Park Section Supervisor-Pre-Apprentice Program-SF Public Works (3422)

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below.

Application Opening: Friday, March 21, 2025
Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025.
Compensation Range: $95,966.00 - $116,584.00 annually

Appointment Type: Temporary Exempt (TEX) - This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months

San Francisco Public Works (Public Works) has a far-reaching portfolio with a $453 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,600-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

Please visit the “About Us” section of our website at https://www.sfpublicworks.org/about to learn more about the department’s core values, Racial Equity Initiative, leadership team, history, budget and more.

The San Francisco Public Works Department seeks a Park Section Supervisor to lead our new Sunset Boulevard Beautification Project. The first phase will focus on creating a comprehensive beautification and maintenance strategy for Sunset Boulevard, one of San Francisco’s most iconic greenways. We will develop and implement this one-year, pre-apprenticeship program utilizing the Multi-Core Craft Curriculum (MC3) that will be provided by the LIUNA Laborers Training Center.

As Pre-apprenticeship Park Section Supervisor, you will lead communications with managers, union partners, stakeholders, community groups, and other city departments to prepare educational materials and report on maintenance and conservation.

The program aims to cultivate general landscape maintenance skills, including tree maintenance, green infrastructure maintenance, natural resource management, and stewardship of native plant communities. The Park Section Supervisor will lead a program of six (6) Pre-Apprentices. You will manage and guide them in the maintenance and care of easements, center islands, and other landscaped areas. The role involves supervising various horticultural tasks such as irrigation, plant propagation, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), weed management, and site cleanup. You will be responsible for recommending new products and equipment, managing budgets, ensuring safe work practices, and obtaining necessary permits for program implementation.

The position requires a commitment to providing community service consistent with the standards and values of Public Works while fostering a collaborative and educational environment for the Pre-Apprentices. Your working conditions may involve considerable physical effort, exposure to inclement weather and hazardous materials, and may require weekend or shift work. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in landscape maintenance and supervisory experience, along with a passion for environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Important and Essential Duties: 
As a Park Section Supervisor, your duties may include but are not limited to the following: 

• Supervise the work of gardeners and pre-apprentices in maintaining and caring for parks and landscaped areas.
• Ensure safe work practices by directing staff on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and conducting accident investigations when necessary.
• Obtain and track permits required for program implementation and report on pesticide use on City property.
• Plan and implement landscaping and planting projects, developing maintenance standards for landscaped areas. Communicate with coworkers, community groups, and other departments
• Drafting electronic and written correspondence and reports.
• Assist with record keeping and tracking metrics.
• Perform or supervise approved maintenance and minor repairs to facilities and equipment.
• Training Pre-Apprentices on tree maintenance, green infrastructure upkeep, natural resource management, and native plant community stewardship.
• Operate a city vehicle to access work sites and perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Experience And Training Guidelines:

1. Three (3) years of verifiable experience in the care, construction, or maintenance of landscaped areas by planting, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating, pruning, and controlling pests in the following areas: sports and athletic natural turf fields, golf courses, parks, ornamental gardens, arboreta, greenhouses, nurseries, botanical gardens and/or public landscaped areas and six (6) months of experience as a supervisor.

OR

2. Possession of a Certificate of Achievement from an accredited college or university in horticulture, landscaping, gardening, nursery and garden center operation, commercial cut flower and greenhouse production or related field and two years of verifiable experience in the care, construction or maintenance of landscaped areas by planting, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating, pruning, and controlling pests in the following areas: sports and athletic natural turf fields, golf courses, parks, ornamental gardens, arboreta, greenhouses, nurseries, botanical gardens and/or public landscaped areas; and six (6) months of experience as a supervisor.

OR

3. Possession of an Associate of Arts or Science degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture, landscaping, gardening, nursery and garden center operation, commercial cut flower and greenhouse production or related field and 18 months of verifiable experience in the care, construction or maintenance of landscaped areas by planting, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating, pruning, and controlling pests in the following areas: sports and athletic natural turf fields, golf courses, parks, ornamental gardens, arboreta, greenhouses, nurseries, botanical gardens and/or public landscaped areas; and six (6) months of experience as a supervisor.

OR

4. Completion of the City and County of San Francisco’s gardener apprenticeship program (4000 hours) and six (6) months of experience as a supervisor.

Substitution:
Two (2) years of additional qualifying experience may substitute for the six (6) months supervisory experience. 

Licenses and Certificates:
Requires possession of a valid California Class 'C' Driver's License. 

NOTE:

• Some positions may require an Agricultural Pest Control Advisor License: in the following pest control categories: (A) Insects, Mites and Other Invertebrates (Plant), (B) Plant Pathogens (C) Nematodes (D) Vertebrate Pests, (E) Weed Control; and (G) Plant Growth Regulators.
• Some positions may require a Qualified Applicator Certificate in the following pest control categories: (A) Residential, Industrial, and Institutional, (B) Landscape Maintenance, (C)Right-of-Way, (E) Forest, and (F) Aquatic

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. 

• Experience with community engagement and educational outreach related to landscape maintenance and conservation.
• Knowledge of sustainable landscaping practices and native plant stewardship.

Verification: 

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Every application is reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  
 
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/recruitment-details#verification 

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. 

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.  

Note: 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. 

What else should I know? 

Selection Process 
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to move forward in the selection process. 

Supplemental Questionnaire - After submitting your application you may receive a request for additional information about your education and experience. You will be emailed a Supplemental Questionnaire with position-relevant questions about your work experience and interest in the position. Please check junk/spam folders to ensure you receive these information requests.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all of the steps in the selection procedure. 

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

• Information About the Hiring Process 
• Conviction History 
• Employee Benefits Overview   
• Equal Employment Opportunity  
• Disaster Service Worker 
• ADA Accommodation 
• Right to Work 
• Copies of Application Documents 
• Diversity Statement 

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Tara Stevens, at tara[email protected]

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.