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ASSISTANT ARBORETUM GARDENER

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ASSISTANT ARBORETUM GARDENER

Salary

$41,736.00 - $56,148.00 Annually

Location

Los Angeles County, CA

Job Type

Full time

Job Number

D0282A

Department

PARKS AND RECREATION

Opening Date

10/23/2025

Closing Date

11/14/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position/Program Information

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION

EXAM NUMBER:

D0282A

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD:

We will be accepting online applications from Friday, October 24, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until Friday, November 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (PT).

Applications must be received BEFORE 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, November 14, 2025, to be accepted.

RECRUITMENT TYPE:

We invite everyone who believes they meet or exceed the requirements listed below to apply.

Why Work for Us?

Working for Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation offers the opportunity to be part of a department that stewards some of the region’s most treasured public spaces, including world-class botanical gardens, historic estates, vibrant community gardens, and educational nature centers. These gardens not only showcase diverse plant collections and natural habitats but also serve as living classrooms where visitors of all ages learn about conservation, sustainability, and the unique ecology of Southern California. By joining our team, you will help preserve these spaces, support environmental education, and provide meaningful recreational and cultural experiences that enhance the quality of life for millions of residents and visitors each year.

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the nation. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate in order to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

What does an Assistant Arboretum Gardener do?

Positions allocable to this class are regularly assigned to assist in the maintenance and development of one or more planted sections which are curated to emulate geographical region from around the world and/or other specialized planting of a botanical garden, display garden, or nature center.

Essential Job Functions

+ Plants, transplants, irrigates, fertilizes, sprays, weeds, prunes, stakes, trains and ties flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees.

+ Uses hand tools such as, pruners, rakes, shovels and related power equipment including chainsaws, weedeaters, blowers, brush clippers.

+ Learns plant identification and botanical names in connection with gardening work in order to assist in observing the condition and needs of plants under care and take action, under direction, to vary or initiate watering, fertilizing, and pest control methods.

+ Mixes and applies pesticides, fertilizers, and growth regulators.

+ Plants, cultivates, mows, edges, weeds, sprays, fertilizes, and renovates lawn areas.

+ Trains volunteers and oversee grounds maintenance workers and/or other staff members and lead them in setting up tables and/or chairs and arranging plants for public events such as plant sales and classes, as needed.

+ Performs minor irrigation repair and irrigation controller programming, as needed.

+ Provides information to visitors regarding plant names or characteristics, as needed.

For more information, please view the classification specification: Assistant Arboretum Gardener (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty/classspecs/1064248)

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

+ One year of gardening* experience in an arboretum, estate garden, botanical garden, retail nursery, or display-oriented public garden.

-OR-

+ Three (3) months of paid or unpaid experience in gardening* or plant nursery work* AND completion of nine (9) semester units or twelve (12) quarter units of botany, horticulture, landscape design, or related subjects at an accredited college.**

DRIVER LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related duties.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Additional points will be given to applicants who possess the following:

+ Additional years beyond the required gardening* experience

+ Experience gardening* in multiple arboreta, botanical, or display garden collection types.

+ typically based on a climate type or region, physical geography type, plant types, theme, etc.

+ Additional relevant semester or quarter units from an accredited college or university or degree** in the field of horticulture, botany, ecology, or a closely related subject.

+ Relevant certifications or current licenses**

+ such as, but not limited to...

+ Regulated Licenses

+ California DPR Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or Certificate (QAC)

+ Certificates

+ UC Master Gardener

+ California Native Plant Landscaper Certificate (CNPLC)

+ ISA Certified Arborist

+ ISA Certified Master Arborist

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Gardening or Plant Nursery Work are defined ascultivation and maintenance of individual plants, which require a level or specialized plant knowledge of horticulture, botany, and specific plant care. This is not to be confused with groundskeepingwhich is typically general property maintenance using variety of tools and power equipment for lawn care, hedge trimming, and litter or debris clearance.

** For Option II or the Desirable Qualifications, to demonstrate that you currently have the required units or degree,please upload a legible copy of your official transcripts which shows the units completed in the specialize courses. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit:https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812\_PPG123.pdf ; andhttps://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105\_PPG\_123\_ACE\_Resource\_Guide.pdf ; To receive credit for any of the listed certificates or licenses, please also provide a legible copy your certificate(s) or license(s).

