City and County of San Francisco
Gardener 3417 SF Citywide X00102
City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Overview
Company Description: 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.
Application Opening: September 25, 2025 (Original publish date). 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.
San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city on the forefront of economic growth and innovation, urban development, arts and entertainment, as well as social issues and change. Our City’s commitment to heighten the quality of life for San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area supports a diverse range of services. The City and County of San Francisco employs more than 28,000 individuals in professional roles across various services.
Job Description Under general supervision, this position performs routine maintenance and landscaping renovation tasks to care for natural and synthetic athletic fields, squares, parks, green infrastructure, playgrounds, stadiums, thoroughfares, medians, natural areas and/or other landscaped areas. Essential functions include:
Prepare soil by rototilling, spading and fertilizing.
Maintain plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning; identify plant material and their cultural requirements.
Identify pests and diseases; apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to control or mitigate pests/diseases.
Maintain lawns by raking, edging, mowing, watering, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding.
Implement habitat restoration and wildlife enhancement projects.
Maintain grounds by clearing brush/debris, sweeping/raking, litter removal, and drain clearing; change sprinkler heads when required.
Operate and perform routine maintenance on power and manual equipment and tools (e.g., mowers, irrigation equipment, gopher traps).
Perform general maintenance on grounds and facilities for clean and safe premises.
May be assigned to work with and/or direct park volunteers; may interact with the public, staff, community groups, and other City departments.
Positions at Airport may assist with interior landscape design installations and plant selection for indoor environments.
Working Conditions The work may involve exposure to inclement weather and hazardous conditions/materials (e.g., feces, urine, used syringes). All positions require driving; some may involve riding mowers and operating small utility vehicles. Work may occur in public spaces such as parks, schools, green spaces, nature trails, and public/community facilities. Some positions may require weekend or shift work.
Special Requirements The 3417 Gardener requires the ability to lift, drag and/or move large and/or heavy plants and equipment with assistance to truck bed level, and the ability to kneel, bend and squat for extended periods. The probationary period will evaluate these abilities.
Essential Duties The 3417 Gardener:
Prepares soil by rototilling, grading, spading, and fertilizing to promote plant growth and prevent drainage problems.
Maintains plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning to prevent deterioration.
Performs irrigation system inspections and adjustments; apply best practices to conserve water.
Inspects plants/lawn areas for pests/diseases and uses IPM as needed.
Maintains lawns by various methods to promote health and erosion control.
Maintains grounds of fields, parks, play areas, and related landscape areas; clears brush/debris and prevents hazards.
Operates gardening equipment; performs routine maintenance on tools.
Performs general maintenance duties on grounds and facilities.
May be assigned to work with park volunteers and interact with the public.
Airports positions may assist with interior landscape installations.
Qualifications
Three (3) years of verified experience in care, construction, or maintenance of landscaped areas or
Certificate of Achievement in horticulture/landscaping with two (2) years of related experience or
Associate degree in horticulture/landscaping with 18 months of related experience or
Completion of 3,000 hours of the City and County of San Francisco's gardener apprenticeship program
AND
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 maintain insurability and a valid license after employment.
Some positions require 12 months of verifiable interior landscape experience.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless noted.
One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours; overtime is not included for this calculation.
Verification Of Experience And Education All applications are reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications. Verification may be requested at any point. See https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/ for education verification information.
Selection Procedures After application, qualified candidates must complete all steps to advance, including:
Written Exam (Weight: 100%):
Multiple-choice exam to measure knowledge, skills and abilities. It may include topics such as use/care of gardening equipment, pest control, erosion control, safety, plant identification, irrigation, and interpersonal skills. The exam is standardized and questions/answers are not public.
The exam score is banked for three years and may be applied to future recruitments. See the decision notes on score use and re-testing rules in the original announcement text.
Additional Information Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential list of names will be created for certification. Scores are not public until the list is exhausted or expired. The eligible list duration is six months and may be extended. See the SF HR charts for departments using this classification.
Public Resources Code 5164
information and disqualification criteria, medical examinations, drug testing requirements, and other eligibility information are provided as part of the process.
Where to Apply All applications must be submitted through the online portal at https://careers.sf.gov/. Computers are available in the lobby for public use at 1 South Van Ness Ave, 4th Floor, and City Hall’s City Career Center. Ensure application information is accurate and match to your legal ID. You will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com. If you have questions, contact Exam Analyst Ian Talley at ian.talley@sfgov.org. Recruitment ID: X00102.
