San Francisco
Gardener (3417) - SF Citywide (X00102)
San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Overview
This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process at careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/. Application Opening : September 25, 2025.
Application Deadline:
Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through October 9, 2025 and will close any time thereafter.
Salary Range:
$37.9250 - $46.15/hour; $6,547 - $7,999/month; $78,884 - $95,992/year.
Appointment Type:
Class Based Test; Permanent Civil Service.
Contact:
For questions about this position or how to apply, please contact Ian Talley at ian.talley@sfgov.org.
About the City : San Francisco is a vibrant city on the forefront of economic growth and innovation, urban development, arts and entertainment, and social issues. Our employees help shape the future of San Francisco and work across a range of services such as maintaining City streets & parks, driving public transit, public health, safety, and firefighting.
Job Description Position : 3417 Gardener. Under general supervision, this role performs routine maintenance and landscaping renovation tasks for natural and synthetic athletic fields, squares, parks, green infrastructure, playgrounds, stadiums, thoroughfares, medians, natural areas and other landscaped areas. Essential functions include soil preparation, plant maintenance, irrigation management, pest and disease management (IPM), lawn maintenance, habitat restoration, grounds upkeep, equipment operation, and general maintenance of facilities.
Working Conditions The work may involve exposure to inclement weather, hazardous conditions, or materials. All positions require driving. Some duties may involve working in public spaces such as parks and schools, and some roles may require weekend or shift work.
Special Requirements The Gardener position requires the ability to lift/move large plants and equipment with assistance, kneel, bend and squat for extended periods. The probationary period will be used to evaluate these abilities.
Essential Duties
Prepare soil by rototilling, grading, spading, and fertilizing to promote growth and drainage.
Maintain plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning.
Inspect irrigation systems and implement best practices for water conservation.
Identify and manage pests and diseases using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Maintain lawns through raking, edging, mowing, watering, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding.
Maintain grounds of various landscape areas by clearing debris, sweeping, raking, litter removal, and drain clearing.
Operate and maintain gardening equipment and tools; perform routine maintenance on equipment.
Perform general maintenance of grounds and facilities; may work with park volunteers; may interact with the public and other departments.
Airport positions may assist with interior landscape installations and plant selection for indoor environments.
Qualifications
Three (3) years of verified experience in care, construction, or maintenance of landscaped areas (sports fields, parks, gardens, etc.). OR
Certificate of Achievement in horticulture/landscaping or related field plus two (2) years of verifiable experience. OR
Associate degree in horticulture/landscaping or related field plus eighteen (18) months of verifiable experience. OR
Completion of 3,000 hours of the City and County of San Francisco gardener apprenticeship program. OR
License and Certification : Requires possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Notes
Candidates must be insurable under the department’s automobile liability policy and must maintain insurability and a valid driver license after employment.
Some positions require 12 months of verifiable interior landscape experience.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
One year full-time employment equals 2,000 hours; overtime hours do not count in this calculation.
Verification of Experience and Education Every application is reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications are met. See SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience. Education verification information can be found at careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Selection Procedures Written Exam (Weight: 100%): Applicants meeting Minimum Qualifications will be invited to a multiple-choice exam to assess relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities. The exam will be administered in paper format and may include topics such as:
Gardening equipment use and care
Pest control and erosion control
Safety and maintenance of landscaped areas
Plant identification and irrigation systems
Interpersonal skills
This is a standardized exam and test questions/answers aren't public.
Exam Scoring and Eligibility The exam score is valid and banked for three years, and may be used for other classifications as determined by Human Resources. Scores may be applied to future recruitments automatically or after one year you may re-test if you choose.
Eligible List/Score Report A confidential eligible list will be created and used for certification purposes. The list is public only after it is exhausted or expired. The six-month duration may be extended with approval.
Where to Apply All job applications must be submitted through the online portal at careers.sf.gov. Computers are available at City Hall and other locations to file online.
Additional Information Selected Policies : This includes information about the hiring process, conviction history, employee benefits, equal employment opportunity, disaster service worker, ADA accommodation, veterans preference, and seniority credit in promotional exams. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Important Notices The City encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or other protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process at careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/. Application Opening : September 25, 2025.
