ASSISTANT GARDENER 3142 (REV 03-03-25)

The City of Los Angeles is hiring an Assistant Gardener responsible for gardening, landscape construction, and maintenance in various city locations. This role aims to develop skills for future employment as a Gardener Caretaker. Applicants must have relevant experience and may need a valid California driver's license. The position requires flexibility for weekends, holidays, and possible overtime, and is not remote.
NOTES:
• For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to http://per.lacity.org/Reciprocity_CityDepts_and_DWP.pdf.
• Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. You may confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

DUTIES

An Assistant Gardener does gardening, landscape construction, and maintenance work in parks, playgrounds, citywide traffic islands, medians, slopes, grade separations and other landscaped areas.

NOTE:

Assistant Gardeners are hired in lieu of Gardener Caretakers. Employment as an Assistant Gardener is intended to develop skills necessary for regular full time employment with the City as a Gardener Caretaker. Upon successful completion of probation, Assistant Gardeners will be offered transfers under Charter Section 1014 to Gardener Caretaker.

The Assistant Gardener class will be utilized for the duration of the Targeted Local Hire Program and/or the Utility Worker Program solely as a vehicle to transition participants to full time regular employment as a Gardener Caretaker.
• Current employment as a:
a. Vocational Worker with the City of Los Angeles assigned to a position that performs gardening and landscape work and six months of participation in and successful completion of the on-the-job training period with the City of Los Angeles, which must include full-time paid experience performing a variety of landscape and gardening work; or
b. Utility Worker assigned to a position that performs gardening and landscape work with the Department of Water and Power and six months of participation in and successful completion of the on-the-job training period with the City of Los Angeles, which must include full-time paid experience performing a variety of gardening and landscape work; and

2. Letter of recommendation from the personnel office of the employing department, which includes a statement of the department’s willingness to hire the employee as an Assistant Gardner. The letter must be attached to the application at the time of filing.

PROCESS NOTES
• The positions of Assistant Gardener in the Library Department require a valid Class B California driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at the time of appointment. The positions of Assistant Gardener in the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Harbor (Port of Los Angeles), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Public Works - Bureau of Sanitation, Public Works - Bureau of Street Services, Recreation and Parks, and the Zoo Department require a valid Class C California driver's license issued by the California DMV at the time of appointment. Candidates will not be eligible for appointment to these positions if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI.
• Assistant Gardeners may be required to work weekends and holidays and be reassigned to work at any location in the City. They may be required to work overtime and in bad weather.
Applications WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ON THE CITY APPLICATION FORM. Applications may be obtained on our website at http://per.ci.la.ca.us/Forms/Application.pdf.

Applications MAY ONLY be submitted to the Human Resources/Personnel Services Section of the City Department providing your letter of recommendation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen the following day. This examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Examination Weight:
Program Performance Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100%

The examination will be based entirely on a Program Performance Review. Candidates will be rated by one or more first and second-level supervisors who are familiar with their performance in the on-the-job training phase of the Targeted Local Hire Program. In the Program Performance Review, the following competencies may be evaluated: Self-Management, Physical Capability, Equipment Operation, Customer Service, Teamwork, Follow Oral Directions, Oral Communication, and Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: types and care of common plants, grasses, trees, shrubs, mulch, soil, and fertilizer; common types of pests, weeds, and diseases; watering methods and sprinklers; pruning methods; preparation of a seed bed; hand and power gardening tools; basic cleaning agents and equipment; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. Factors such as the quality and quantity of work performed may also be considered.

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Gardener Caretaker.

NOTES:
• This examination is based on a validation study.
• As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
• Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Applicants may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
• Based on the Federal Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1994, you may be required to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to and during employment in this class.
• A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
• In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice:
If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN
ONLY ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.