Gardener/Groundskeeper ID-8252

March 18, 2025

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 04-14-2025

About Uc Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

Department Overview

Physical Planning, Development & Operations (PPDO) manages and oversees all University activities and services related to physical and environmental planning, design and construction, engineering, physical plant maintenance and operations, capital planning and space management, and the associated business services necessary to support these functions. The University’s main campus is spread across more than 2,000 acres and includes over 500 buildings comprising more than 8 million square feet. The department includes operating budgets of over $54 million, manages a project portfolio of approximately $950 million, and employs over 370 full-time staff to carry forth the duties necessary for the campus’ development and operation.

More information can be found at: https://physicalplant.ucsc.edu/

Job Summary

The Gardener Groundskeeper follows oral and written instructions in the performance of landscape maintenance functions for assigned campus areas. This includes horticultural work, hardscape cleaning, trash and recycling collection, safety checks, vegetation control, erosion control, pest management, and drainage maintenance. The incumbent performs a variety of grounds tasks supporting the stewardship of campus lands including the maintenance, restoration, and repairs in developed landscapes, transition zones, and undeveloped areas. The Gardener Groundskeeper also performs light landscape construction functions at various locations on campus as requested by the supervisor. The incumbent oversees maintenance activities performed by student assistants as needed.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $23.30 - $25.20/hour. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information

Full-time, Fixed
Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: SX, Service Unit

Job Code Classification: GARDENER GROUNDSKEEPER (008153)

Travel

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

Job Duties

25% - Basic Maintenance and Safety

Perform various grounds maintenance tasks on a daily basis that consist of litter and refuse collection by emptying trash receptacles and picking up ground litter, cleaning hard surface areas, and the observation, reporting, and elimination of safety hazards in the landscape.
Utilize a variety of hand and power tools safely and perform basic cleaning and maintenance of equipment.
Drives a University vehicle to transport gardening materials and tools between campus work areas.

25% - Horticultural Maintenance

Prune shrubs and ground covers
Maintain planting areas by removing weeds, cultivating soils, mulching, and keeping areas suited for optimum plant health.
Manually water grounds areas that are not equipped with automatic irrigation systems
Identify signs and symptoms of irrigation problems.
Fertilize with organic or chemical amendments and perform weed control using mechanical and chemical methods.

20% - Vegetation Control

Control vegetation and meadow grass as needed using string or blade trimmer, walk-behind high weed mower, lopper, weed wrenches, herbicide, or other appropriate tools.

10% - Oversight of Student Employees

Provide oversight for student maintenance assistants.
Coordinate student work schedules and work assignments.
Train students and inspect the quality of their work.
Ensure safe practices and proper PPE are utilized.
Assist with reporting of student time.

5% - Pest Management

Identify landscape pests and use integrated pest management for their control as directed by supervision.
Control vertebrate pests such as gophers, moles, and ground squirrels in assigned areas including area turf using traps, bait, smoke generators, or other appropriate means.

5% - Erosion Control

Identify erosion problem areas and mitigate using mulch ground cover, light grading, redirection of traffic, and straw wattles as needed.

5% - Local Storm Drain Maintenance

Assess area storm drain system structure and perform preventative maintenance to ensure operation as designed.
Inspect and clean catch basins, outfalls, trench drains, and other storm drain components on a regular basis.
Notify supervisor of issues beyond the position's scope.
Document maintenance on PM log.

5% - Documentation and Communication

Communicate with supervisor, coworkers, and emergency personnel if needed using phone, email, and text as appropriate.
Complete and turn in monthly preventative maintenance documentation.
Complete weekly Excel sheet totalizing time spent billing to appropriate work orders.
Enter time weekly in online work management software.
Enter payroll time using online system.

Required Qualifications

Experience and skills in using hand or power tools and equipment such as power mowers, power edgers, string trimmers, power blowers, rakes, hoes, etc., including the ability to perform minor repairs and modifications to tools and equipment.
Knowledge of the names, characteristics, and use of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Knowledge and proper use of gardening tools and equipment.
Knowledge and experience with proper planting and propagation techniques, pruning techniques, characteristics of fertilizers, variety of soil structures, soil amendments, and conditioners, and the effects of the environment on plant health.
Knowledge of and experience with plant water needs and water conservation practices.
Ability to work effectively with campus personnel, the campus community, and the general public regarding grounds requests and questions.
Ability to implement a customer service approach, with a commitment to high ethical standards.
Ability to take initiative, organize, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved. Ability to accommodate changing priorities and complete tasks despite intermittent interruptions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those within PPDO and other individuals within the University as necessary to successfully conduct assigned tasks and work.
Ability to communicate effectively and work harmoniously with a diverse group of individuals at all levels of the organization directly or indirectly involved with tasks and work assignments.
Ability to be part of a team and foster teamwork by maintaining a cooperative atmosphere and effective working relationships with a diverse population from various cultural backgrounds.
Ability to incorporate the concepts of sustainability into daily work efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of landscape use and care of California native plants.
Knowledge of plant diseases, landscape pests and Integrated Pest Management.
Experience with storm drain maintenance and general drainage issues.
Ability to provide training and oversight of student employee maintenance assistants.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California.
Ability to do occasional work in confined spaces such as attics and trenches while bending, stooping and/or kneeling with the possibility of being exposed to live electrical circuits and machinery.
Ability to perform vertebrate pest control such as trapping, baiting, or other types of rodent control.
Ability to perform grounds keeping duties outdoors through all seasons of weather in developed and undeveloped environments.
Ability to ascend/descend ladders with or without accommodation.
Ability to perform essential physical job functions requiring bending, stooping, and performing duties requiring physical agility.
Ability to move materials and equipment weighing up to 70 lbs with or without accommodation.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions specified in English.
Ability to accurately complete required logs and records for reporting purposes in a timely fashion.
Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

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