Grounds Maintenance Specialist II

The Position

Under general supervision, performs a variety of skilled vegetation control, grounds maintenance, and fire prevention and mitigation work in the upkeep of unimproved land, landscaped areas, and grounds around offices, filter plants, maintenance yards, other East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) facilities.

Typical duties may include:

• Performing strenuous, physically demanding work on uneven and steep terrain using gas powered weed eaters and handheld and extension pole chainsaws.
• Applying various chemicals for weed abatement using pesticide rigs up to 100 gallons, pulling/dragging pesticide spray hoses up and down uneven terrain, and carrying and operating backpack and hand sprayers.
• Removing or replacing plants, sod, mulch, soil, and erosion control material on even and uneven terrain.
• Clearing vegetation and debris using landscape related equipment such as blowers, rakes, shovels, and pitchforks, etc.
• Installing, repairing, and operating automatic irrigation systems.
• Operating power and manual tools such as trenchers, shovels, picks, and breaker bars to complete grounds related projects.
• Pruning plants and trees using tools and equipment such as aerial lifts, ladders, hand chainsaws, power pole chainsaws and loppers.
• Performing fire abatement maintenance duties and special projects.
• Operating light to medium sized dump trucks and tractors and safely transporting pesticide, chipper, and equipment trailers.
• Answering inquiries from the public and regulatory agencies regarding duties being performed and providing general information regarding integrated pest management on EBMUD grounds and facilities.
• Operating, adjusting, cleaning, and performing minor maintenance on a variety of hand and power tools; reporting major repair work as needed.
• Directing and instructing a less experienced worker in grounds maintenance procedures; directing the work of a small crew on specific assignments.
• Pruning, shaping, or removing large tree branches; removing entire trees.
• Working effectively as a member of a crew and independently.
• Documenting work performed and labor hours.
• Performing grounds maintenance and related manual labor support as required.

Every employee adds value to the EBMUD team as they are committed to responsible stewardship of our resources. The employee standard is to act with integrity, treat others with respect, and value a teamwork culture while fulfilling EBMUD's mission to provide reliable, high-quality water and wastewater services at fair rates.

Competitive candidates will share these values and also have experience in:

• Landscape/grounds corrective and preventative maintenance work.
• Installation, repair and maintenance of irrigation systems and equipment.

The salary range is $7,454 per month increasing to $7,827, $8,218, and $8,629 after 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively.

EBMUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, marital or registered domestic partnership status, age for individuals age forty or older, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veterans status, family or medical leave status, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical condition), pregnancy disability leave status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and other categories protected by federal, state and/or local laws.

Requirements

1. A high school diploma, or its equivalent, and either:

2a. Twelve months of experience in EBMUD’s Grounds Maintenance Specialist I classification, plus specified on-the-job training, and upon supervisory certification of proficiency. Six units or its equivalent of college, technical or trade school training in grounds maintenance, landscape architecture, horticulture or a closely related field may be substituted for six months of the required experience; OR

2b. Twenty-four months of experience in grounds maintenance work providing knowledge and skills in general grounds maintenance methods. Six units or its equivalent of college, technical, or trade school training in grounds maintenance, landscape architecture, horticulture or a closely related field may be substituted for six months of the required experience.

3. Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

4. Must possess the physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the job, including sufficient strength to lift and carry bags of fertilizer or equipment up to 50 pounds.

5. Must be willing to work where noxious plants and insects are present, work in a variety of weather conditions and work overtime as needed.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. To be considered under the “equivalent combination of education and experience” provision, it is your responsibility to include in your application materials written evidence of employment performed at the level of the typical duties of this position and/or coursework in subject areas directly related to this position. For more information, see our FAQ page at http://www.ebmud.com/jobs/job-resources/job-faqs-frequently-asked-questions/.

The Selection Process

1. Submit a completed EBMUD application and the required supplemental question responses online at www.ebmud.com by 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 17, 2026. Only application materials submitted online during the filing period will be accepted.

2. Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test part in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.

3. All qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, with those candidates demonstrating the strongest qualifications for the position to be invited to a hands-on performance test tentatively scheduled for mid to late May. Performance test is weather permitting, and dates may be cancelled and/or changed on short notice.

4. Successful candidates will be placed on the hiring list, based on rank, for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancy, as well as others occurring over the next 12 to 24 months.

5. The probation period for this position is 6 months. For those holding civil service status the probation period is 6 months.

6. All employment offers are conditional, pending the results of a Live Scan background screening. All selected finalists must participate in the Live Scan background screening process to remain in consideration for EBMUD employment.

Supplemental Information

As the first step in the selection process, responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted online with the regular EBMUD application. Please provide thorough, accurate descriptions of assignments you have personally performed. Should you respond with comments such as “see application” or “see resume” instead of addressing the questions directly, your application may not be considered.

• 12 days paid vacation; 16 holidays; 13 days paid sick leave;
• Family health insurance (choice of Kaiser fully paid or Sutter Health Plus or Anthem Blue Cross 85% paid);
• Fully paid family dental and vision care plans;life insurance; long-term disability insurance;
• EBMUD Retirement Plan (reciprocal with CalPERS);
• $1,000/yr. contributed to flexible spending account or cash;
• $145/mo. public transit subsidy;
• 401(k) and 457(b) tax-deferred retirement plans; Roth 401(k);
• $3,500/yr. tuition reimbursement;
• And opportunities for professional growth including training and career development.