Gardener

•  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.

• Work 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 here 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)

• A team player who also excels independently and has exceptional time management skills
• Enjoys interacting with volunteers and the public
• Passionate about maintaining a high-quality turf and knowledgeable in turf management best practices
• Experience troubleshooting and repairing irrigation systems
• Experience with the use and safety practices related to a riding mower, tractor, chipper, chainsaw and other gardening equipment
• Experience with integrated pest management (IPM) is highly desirable

• The essential functions include, but are not limited to:

  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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, weedeaters, 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.
  • Acting as Park Supervisor.

• Botanic Garden Option** (in addition to the above:)

  • Collects, grows, displays, and preserves California native plants for study, viewing by the public, and to protect rare and endangered plant species
  • Prepares and installs accession records and labels on native flora and assists in an annual plant sale and other special events
  • Plans for, develops, and/or maintains areas of a botanical garden which are representative of specific geographical areas of California.
  • Gives talks, classes, tours, and slide presentations.
  • Conducts field collection trips, occasionally to remote areas throughout the State.

Other tasks related to this position may 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.

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.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• A current and valid California driver’s license is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.  
• Employees in this classification must be willing to conform to District uniform standards and to possess and maintain the ability to wear a respirator.

Salary : $83,741 - $94,744