Maintenance Worker I

The City of Tehachapi is seeking qualified candidates for one (1) full-time Maintenance Worker position assigned to the Landscape & Grounds Division of the Public Works Department. 

Candidates with previous irrigation system installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Opportunity:

This is an excellent opportunity to join a stable, team-oriented organization where your work directly contributes to the appearance, functionality, and quality of the City's public spaces.

As part of the Public Works Department's Landscape & Grounds Division, you will help maintain City parks, landscaped areas, medians, public grounds, facilities, and irrigation infrastructure throughout the community.

The successful candidate will perform a variety of landscape and grounds maintenance activities and will work closely with the City's Irrigation Systems Specialist, assisting with the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of irrigation systems.

The City is particularly interested in candidates who have hands-on irrigation experience and are interested in continuing to develop their skills in irrigation system maintenance, repair, water conservation, and municipal landscape operations.

The Maintenance Worker I is an entry-level position that performs a variety of semi-skilled landscape, grounds, irrigation, and general maintenance duties under supervision.

Work assignments will primarily include:

• Irrigation Maintenance & Repair: Assist with the installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of irrigation systems, including sprinkler heads, valves, piping, controllers, wiring, drip irrigation, and related components.
• Irrigation System Support: Work alongside and assist the Irrigation Systems Specialist with locating leaks, repairing broken irrigation lines, replacing sprinkler heads and valves, troubleshooting irrigation problems, and performing preventative maintenance.
• Irrigation Installation: Assist with trenching, excavation, installation of irrigation piping, valves, sprinkler heads, wiring, sleeves, and other irrigation infrastructure.
• Landscape & Grounds Maintenance: Perform mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, weed control, planting, cleanup, and general maintenance of City parks, landscaped areas, medians, facilities, and other public property.
• Plant & Landscape Care: Assist with planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, turf, flowers, and other landscape materials and identifying areas requiring maintenance or corrective action.
• Water Conservation: Assist with identifying irrigation leaks, broken or damaged components, excessive watering, runoff, and other conditions that may contribute to unnecessary water use.
• Equipment & Tool Operation: Safely operate City vehicles, mowers, trenchers, landscape equipment, hand tools, power tools, and other equipment used in irrigation and grounds maintenance activities.
• General Public Works Support: Assist with special events, emergency response, maintenance projects, and other Public Works activities as assigned.

Employees are expected to practice safe work habits, properly use required personal protective equipment, follow City policies and procedures, work effectively as part of a team, and provide excellent customer service to the community.

Irrigation Experience is Highly Desirable

The City is particularly interested in applicants with previous hands-on experience involving irrigation systems. Experience with any of the following would be beneficial:

• Irrigation system installation and repair
• PVC irrigation piping and fittings
• Sprinkler heads, rotors, drip systems, and emitters
• Irrigation valves and valve replacement
• Irrigation controllers
• Irrigation wiring and basic troubleshooting
• Leak detection and irrigation line repair
• Trenching and excavation
• Landscape and grounds maintenance
• Water conservation practices

Advanced irrigation certifications or experience with municipal irrigation management systems are not required for this position.

Relevant experience may have been obtained through landscaping companies, irrigation contractors, golf courses, school districts, parks and recreation agencies, commercial property maintenance, municipal operations, or similar work environments.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Mobility: frequent performance of heavy manual labor; frequent standing for long period of time; frequent bending and squatting. Lifting: frequent lifting up to 60 pounds; occasional lifting up to 100 pounds, depending on assignment. Vision: constant use of overall vision. Dexterity: frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person. May be required to wear ear protection or hear in noisy conditions. Emotional/ Psychological: frequent coworker contact; occasional working alone. Environmental: frequent exposure to loud noise; frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a typical outdoor environment on a year-round basis subject to typical street or field noise and environment including exposure to loud equipment and machinery. Some work may occur at remote locations. Positions may require occasional overtime and weekend work and travel is rare.