Groundskeeper

Groundskeeper

Salary

See Position Description

Location

6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA

Job Type

Full-time (100%)

Job Number

2026-02214

Department

FPPO (Facilities Planning & Plant Operations)

Division

FAS (Finance and Administrative Services)

Opening Date

10/13/2026

Closing Date

11/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Please apply for this job directly on the Cabrillo College job opportunities page here.

Employment Opportunity

We need YOU! Cabrillo College is looking for staff to provide quality programs and services for a diverse student population, promoting ever-evolving needs as our students grow toward their individual aspirational goals. Cabrillo is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with a special focus on enhancing the Latinx student experience. Come join our team, valuing high-level and innovative instruction, support services, a welcoming environment, and helping to change the world one student at a time!

This full-time, 12-month-per-year Groundskeeper position, individually or as a crew member, performs skilled gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance duties in a designated District service area or areas as assigned; maintains irrigation systems; operates a wide variety of power equipment and machinery; assists with event setup and cleanup; and performs related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will share Cabrillos commitment to educating its racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. Cabrillo College serves approximately 10,500+ students per term. As of the 2025 Academic Year, 71% of Cabrillo students are members of minoritized populations, identifying themselves as LatinX (49%), Multi Ethnic (20%), Asian (1%), Black Non-Hispanic (<1%), Filipino (<1%), American Indian/Alaskan Native(<1%) and Pacific Islander (<1%). In 2006, Cabrillo College was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, reflecting the great responsibility that the College has to the educational attainment and economic well-being of the surrounding community.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Starting Salary Range: $4,226 to $4,893 per month; plus 5% annual increases up to step 7; maximum initial salary step placement on the classified salary schedule is step 4. Full-time (40 hours per week) assignment, 12 months per year. Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with evenings and weekends as required.

Classified employees are required to join the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and, as such, contribute 8% of their monthly salary to CalPERS on a pre-tax basis. Position scheduled to begin as soon as possible, pending continued funding and Governing Board ratification. Salary is subject to proration based on the beginning date of assignment. Cabrillo is unable to sponsor work visas.

Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, life, short- and long-term, and vision (optional) insurance provided at a share of cost on a pre-tax basis, CalPERS Retirement, and an Employee Assistance Program. Please see the Benefits link on the HR webpage for more information.

Work-Life Balance: This opportunity is a full-time assignment, months per year. Classified employee benefits include:

• Twelve (12) days of vacation leave accrued annually; rate increases up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at year ten (10)

• Twelve (12) days of sick leave accrued annually, seven (7) of which can be used as Personal Necessity days annually

• Nineteen (19) paid holidays annually

• Five percent (5%) Longevity award annually after ten (10) years of service, with increases to fifteen percent (15%) at twenty (20) years

• Professional Growth educational incentive program

As a classified staff member at Cabrillo College, you will join a vibrant community of professionals and educators working together to provide a positive educational environment where our students experience diverse academic and cultural perspectives.

Examples of Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

• Mows, trims, edges, fertilizes, aerates and waters lawns and other landscaped areas; trims and prunes trees, shrubs and hedges; clears weeds and brush; maintains grounds in assigned areas in a clean, safe and orderly condition.
• Plants new lawns, trees, shrubs, hedges and flowers; plants and maintains planter boxes and specialty areas; renovates landscaped areas to more environmentally sustainable, natural habitats.
• Installs, modifies, maintains, upgrades and repairs manual, semi-automatic and automatic irrigation systems, including drip lines, pipes, valves, automatic control devices and sprinkler heads; sets and adjusts sprinkler controls for correct time and duration of operation.
• Sprays landscaped areas with herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and rodenticides; prepares chemical mixtures in proper proportions; maintains accurate pesticide-use records according to federal, state and county regulations.
• Safely operates and maintains a variety of hand and power landscaping tools and equipment, including District vehicles, hand and riding mowers, tractors, forklifts, spreaders, rototillers, edgers, chainsaws, pruners, ladders and other tools.
• Provides general maintenance of campus grounds including pouring cement and repairing fences and facilities; blows, sweeps and washes sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and other hardscapes; picks up debris on campus; ensures assigned areas are free of trash.
• Maintains daily work records and activity reports, hazardous materials records and restricted pesticide-use records; maintains parts and materials inventory; participates in meetings and safety training.
• Meets with supervisor to review work on a regular or semi-regular basis as directed.

