OPEN DATE: July 27, 2026
CLOSING DATE: August 16, 2026
INTERVIEW DATE: To be determined by Hiring Department
This is a limited service, 19-hour per week position.
The Recreation and Parks Department of the City of Santa Maria is seeking a dedicated and dependable individual to join our team as a Skilled Laborer. In this role, you will play a vital part in maintaining the beauty and safety of our local parks, ensuring our community has clean and welcoming spaces to enjoy. This is a limited-service, non-benefited position with a maximum of 988 hours per fiscal year.
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 neighborhoods 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.
These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization.
Under general direction of assigned supervisor, this position performs a wide variety of semi-skilled tasks such as:
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Equipment Operation: Safely operate and maintain a variety of heavy machinery and power tools such as commercial mowers and high-pressure washers.
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Infrastructure Maintenance: Assist in the repair of park infrastructure, including fences, playground equipment, concrete walkways, and picnic structures.
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General Grounds Upkeep: Mow, trim, and edge lawns; weed planter beds; and clear brush or debris to keep parks and public spaces clean and safe.
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Janitorial Duties: Clean and sanitize park restrooms, empty public trash bins, and ensure picnic areas are tidy for community use.
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Tool & Vehicle Care: Use and maintain basic hand and power tools—like leaf blowers, weed eaters, and hedge trimmers—and perform regular safety checks on city vehicles.
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Event Support: Work closely with a crew to load/unload materials and set up tables, chairs, or barricades for local community events.
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Graffiti Abatement: Remove graffiti from park structures, signs, and walls using specialized cleaning chemicals, pressure washers, or by matching and applying fresh paint.
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Equipment Cleaning: Wash and debris-clear mowers, tractors, and hand tools after use to prevent rust and mechanical failure.
Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification, however, may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees, or special projects. The role is expected to provide the highest quality service in the most efficient, cost-effective and courteous manner possible. Work schedules vary and may include weekends, holidays, nights, and split shifts.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT:
The ideal candidate is a hardworking and reliable professional with hands-on experience in facility maintenance, landscaping, or construction who takes pride in enhancing community spaces. They are a safety-conscious problem solver who possesses a strong team-oriented mindset and a commitment to maintaining the City of Santa Maria’s high standards, all while upholding a positive and professional public image.
CORE COMPETENCIES
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.
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Integrity- Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
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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.
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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.
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Composure- Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
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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.
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Problem Solving & Decision Making- Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
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Learning Agility- Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
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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.
- Ideally, three years of experience in the construction/maintenance trades; and
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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.
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May require completion of a pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the City.
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Ability to physically stand, bend, squat, and lift up to 50 pounds
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
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Requires completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.
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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.
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Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
APPLICATION RANKING
A complete application is required.
The most qualified candidates may be selected to appear before a panel for an interview. Those applicants invited to interview will be notified electronically at the e-mail address provided by each candidate through 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. Interview dates may be scheduled on an ongoing basis until all positions are filled. This recruitment may also establish an eligibility list for future Skilled Laborer openings.
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.
