooping, and grasping; perform heavy lifting and carrying on a regular basis; physical agility to work in cramped spaces; stand and walk for long periods of time; strength to perform heavy labor. Must have dexterity to use hand and power-driven tools. Trainees must have normal vision and hearing ability.
Environmental Conditions: Trainees may be exposed to variable weather conditions; noise from power-driven tools and equipment; and gas and chemical vapors from normal work duties and environment.
Selection Procedure: All properly submitted applications will be reviewed and evaluated. Those candidates appearing to have the best qualifications for the position will be invited to participate in the examination process which may require any combination of the following: a written examination, a performance examination, and one or more oral interviews. Not all applicants may be tested or interviewed.
Important Information
The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications should be completed fully and clearly demonstrate how the minimumqualifications are met. All information provided is subject to verification. False or misleading statements may result indisqualification, removal from the eligible list, or termination of employment. Resumes may be included as a supplementbut will not be accepted in place of the City’s application form. All application materials become the property of the Cityof Lakewood and will not be returned.
COMPENSATION: City employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis, therefore, published monthly salary is for illustration purposes only, rounded to whole dollars. Actual salary is based on hourly rate rounded to four decimal places.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: The City of Lakewood does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital, disability status, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, or other protected class in its employment actions, decisions, policies and practices.
ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS: The City of Lakewood is committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities. If you need assistance or would like to request a reasonable accommodation during any part of the selection process, including assessments and interviews, please contact ADAHR@lakewoodca.gov or call 562-866-9771 ext. 2210. Requests are encouraged as early as possible to allow time for coordination.
IMMIGRATION REFORM & CONTROL ACT OF 1986: In compliance with the Act, all new employees must verify their identity and entitlement to work in the United States by providing required documentation.
FINGERPRINTING: Applicants who are selected for hire are fingerprinted during the pre-placement processing period. All fingerprints will be processed with the Department of Justice to verify criminal records or absence thereof.
RESTRICTIONS ON NEPOTISM: The employment of relatives can create undesirable results, particularly in connection with performance evaluation, discipline, and general morale of other workers. Therefore, it is the city's policy that no relative of any City officer or employee to which this resolution applies shall be employed, if said City officer or employee is in a supervisory, lead or subordinate position over said relative in the areas of hiring, setting compensation, discipline or termination. "Relatives" for this purpose include son, daughter, mother, father, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, or persons living in the same household. The City does not prohibit employment of two people who are married to each other or who are the registered domestic partners of each other pursuant to the California Family Code (section 297 et seq.). Nonetheless, the City will not employ spouses or registered domestic partners in the same division or facility in situations where such action is determined to be inappropriate because of reasons of supervision, safety, security or morale.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Employment offers are conditional based, upon the successful completion of a medical examination which includes drug and alcohol screening for safety sensitive positions. Physicals are performed by the City's designated physician at the City's expense. Candidates are cautioned not to quit their jobs or give notice to their current employers until they are determined to be medically qualified.
TUBERCULOSIS TESTING: Candidates selected to work in a position requiring contact with children must submit a certificate or notice documenting that within the last two years they have been examined and found to be free of communicable tuberculosis. The certificate or notice must be signed by a licensed examining physician or public health agency.
POSSESSION OF A VALID CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE: Employees in classifications requiring possession of a valid California driver's license will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Government Employer Pull Notice program, which confirms possession of a valid driver's license and reflects the driving record.
LOYALTY OATH OR AFFIRMATION: All City employees are required to sign a loyalty oath or affirmation prior to actual employment.
EMERGENCY SERVICE: All City employees are required to perform assigned Emergency Service duties in the event of an emergency or disaster.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Employees appointed to positions in the classified service are required to serve a probationary period of not less than six months. All other employees are considered at-will and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Salary : $23 - $24