OTHER DUTIES

• Assists with setup and teardown of chairs, tables, stages, and other equipment for events and classes; may assist in custodial or utility maintenance duties as needed.
• Responds to radio emergencies.
• Rids the campus of dead vermin as directed.
• Provides work direction to student groundskeeping crews as assigned.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty, and staff AND
• Graduation from high school or a GED equivalent AND two (2) years of progressively responsible grounds maintenance experience OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of planting, transplanting, cultivating, pruning and maintaining a variety of lawns, ground cover, plants, shrubs, hedges and trees.
• Soil preparation and enrichment.
• Grounds maintenance procedures including mowing, edging, raking and weeding.
• Methods and materials used in controlling pests, insects, rodents and weeds.
• Methods and materials used in the installation, maintenance and repair of automatic sprinkler and drip irrigation systems including various timing devices, controllers, valves and heads.
• Operation and maintenance of hand tools, power tools and power-driven equipment used in irrigation and grounds maintenance.
• State and local water restriction guidelines and other relevant laws, codes and restrictions.
• Basic knowledge of environmental sustainability standards and practices including best practices for drought-tolerant plant selections and storm water/irrigation runoff management.
• Shop mathematics.
• Organization and layout of campus buildings/facilities.
• Safety policies and work practices applicable to the work being performed.
• Regulations and applicable laws regarding the use and disposal of various hazardous materials.
• Basic English.
• Basic computer operations.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Complete grounds maintenance and irrigation assignments independently without immediate supervision.
• Perform grounds maintenance duties including prioritizing and scheduling work on campus grounds.
• Safely operate and maintain a variety of grounds maintenance equipment.
• Mix and apply specialized chemicals to control and eradicate weeds, insects, and other pests.
• Read and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, and sketches of landscape and irrigation systems.
• Estimate time, materials, and equipment required to perform assigned duties.
• Perform minor maintenance repairs as assigned.
• Prepare and maintain basic records accurately.
• Operate a computer related to the area of assignment.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program
• Forklift certification must be acquired within 120 days of employment
• First Aid/CPR-AED certification must be acquired within 120 days of employment

Additional Information

Application Process:

• Complete the application with a minimum of three (3) professional references and answer all supplemental questions; provide detailed information to aid in determining that the minimum qualification requirements have been met

• Attach resume

• Attach all unofficial transcripts for college coursework completed, if applicable (copies, photos, and downloads are acceptable) displaying any degrees conferred. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency at the applicant's expense - click here for more information.

Please note: All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm on the closing date indicated above.

Attention Applicants

Only completed applications with the above required documents will be reviewed by the committee. Application materials not required (including cover letters or letters of recommendation) for this position will not be reviewed. Remove personally identifiable information such as personal photos, Social Security number, birth date, age, and gender from your application materials. Expenses related to the recruitment process are the responsibility of the applicant. Cabrillo is unable to sponsor work visas. A position eligibility pool may be established to fill other full-time, part-time, or substitute assignments as needs arise.

Questions? Concerns? Please contact HR as Departments, Divisions, and Committee Members are unable to discuss active recruitments with potential candidates.

Selection Procedure

A search committee will review and invite applicants for an interview. Meeting the posted requirements does not guarantee an interview. A written performance exercise and/or presentation may be a part of the interview, and finalists may be invited to return for a second interview. All notifications will be via email and can also be accessed through your application profile.

Conditions of Employment

Selected candidates given a conditional offer of employment are required to submit tuberculosis screening clearance results, proof of eligibility to work in the United States, and present their Social Security card upon hire (for payroll purposes). Cabrillo is an E-Verify employer.

EEO Statement

Cabrillo College is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants. The policy of the College is to encourage applications from all persons. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, color, sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, medical conditions, status or protected veteran status.

Accommodations

Persons with disabilities who require reasonable accommodation to complete the employment process must notify Human Resources at cabrillohr@cabrillo.edu.

Cabrillo College currently provides a benefit stipend contribution for medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance for full-time employees and eligible dependents. Please note: Employees who work less than 1,040 hours per year are not eligible for benefits. More than part-time contracts will receive a pro rata benefit stipend based on the percentage of assignment.

Classified employees are required to join the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and as such contribute 8% of their monthly salary to CalPERS on a pre-tax basis. (For additional details you can visit the CalPERS webpage.)

For more information related to benefits, please visit the Cabrillo College Human Resources Benefits webpage on our website.

01

IMPORTANT: All applicants are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will provide information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the screening and selection process. Be concise, yet specific and informative in your responses to these supplemental questions. "See resume", "Will be answered during interview", attachments, or links/URLs (unless a question specifically requires it) will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to the questions in the following boxes. Please indicate below that you have read and understood these instructions.

• Yes
• No

02

Grounds crews on a college campus often balance routine maintenance with urgent requests and special events. Describe how you prioritize your work when multiple tasks require attention at the same time.

03

Describe your experience working safely around pedestrians, vehicle traffic, and occupied buildings while operating landscaping equipment.

04

Grounds staff often play a role in responding to storms, flooding, fallen trees, or other campus emergencies. Describe any experience you have responding to emergency situations, and the steps you take before operating equipment to ensure it is safe and ready for use.

05

Describe what you view as necessary to be effective in an environment that values diversity.

06

Have you attached all documents listed as required in the "Application Process" section of the Job Bulletin to this application?

• Yes
• No

07

I understand and reconfirm my consent and authorization that if I am a final candidate for this position, Cabrillo College or its authorized agent(s) may conduct comprehensive, job-related background and/or reference checks, including job history, criminal history, identity check, and/or fingerprinting. This reconfirmation question and its answer are confidential and will not be seen by the Search and Selection Committee.

• I agree
• I do not agree

Required Question

Employer Cabrillo College

Address 6500 Soquel Dr

Building 1550

Aptos, California, 95003

Phone (831) 479-6217

Website http://cabrillo.edu