Equal Opportunity The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, HIV status, or other protected status.
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Application Opening: September 25, 2025 (Original publish date). 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.
San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city on the forefront of economic growth and innovation, urban development, arts and entertainment, as well as social issues and change. Our City’s commitment to heighten the quality of life for San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area supports a diverse range of services. The City and County of San Francisco employs more than 28,000 individuals in professional roles across various services.
Job Description Under general supervision, this position performs routine maintenance and landscaping renovation tasks to care for natural and synthetic athletic fields, squares, parks, green infrastructure, playgrounds, stadiums, thoroughfares, medians, natural areas and/or other landscaped areas. Essential functions include:
Prepare soil by rototilling, spading and fertilizing.
Maintain plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning; identify plant material and their cultural requirements.
Identify pests and diseases; apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to control or mitigate pests/diseases.
Maintain lawns by raking, edging, mowing, watering, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding.
Implement habitat restoration and wildlife enhancement projects.
Maintain grounds by clearing brush/debris, sweeping/raking, litter removal, and drain clearing; change sprinkler heads when required.
Operate and perform routine maintenance on power and manual equipment and tools (e.g., mowers, irrigation equipment, gopher traps).
Perform general maintenance on grounds and facilities for clean and safe premises.
May be assigned to work with and/or direct park volunteers; may interact with the public, staff, community groups, and other City departments.
Positions at Airport may assist with interior landscape design installations and plant selection for indoor environments.
Working Conditions The work may involve exposure to inclement weather and hazardous conditions/materials (e.g., feces, urine, used syringes). All positions require driving; some may involve riding mowers and operating small utility vehicles. Work may occur in public spaces such as parks, schools, green spaces, nature trails, and public/community facilities. Some positions may require weekend or shift work.
Special Requirements The 3417 Gardener requires the ability to lift, drag and/or move large and/or heavy plants and equipment with assistance to truck bed level, and the ability to kneel, bend and squat for extended periods. The probationary period will evaluate these abilities.
Essential Duties The 3417 Gardener:
Prepares soil by rototilling, grading, spading, and fertilizing to promote plant growth and prevent drainage problems.
Maintains plants by planting, transplanting, cultivating, irrigation and pruning to prevent deterioration.
Performs irrigation system inspections and adjustments; apply best practices to conserve water.
Inspects plants/lawn areas for pests/diseases and uses IPM as needed.
Maintains lawns by various methods to promote health and erosion control.
Maintains grounds of fields, parks, play areas, and related landscape areas; clears brush/debris and prevents hazards.
Operates gardening equipment; performs routine maintenance on tools.
Performs general maintenance duties on grounds and facilities.
May be assigned to work with park volunteers and interact with the public.
Airports positions may assist with interior landscape installations.
Qualifications
Three (3) years of verified experience in care, construction, or maintenance of landscaped areas or
Certificate of Achievement in horticulture/landscaping with two (2) years of related experience or
Associate degree in horticulture/landscaping with 18 months of related experience or
Completion of 3,000 hours of the City and County of San Francisco's gardener apprenticeship program
AND
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 maintain insurability and a valid license after employment.
Some positions require 12 months of verifiable interior landscape experience.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless noted.
One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours; overtime is not included for this calculation.
Verification Of Experience And Education All applications are reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications. Verification may be requested at any point. See https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/ for education verification information.
Selection Procedures After application, qualified candidates must complete all steps to advance, including:
Written Exam (Weight: 100%):
Multiple-choice exam to measure knowledge, skills and abilities. It may include topics such as use/care of gardening equipment, pest control, erosion control, safety, plant identification, irrigation, and interpersonal skills. The exam is standardized and questions/answers are not public.
The exam score is banked for three years and may be applied to future recruitments. See the decision notes on score use and re-testing rules in the original announcement text.
Additional Information Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential list of names will be created for certification. Scores are not public until the list is exhausted or expired. The eligible list duration is six months and may be extended. See the SF HR charts for departments using this classification.
Public Resources Code 5164
information and disqualification criteria, medical examinations, drug testing requirements, and other eligibility information are provided as part of the process.
Where to Apply All applications must be submitted through the online portal at https://careers.sf.gov/. Computers are available in the lobby for public use at 1 South Van Ness Ave, 4th Floor, and City Hall’s City Career Center. Ensure application information is accurate and match to your legal ID. You will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com. If you have questions, contact Exam Analyst Ian Talley at ian.talley@sfgov.org. Recruitment ID: X00102.
Equal Opportunity The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, HIV status, or other protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr