Conservation Gardener [CAMPUS ONLY RECRUITMENT]

NOTIFICATIONS

This is a CAMPUS ONLY recruitment. Only current employees, or former employees with current Preferential Rehire rights will be considered for this position. Former employees with Preferential Rehire rights should apply through the external candidate gateway and identify themselves as such in their application to be considered for this position.

Current UCSC employees must apply to the job posting in the Internal Candidate Gateway. If you accessed this recruitment through the Internal UCSC gateway, you can apply via the "Apply" button at the bottom of this job posting. If you accessed this recruitment through the external gateway, you should access the internal job posting by going to the jobs.ucsc.edu weblink and clicking the "Internal UCSC Applicants" button.

If you are a current UCSC employee and apply through the External Candidate Gateway, you will not be considered for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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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: 04-08-2026

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 and space planning, 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 oversees operating budgets of over $60 million, manages a project portfolio of approximately $990 million, and employs over 400 full-time staff to carry out the duties necessary for campus development and operation.

More information can be found at: https://ppdo.ucsc.edu/physical-plant/grounds-services/

JOB SUMMARY

The Lead Groundskeeper performs grounds and landscape maintenance in assigned campus areas, with a focus on Campus Site Stewardship areas. Areas of responsibility include site conservation and horticultural work, hardscape cleaning, trash and recycling collection, safety checks, vegetation control, erosion control, pest management, and drainage maintenance. The incumbent also performs light landscape construction functions, oversees maintenance activities performed by student interns and student assistant gardeners, and performs other related duties per oral and written instructions. The Lead Groundskeeper supports the stewardship of campus lands with maintenance, restoration, and repair activities in developed landscapes, transition zones, and undeveloped areas.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $29.67/hour - $30.25/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 Union

Job Code Classification: 008132 (GROUNDSKEEPER LD)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

40% - Vegetation Control & Pest Management

• Controls vegetation and meadow grass using string or blade trimmers, walk-behind high-weed mowers, loppers, weed wrenches, herbicides, or other appropriate tools.
• Identifies landscape pests, including gophers, moles, and ground squirrels, and uses integrated pest management, including traps, bait, smoke generators, and other appropriate means for their control.
• Drives a University vehicle to transport gardening materials and tools between campus work areas.

15% - Horticultural Maintenance

• Prunes shrubs and ground covers.
• Maintains planting areas by removing weeds, cultivating soils, mulching, and keeping areas suited for optimum plant health.
• Manually waters grounds areas that are not equipped with automatic irrigation systems.
• Identifies signs and symptoms of irrigation problems.
• Fertilizes with organic or chemical amendments.
• Controls weeds using mechanical and chemical methods.

10% - Basic Maintenance & Safety

• Performs daily grounds maintenance tasks, including litter and refuse collection by emptying trash receptacles and picking up ground litter, cleaning hard surface areas.
• Identifies, reports, and eliminates safety hazards in the landscape.
• Utilizes a variety of hand and power tools safely.
• Cleans and maintains equipment.
• Covers gardener absences as needed.

5% - Local Storm Drain Maintenance & Erosion Control

• Inspects storm drain structures and performs preventative maintenance to ensure systems operate as designed.
• Inspects and cleans catch basins, outfalls, trench drains, and other storm drain components on a regular basis.
• Notifies supervisor of issues beyond gardener scope.
• Documents maintenance on PM log.
• Identifies erosion problem areas and mitigates using mulch ground cover, light grading, redirection of traffic, and straw wattles as necessary.

5% - Documentation and Communication

• Communicates with supervisor, coworkers, and emergency personnel as needed using phone, email, and text.
• Completes and submits monthly preventative maintenance documentation.
• Completes weekly spreadsheet detailing time spent billing on work orders.
• Enters time in online work management software weekly.
• Submits accurate time sheets online biweekly for payroll processing.

25% - Student Employee Supervision

• Supervises student interns and student maintenance assistants.
• Coordinates student work schedules and work assignments.
• Trains students and inspects the quality of their work.
• Ensures students utilize safe practices and proper PPE.
• Assists with reporting of student time.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience and/or skills in using hand or power tools and equipment such as power mowers, power edger, string trimmers, power blowers, rakes, hoes, etc., including the ability to perform minor repairs and modifications to tools and equipment.
• Ability to train and oversee student employee interns and student maintenance assistants.
• Knowledge of native trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Knowledge of invasive weed identification and control.
• 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 communicate effectively and work harmoniously with a diverse group of individuals at all levels of the organization, directly or indirectly involved with task and work assignments.
• Ability to operationalize and incorporate the concepts of sustainability into daily work efforts.
  Verbal and written communication in the English language, including active listening.
• Flexibility, and the ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.
• Critical thinking skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with storm drain maintenance and general drainage issues.
• Previous experience in Grounds maintenance at UC Santa Cruz.

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 and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Ability to perform essential physical job functions requiring bending and stooping.
• Ability to move materials and equipment weighing up to 70 lbs with or without accommodation.
• Ability to accurately complete required logs and records for reporting purposes in a timely fashion.
• Poison Oak is present. Incumbent must be willing to take the measures required to work in contact with and cut/remove poison oak.
• Ability to successfully work with and around a variety of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides.
• 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.