General Laborer

Under general direction of assigned supervisor, responsible for a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled general park and facility maintenance performed mainly on weekends and holidays. Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification, but may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees, or special projects.  This is a 19-hour per week, limited services position.

To provide the highest quality service in the most efficient, cost-effective and courteous manner possible. And, enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria through quality recreation programs and services, and provide safe and well-maintained facilities and parks, while anticipating the changing needs of the community.

WHO WE ARE:
The City of Santa Maria is a full-service City with a City Council/City Manager form of government with over 700 employees, and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City of Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City has a harmonious balance of maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, and is in close proximity to beaches, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions.

WHAT WE DO:
The Department of Recreation and Parks' mission is to enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria through quality recreation programs and services; and to provide safe and well-maintained facilities and parks, while anticipating the changing needs of the community. The department operates 234 acres of developed parkland in 28 neighborhood and community parks, part of the 1,774-acre Los Flores Ranch Park property, the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, and other community centers. The department provides programs in aquatics, youth and adult sports. It also manages the City's Urban Forest Program.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Individual Contributor:
Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance:

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs. 
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources  and  disseminate  it  in  a variety  of  ways.  They  use  modern  technologies  to  access  and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen. 
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization.  This position:

• Is responsible for digging, pruning, weed eradication, athletic field maintenance, janitorial and restroom cleaning, light plumbing, irrigation repairs, and painting.
• Uses a variety of manual and small motorized equipment
• May occasionally oversee a two to three-person volunteer work crew.    
• Ensures that parks and public places are in good condition for public use; that reservation for picnic areas are posted and enforced.
• Assists the public as requested; checks on the conduct of groups using the parks and public facilities
• Educates the public on park rules; reports violations to Park Services Officers.  
• Sets up and tears down of multiple tents.
• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director. 
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

• Ideally, one year of experience in park maintenance; and 

• Graduation from high school, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  1. Operation and use of small hand and light power tools, maintenance and/or landscape equipment.
  2. Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  3. Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent). 
  4. Use computer and other office equipment effectively.
      
• Desired licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment.
  
  
• Possession of a valid and appropriate Driver License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business.
  
  
• The incumbent must meet the physical requirements of the job class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

A complete application, along with four references that include their phone number and email address, is required.

The most qualified candidates will be selected to appear before a panel for an oral interview. Those applicants invited to interview will be notified electronically at the e-mail address provided by each candidate through the application process. Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide an accurate email address and to allow their inbox to receive emails in regard to this recruitment.  A tentative oral interview date has been scheduled for the week of October 3, 2022. 

The oral board will recommend a limited number of candidates to the eligibility list from which the new General Laborer may be selected.  This recruitment may also establish an eligibility list for future General Laborer openings.

Selected candidates may be required to complete a background check and livescan to the satisfaction of the City.

If you have job-related questions, please contact staff in the Human Resources Division at 805-925-0951 x2203. If you are experiencing any technical (computer-related) difficulties, please call the NEOGOV help line for technical assistance at 1-855-524-5627.

Salary : $1,254 - $1,382