Application Deadline:
Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through October 9, 2025 and will close any time thereafter.
Salary Range:
$37.9250 - $46.15/hour; $6,547 - $7,999/month; $78,884 - $95,992/year.
Appointment Type:
Class Based Test; Permanent Civil Service.
Contact:
For questions about this position or how to apply, please contact Ian Talley at ian.talley@sfgov.org.
About the City : San Francisco is a vibrant city on the forefront of economic growth and innovation, urban development, arts and entertainment, and social issues. Our employees help shape the future of San Francisco and work across a range of services such as maintaining City streets & parks, driving public transit, public health, safety, and firefighting.
Job Description Position : 3417 Gardener. Under general supervision, this role performs routine maintenance and landscaping renovation tasks for natural and synthetic athletic fields, squares, parks, green infrastructure, playgrounds, stadiums, thoroughfares, medians, natural areas and other landscaped areas. Essential functions include soil preparation, plant maintenance, irrigation management, pest and disease management (IPM), lawn maintenance, habitat restoration, grounds upkeep, equipment operation, and general maintenance of facilities.
Working Conditions The work may involve exposure to inclement weather, hazardous conditions, or materials. All positions require driving. Some duties may involve working in public spaces such as parks and schools, and some roles may require weekend or shift work.
Special Requirements The Gardener position requires the ability to lift/move large plants and equipment with assistance, kneel, bend and squat for extended periods. The probationary period will be used to evaluate these abilities.
Essential Duties
Prepare soil by rototilling, grading, spading, and fertilizing to promote growth and drainage.
Maintain plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning.
Inspect irrigation systems and implement best practices for water conservation.
Identify and manage pests and diseases using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Maintain lawns through raking, edging, mowing, watering, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding.
Maintain grounds of various landscape areas by clearing debris, sweeping, raking, litter removal, and drain clearing.
Operate and maintain gardening equipment and tools; perform routine maintenance on equipment.
Perform general maintenance of grounds and facilities; may work with park volunteers; may interact with the public and other departments.
Airport positions may assist with interior landscape installations and plant selection for indoor environments.
Qualifications
Three (3) years of verified experience in care, construction, or maintenance of landscaped areas (sports fields, parks, gardens, etc.). OR
Certificate of Achievement in horticulture/landscaping or related field plus two (2) years of verifiable experience. OR
Associate degree in horticulture/landscaping or related field plus eighteen (18) months of verifiable experience. OR
Completion of 3,000 hours of the City and County of San Francisco gardener apprenticeship program. OR
License and Certification : Requires possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Notes
Candidates must be insurable under the department’s automobile liability policy and must maintain insurability and a valid driver license after employment.
Some positions require 12 months of verifiable interior landscape experience.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
One year full-time employment equals 2,000 hours; overtime hours do not count in this calculation.
Verification of Experience and Education Every application is reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications are met. See SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience. Education verification information can be found at careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Selection Procedures Written Exam (Weight: 100%): Applicants meeting Minimum Qualifications will be invited to a multiple-choice exam to assess relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities. The exam will be administered in paper format and may include topics such as:
Gardening equipment use and care
Pest control and erosion control
Safety and maintenance of landscaped areas
Plant identification and irrigation systems
Interpersonal skills
This is a standardized exam and test questions/answers aren't public.
Exam Scoring and Eligibility The exam score is valid and banked for three years, and may be used for other classifications as determined by Human Resources. Scores may be applied to future recruitments automatically or after one year you may re-test if you choose.
Eligible List/Score Report A confidential eligible list will be created and used for certification purposes. The list is public only after it is exhausted or expired. The six-month duration may be extended with approval.
Where to Apply All job applications must be submitted through the online portal at careers.sf.gov. Computers are available at City Hall and other locations to file online.
Additional Information Selected Policies : This includes information about the hiring process, conviction history, employee benefits, equal employment opportunity, disaster service worker, ADA accommodation, veterans preference, and seniority credit in promotional exams. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Important Notices The City encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or other protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr