Groundskeeper

Salary: $20.57 - $25.00 Hourly
Location : School Sites, Simi Valley, CA
Job Type: Full and Part-Time Permanent and Substitute
Job Number: 26-206-1
Department: Maintenance and Operations
Opening Date: 02/13/2025
Closing Date: Continuous


PURPOSE
To establish an eligibility list to fill current and future vacancies (full and part-time, permanent and temporary) for the duration of the list, up to one year.
A PPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THIS RECRUITMENT PROCESS:
Applications are submitted no later than 11:59 pm. a week prior to the test. Test is tentatively scheduled for: February 23, 2026.

TESTING PROCESS:
A) Multiple Choice Test = 40% weighting on final score. Tentatively Scheduled for February 23, 2026. B) Structured Interview = 60% weighting on final score. Tentatively Scheduled for the week of March 2, 2026.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job posting by the application deadline in order to move forward in the testing process. Those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to the multiple choice test. Those with the highest scores on the multiple choice test will be invited to the structured interview. The testing process is subject to change as needs dictate. All communication regarding this process will be delivered via email.

The information included in the Work Experience section of the application will determine whether applicants meet minimum qualifications. Please make sure you include ALL current and previous employment in the Work Experience section of the application and complete ALL fields.

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Purpose Statement
Under the general supervision of an assigned supervisor, performs a variety of grounds and landscape maintenance work of assigned areas, including public access areas, lawns, gardens, play/athletic fields, and other assigned grounds.

Distinguishing Characteristics
A Groundskeeper performs a variety of grounds and landscape maintenance work. In comparison, a Lead Groundskeeper leads a grounds maintenance crew and provides training, guidance, and work direction to lower-level groundskeepers, in addition to performing a variety of grounds and landscape maintenance work.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions

• Maintains lawns, including but not limited to mowing, edging, aerating, re-seeding, hoeing, and raking, in a neat and orderly condition.
• Assists with landscaping projects; participates in constructing and contouring raised beds, gardens, and drainage areas.
• Plants, cultivates, and trims trees, grass, flowers, hedges, and shrubs; spades and otherwise prepares grounds for planting.
• Prepares and applies fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other additives as directed.
• Maintains and assists with repairs to and modification of irrigation systems; digs trenches, loads and unloads materials, and cleans tools and equipment.
• Performs basic maintenance, repair, and replacement of irrigation components including in-ground drains, culverts, and sprinkler heads and lines; assists in adjusting, maintaining, and repairing electronic timers.
• Removes weeds and blows, rakes, and removes trash and debris from walkways, culverts, stairways, roadways, planters, parking lots, and other grounds areas.
• Performs cleaning, servicing, and minor repair of grounds tools and equipment to maintain tools and equipment in proper working condition.
• Prepares play/athletic fields, including mowing, grooming, painting, and lining fields in compliance with established dimensions.
• Performs general grounds clean-up (e.g. picking up paper and trash, cleaning fields and facilities) following events.
• Drives trucks and other vehicles to transport equipment; loads and unloads equipment and materials used in grounds maintenance.
• Performs surveillance over play and other public areas to identify potential safety issues.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
Six months of grounds maintenance, landscaping, or equivalent experience


Licenses and Certificates
Valid California driver's license

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Skills to:

• Safely operate tools and equipment used in grounds and landscape maintenance, including motorized equipment (e.g. ride along mowers, power walking lawn mowers, power blowers, weeders, edgers, hedgers, chain saws) and hand and power tools
• Safely operate assigned vehicles and observe safe and legal driving practices

Knowledge of:

• Procedures, methods, techniques, tools, and equipment used in grounds and landscape maintenance
• Appropriate safety precautions and procedures associated with grounds and landscape maintenance work
• Procedures used in the proper preparation and application of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other additives
• Basic routine maintenance and repair of sprinkler irrigation systems and components
• Basic mathematical principles to calculate weights, proportions, and sums
• Safe lifting techniques

Ability to:

• Perform general grounds and landscape maintenance work
• Perform heavy manual labor
• Safety prepare and apply fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other additives
• Maintain accurate records
• Perform basic routine maintenance and repair of sprinkler irrigation systems and components
• Perform servicing and minor repair of grounds tools and equipment
• Lift, carry, push, and pull objects of heavy weight
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Carry out verbal and written instructions
• Learn and apply new information and skills

Working Environment
Work is performed primarily in an outdoor environment where significant health and safety considerations exist from physical labor, exposure to extreme weather conditions, and working with machinery.

Individuals protected by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) may request accommodation if needed. In order for appropriate arrangements to be made for testing, your request must be received at the time your application is submitted. If special arrangements are not requested at the time the application is submitted, it is understood that no special accommodations are required. Documentation on the need for accommodation must accompany your request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Simi Valley Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunity for all applicants for employment. The application, examination, and selection process shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital, pregnancy, or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics
Salary : Five step salary range that provides annual increases of approximately five percent until the fifth step is reached. New hire initial step placement (normally up to Step 3) based on qualifying education and experience as outlined in Merit System Rule 7.20.1. An employee who is promoted to a higher class shall be placed on the step of the new salary range that is at least five percent above the current rate, excluding any differential pay.

Vacation : Earned based on assigned hours. Increased vacation allowance based on years of service with the district. Confidential employees receive an additional 3 days vacation allotment, up to a maximum of 22 days. Management employees receive 22 days of vacation (based on 12-month assignment).

Sick Leave : Earned at the rate of one day (based on the number of assigned hours) per month, and is accumulative from year to year.

Holidays: Fourteen paid holidays per year (based on 12-month assignment).

Insurance and Credit Union : The District offers a competitive Health and Welfare plan for employees and dependents, based upon the number of hours worked; employees who are placed in a regular assignment of 20 hours or more per week are eligible for benefits. The Ventura Schools Federal Credit Union offers a variety of services.

Retirement: Employees are covered by Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Social Security and Medicare. Contributions are made by both the employee and employer. Click to visit website.