Gardener I, General Services Agency

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

THE AGENCY
Alameda County's General Services Agency delivers a host of support services to County departments and agencies. These services fall into several major categories: Technical — architectural, engineering, energy and hazardous materials management; Building Maintenance — building maintenance and repairs, janitorial services and minor remodeling and alterations; Construction — new facilities and major remodeling; Procurement — purchasing and contract administration; Fleet Services; Childcare Planning; Human Resources, Payroll, Information Systems and Parking Administration.

THE POSITION
GARDENER I is the entrance-level gardener class. Positions are under the close supervision of the Landscape Supervisor and are in frequent contact with a journey-level Gardener II. Incumbents plant, transplant, propagate trees, shrubs and flowers; keep assigned grounds area, including hardscape adjacent to County buildings, clean and attractive; and do related work as required. This position is flexibly staffed, with the incumbents expected to acquire the necessary skills and certification for progression to the higher level by the completion of the training period.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Demonstrated experience in grounds maintenance, which includes transplanting, pruning and caring for trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers. Must be physically able to work in inclement weather.
• Proven dedication to Agency, position, co-workers and customers by consistently maintaining a high level of dependability.
• Strong ability to make decisions and prioritize work for varying work sites.
• Consistently maintain effectiveness when experiencing changes in work responsibilities, pest prevention and operational procedures.
• Proven safety record as demonstrated by the ability to identify safety issues and take appropriate corrective action.
• Ability to effectively complete tasks in a timely manner while continuously reviewing work to ensure completeness.
• Commitment to exceptional customer service
• Ability to effectively manage time.

The current vacancy in the General Services Agency. The shift is currently 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM with 1/2 hour lunch but the shift hours may change.

Either I

The equivalent of six months of full-time experience in grounds maintenance work.

Or II

The equivalent of six-month combination of related education and/or training and appropriate experience.

And

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.


Physical Characteristics:

May require heavy lifting and the ability to stoop, crouch, climb ladders, and work outside in all weather conditions.


Special Requirements:

Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Basic gardening practices.
• Safety awareness.
• Tools and equipment commonly used in ground maintenance work.

Ability to:

• Learn the gardening trade.
• Follow written and oral instructions.
• Work in a team.
• Communicate courteously with the public and other County employees.

The examination will consist of the following steps: A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process which is a written examination weighted as 40% of the candidate’s final examination score. Those candidates scoring highest on the written exam will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview which will be weighted as 60% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION. We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing: 5:00pm, Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Review of Minimum Qualifications: Monday, November 13, 2017
Written Examination: Week of November 27, 2017
Panel Interviews: Week of January 8, 2018 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
• Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
• Vision
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
• County Allowance
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Group Auto/Home
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Ione Bell, Human Resources Analyst II
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-6456

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer