ASSISTANT ARBORETUM GARDENER

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

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
      • US 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 as cultivation 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 groundskeeping which 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 ; 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 to fsanchez@parks.lacounty.gov with "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 at fsanchez@parks.lacounty.gov as 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:

• fsanchez@parks.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• noreply@governmentjobs.com

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: fsanchez@parks.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 588-5109
Teletype Phone: (213) 427-6118
California Relay Services Phone: (800)735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 11/14/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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