Gardener/Utility Worker
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Salary Range: Grade 8: $60,055.94 - $76,767.69
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: CL26-01438
Location: 1530 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA
Division: SAC Administrative Services
Closing: 8/10/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
POSITION DETAILS
About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.
RSCCD's student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. As a whole, the district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.
At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.
About the Position
The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, management, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD's mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.
Candidates will contribute to an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture that supports the diverse needs of faculty, management, staff, and students. They will effectively provide services and support to individuals with differing academic preparation levels and unique learning or workplace needs, ensuring equitable access and opportunities for success. Candidates should demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in all interactions and contributions. Through their role, they will empower students to achieve their educational and career goals while promoting a positive and inclusive environment where faculty and management can thrive, fostering creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning throughout the college community.
Class Summary
Under general supervision performs a wide variety of gardening and grounds keeping work in the planting, spraying, fertilizing, pruning, and maintaining of lawns, athletic fields, plants, trees, shrubs, and landscaped areas; performs related duties as required.
Representative Duties
Plants and cultivates trees, grass, flowers, and shrubs, and sprays for the control of pests and plant diseases; maintains landscaped areas; cuts and edges lawns and borders; uses fertilizer as needed; sets up portable pipes for watering athletic fields; does some hand watering; prepares soil for various kinds of planting; seeds new lawns; operates power lawn mowers, sprayers, trucks, skip loaders, and tractors; maintains and cleans mowing equipment; installs and maintains sprinkler systems; prepares stadium and field for athletic games and cleans and repairs fields and facilities following events; assists in moving and arranging furniture and equipment for special events; performs other grounds keeping and maintenance duties as required and assigned, such as installing and maintaining fences, repairing black-top, cement work, and repairs to pipe-lines.
Organizational Relationships
Positions in this class report to the Plant Manager, coordinate with campus programs and may work in teams. Positions are often assigned to projects where work is performed without close supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS
Training and Experience
One year of gardening or grounds keeping experience.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: the characteristics of common plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses; fertilizers and proper fertilizing methods; gardening materials, tools, and equipment, and their use and care; sprinkler systems and tools and equipment used in their maintenance and repair.
Ability to: follow oral and written directions; work cooperatively with instructors, students, and others; keep simple records.
License: a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
Physical Requirements: performs more strenuous physical work, including heavy lifting.
Additional Qualifications
Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To ensure full consideration, all applicants must submit a complete Rancho Santiago Community College District online application that includes the items listed below by the position's closing date. Recruitment will review all applications for completeness, and only complete application packets will be forwarded to the screening committee for further review.
A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:
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RSCCD Online Application
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Resume - details all relevant education, training, and other work experience
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Academic Transcripts (Unofficial copies of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate transcripts).
Foreign Degrees
Transcripts from countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an agency that is approved by or a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE), or Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Application Screening
Job announcements will include screening criteria to be used during screening and interviews. This may include, but is not limited to:
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Education experience (breadth and depth)
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Work experience (breadth and depth)
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Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others
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Bilingual ability (if needed)
- Demonstrated experience and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Professional growth activities
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Specialized skills training
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Leadership skills
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Written and/or oral communication skills
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Presentation
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Problem Solving.
Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of candidates with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview. Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Candidate qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.
Interview
Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:
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Oral communication skills
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Presentation
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Problem-solving skills
A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.
Disability Accommodations
Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in the Application or Interviewing Process in accordance with ADA should notify the Recruitment Office in the Human Resources Division at least two days prior to the closing date, by calling (714) 480-7455.
Conditions of Employment
The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:
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Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
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Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.
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Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)
EEO STATEMENT
The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is an equal opportunity employer. The policy of the District is to encourage applications from persons who are economically disadvantaged and individuals belonging to significantly underrepresented groups within the District's workforce, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or political or organizational affiliation.
RSCCD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional employment offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if RSCCD is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/rsccd/jobs/5410526/gardener-utility-worker
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