You may also submit this documentationwithin 10 business days from the end of the filing periodto [email protected] "Asst Arbo Gardener - Docs" in the subject line and include applicant's name and the exam number in the body of the e-mail.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to application or e-mail.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

The application includes a supplemental questionnaire at the end.

+ Responses will be evaluated to ensure job requirements are met.

+ Responses will also be evaluated to generate a score using a standardized system, based on the required and desirable qualifications.

+ All requested and pertinent information must be submitted to ensure accurate evaluation.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:

No withholds will be allowed. Required experience and education must be fully met by the last day of filing.

OUT-OF-CLASS INFORMATION:

If performed work differs from the duties described in a job title's class specifications, and qualifies for this opportunity, out-of-class duties must be described in detail in the Work Experience and Supplemental Questions sections of the application.

PHYSICAL CLASS III - Moderate:

This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stopping, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

VETERAN'S CREDIT:

Veterans may be eligible for Veteran's Credit, which is an additional 10% of the total points added to a passing score. In order to be considered for Veteran's Credit,we will need a copy of the applicant's form DD214 to review.A clear, legible scan or picture the form DD214 must be uploaded to the application or e-mailed to the exam analyst [email protected] soon as possible so, if you are eligible for veteran's credit, we can include it before promulgating the list of eligible candidates. If e-mailed, the message must include "Asst. Arbo. Gardener - Vet. Credit" in the subject line and the applicant's name and the exam number in the body.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of 1 part:

Training & Experience Evaluation:

This assessment type will evaluate training, experience, and education listed on the Supplemental Questionnaire and assign a score based on a standardized scoring system. This evaluation is worth 100% of the total score and evaluates: Gardening Experience, Relevant Education, Certifications, and Licenses.

Applicants MUST meet the requirements AND achieve the passing score of 70% or higher to be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBILITY & VACANCY INFORMATION:

Candidates receiving a passing score will be placed on a list in the order of the score group for a period of 12 months. The resulting list will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Parks and Recreation department as they occur.

APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION:

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Interested candidates can apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. This website also allows for tracking application status updates.

The application and supplemental questionnaire must be filled out completely. Relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and a clear description of work performed, must be provided.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the requirements or class specification as work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements.Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

CORRESPONDENCE VIA E-MAIL:

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application. It is important that a valid email address is provided.Applicants who choose to unsubscribe or opt out of receiving our emails, may view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence.

To prevent emails from going to spam or junk folders, applicants should add the listed domains and email addresses as authorized senders in their contacts:

+ [email protected]

+ [email protected]

+ [email protected]

Note: Test scores cannot be given over the telephone.

New or updated email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to GovernmentJobs.com and following the prompts. This is to improve the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER & USER ID:

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. It must be included when applying. All applicants must file their application online, using their own Social Security Number, User ID, and Password. Using a family member's or friend's information may erase an applicant's original application.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Department Contact Name:Francis Sanchez

Department Contact Number:(626) 588-5115

Department Contact Email: [email protected]

ADA Coordinator Phone:(626) 588-5109

Teletype Phone: (213) 427-6118

California Relay Services Phone: (800)735-2922

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/.

Testing Accommodations for Applicants:

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/.

Fair Chance:

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility:

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder:

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application athttp://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.

Veteran’s Credit:

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

For more information on veteran’s credit, please visit:https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205102\_PPG\_115.pdf

Revised September 2025

For detailed information, please clickhere (http://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/)

01

The information provided in the Education section, Work Experience section, and Supplemental Questionnaire will be used to determine eligibility as well as evaluate and determine the exam score.Any mistakes or incomplete information may disqualify the application, even if the qualifying experience is possessed by the applicant.The information provided must be as clear and specific as possible and include all information requested.Comments such as "see resume/application" will NOT be considered as a response.

All information is subject to verification at any time. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

+ I understand the above information and instructions

02

For Option II or the Desirable Qualifications,to demonstrate that you currently have the required units or degree, please upload a legible copy of your official transcriptswhich shows the units completed in the specialize courses. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812\_PPG123.pdf ; and https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105\_PPG\_123\_ACE\_Resource\_Guide.pdf ;

To receive credit for any of the listed certificates or licenses, please also provide a legible copy your certificate(s) or license(s).

