3410 Apprentice Gardener - Fall 2025
Job Description
Example of Important and Essential Duties:
1. Participates in a structured on-the-job and classroom training program and learns routine and basic manual labor tasks.
2. Waters lawns, planted areas and playfields, manually or by means of automatic sprinklers; uses hand or power mower to cut lawns; fertilizes lawns, shrubs and flower beds.
3. Performs routine and limited trimming and pruning of shrubs and hedges by use of hand or power shears; gathers and disposes of cuttings.
4. With close supervision, sprays herbicides; plants and transplants shrubs or small plants; traps or destroys rodents; assists in the renovation of lawns or play areas.
5. Removes debris and litter; sweeps and otherwise cleans play areas, paths or roadways; removes trash; assists in the loading of debris on truck.
6. Rakes and weeds lawns; weeds and cultivates planted areas; cleans restrooms or other auxiliary buildings in a playground or park.
7. Sharpens, cleans and otherwise maintains tools and equipment, and performs general maintenance duties.
8. Assists in responding to specific service requests generated by the public, department or other City agency.
9. Loads and unloads materials, supplies, and equipment on and off trucks in proper and safe manner.
10. Assists in making minor repairs and adjustments to landscape irrigation systems, mower equipment, and hoses.
11. Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
1 **. *Meet admission and eligibility requirements for enrollment at City College of San Francisco as follows:
a.) You must be eighteen (18) years old on or before the first day of instruction for the term which you are applying. or
b.) You are a high school graduate; or
c.) You are the equivalent of a high school graduate, i.e., you have passed GED or a state's high school proficiency examination; or
d) You completed a minimum of 120 high school credits and have submitted a permission/consent form. Please visit the High School Programs page for more information.
Please visit the link for City College of San Francisco's admission policy:
https://www.ccsf.edu/admissions-recordsregistration/credit-admission
AND
2. Possession of a valid California (Class C) driver's license
***NOTE: If selected for this program, participants must be registered with City College of San Francisco and enrolled in OH 50 Introduction to Environmental Horticulture. Due to the limited space available, it is recommended to enroll and register as soon as possible. Please visit the City College of San Francisco website for registration information.
https://www.ccsf.edu/en/student-services/admissions-and-registration/registration.html
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.
WORKING CONDITIONS : The nature of the work may require exposure to inclement weather conditions and may require exposure to hazardous conditions and/or materials which may include feces and/or urine, used syringes, etc. Some positions require safe driving of large trucks or vans. Some positions may require riding mowers and driving small utility vehicles. Some positions may require heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. Some positions may require weekend or shift work.
Additional Information
HOW TO APPLY
**STEP 1 - Applicants are encouraged to apply online no later than Wednesday, May 7, 2025 by 5:00 pm by clicking on the 'Apply Now' or 'I'm Interested' button and follow instructions as prompted. **
STEP 2 – Complete and submit all verification documents no later than Friday, May 9, 2025 by 5:00 pm. Verification documents requested are as follows:
1. Verification of meeting eligibility and entrance criteria for enrollment in City College of San Francisco (i.e. copy of high school diploma, certificate of completion/GED, bachelor's degree, or college transcripts, etc.); AND
2. Verification of valid California Class C Driver's License - Applicants must submit a legible copy of their driver's license with photograph clear and visible; AND
3. DRIVING HISTORY RECORD PRINTOUT - Applicants are required to submit an original Department of Motor Vehicles driving history record printout. **** The printout is available from any Department of Motor Vehicles office or online. The printout must be current, dated within one month of the date when requested. The printout must be complete and state the word “End” on the final page of the printout. Applicants who do not submit the DMV printout will not be allowed to move forward in the selection process.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND VERIFICATION DOCUMENTS AS A COMPLETE PACKET:
Note : Failure to complete ALL steps above will be considered as INCOMPLETE and may be disqualified.
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Specific information regarding this recruitment is listed below:
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the selection process. Previous paid or volunteer experience with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department does NOT guarantee employment.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants selected to advance in the selection process MUST be available to participate in a written, performance, and oral assessment administered tentatively during the week of June 10, 2025. More specific information (final date/time) will be provided to individuals if invited to advance in this process.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
As a selected candidate for a job, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction (or arrest, in limited circumstances) conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you are a selected candidate. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances, such as:
Candidates for positions with the Unified School District and the Community College District may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under the California Education Code.
Candidates for positions with the Recreation and Park Department may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under California Public Resources Code 5164.
Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City.
If you are a selected candidate, the hiring department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.
Drug Testing Requirement : Applicants for positions in this classification who are not currently employed by the City and County of San Francisco in a safety-sensitive position represented by Laborers International, Local 261, are required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. All employees in this classification may also be subject to drug and alcohol testing upon reasonable suspicion or after a work-related accident.
Physical Examination : Prior to appointment, candidates must successfully pass a medical examination to determine his/her ability to perform the essential functions of the job and/or the ability to meet the physical minimum requirements.
Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address and contact information is accurate and kept up-to-date.
If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Lilli Ann Bobila by email at Lilliann.bobila@sfgov.org.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.