You may also submit this documentation within 10 business days from the end of the filing period [email protected] "Asst Arbo Gardener - Docs" in the subject line and include applicant's name and the exam number in the body of the e-mail.We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to application or e-mail.

* Deadline to submit via e-mail isMonday, December 2, 2025 at 5:00pm (PT)

+ I understand the above information and instructions

03

In regard to requirement Option I:Do you have at least one (1) year of gardening* experience in an arboretum, estate garden, botanical garden, retail nursery, or display-oriented public garden?

* Gardening is defined as cultivation and maintenance of individual plants which requires a level or specialized plant knowledge of horticulture, botany, and specific plant care.This is not to be confused with Groundskeepingwhich is typically general property maintenance using variety of tools and power equipment for lawn care, hedge trimming, and litter or debris clearance.

+ No gardening experience

+ No, less than 1 year of experience

+ Yes, more than 1 year but less than 2 years

+ Yes, 2 or more years

04

In regard to requirement Option II:Do you have at least three (3) months of paid or unpaid experience in gardening* or plant nursery work*ANDcompletion of at least nine (9) semester units or at least twelve (12) quarter units of botany, horticulture, landscape design, or related subjects at an accredited college**?

* Gardening or Plant Nursery Work* is defined as cultivation and maintenance of individual plants which requires a level or specialized plant knowledge of horticulture, botany, and specific plant care.This is not to be confused with Groundskeepingwhich is typically general property maintenance using variety of tools and power equipment for lawn care, hedge trimming, and litter or debris clearance.

** To receive credit for coursework, please upload a clear, legible scan or picture of the official diploma or official transcripts to the application or e-mail within 10 business days of the filing end date per Question #2.

+ No, No required units AND/OR, No Gardening Experience

+ No, Less than 9 semester/12 quarter units AND/OR, Less than 3 mos experience

+ Yes, 9 semester/12 quarter units or more AND more than 3 mos, but less than 15 mos of experience

+ Yes, 9 semester/12 quarter or more units AND over 15 mos of experience

05

If you answered YES to Question #3 or #4, please provide the following information for each position where this experience was gained:

• Position/Job Title:

• Name of Organization/Company:

• Dates of Employment: Start MO/YEAR - End MO/YEAR

• Average Hours Worker Per Week:

• Specific type(s) of Garden(s) cultivated:

• Duties & Job Functions:

If you worked multiple Gardening positions, please provide all requested information for each position held.

If you answered NO to both #3 & #4, please write "N/A" HINT: Drag bottom right corner to expand response text box.

06

Have you completed required (Option II) or desired units in botany, horticulture, landscape design, or related subjects at an accredited college*?

* To receive credit for coursework or degrees please upload a clear, legible scan or picture of the official diploma or official transcripts to the application or e-mail within 10 business days of the filing end date per Question #2.

+ No units completed

+ Less than 9 semester or 12 quarter units completed

+ At least 9 semester/12 quarter units, but less than 18 semester/24 quarter units completed

+ 18 semester/24 quarter units or more completed

07

Have you earned a Degree in botany, horticulture, landscape design, or a related subject at an accredited college**?

* To receive credit for coursework or degrees please upload a clear, legible scan or picture of the official diploma or official transcripts to the application or e-mail within 10 business days of the filing end date per Question #2.

+ No degree earned in related subject.

+ Yes, Associate Degree or Higher in a related subject.

08

Which of the following certificates or licenses* do you currently possess? Please select the applicable option(s).

* To receive credit for certificates or licenses, please upload a clear, legible scan of the original document to the application or e-mail within 10 business days of the filing end date per Question #2.

+ I do not have a relevant Certificate or License.

+ ISA Certified Arborist

+ ISA Board Certified Master Arborist

+ UC Master Gardener Certificate

+ California Native Plant Landscaper Certificate (Thoedore Payne Foundation)

+ PINA Permaculture Design Certificate

+ DPR Qualified Applicator Certificate

+ DPR Qualified Applicator License

+ Other (Will be evaluated upon receipt per Question #2)

Required Question

Employer

County of Los Angeles

Address

**************

Los Angeles, California, 90010

Website

http://hr.lacounty.gov

Please verify your email addressVerify Email