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Principal Gardener

SALARY DETAILS

Minimum Salary $31.91 hourly
Maximum Salary $39.22 hourly

APPLICATION FILING DATES

Application open date: 05/29/2026
Application close date: 06/12/2026

INFORMATION ABOUT LAUSD

We are LAUSD. We are at the forefront of innovation in public education, focused on a clear and inspiring vision of the future for all of our students as they venture forward on their journey as lifelong learners. Here, you will have the opportunity to exercise your potential in a role supporting the business of education. Our work directly contributes toward the goal of ensuring that our students graduate ready for the world – ready to thrive in college, career and life. LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation with an enrollment of nearly 575,000 students. We serve an area totaling 710 square miles, with over 1,190 schools and educational centers, and we employ over 74,000 individuals, making us one of the largest employers in our city.

 

LAUSD EMPLOYEES:
Please be advised that all LAUSD employees must sign in to the GlobalProtect Virtual Private Network (VPN) in ordertosubmitanapplicationfrom an external network outside of an LAUSD location. For assistance with installing the GlobalProtectvirtualnetwork,pleasecontactInformation Technology Services at (213) 443-1300 or (213) 241-5200 or via their page(https://www.lausd.org/helpdesk)

BENEFITS

Insurance: Paid premiums for your choice of several medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. Retirement: Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS). Vacation: Full-time employees earn up to two weeks of paid vacation to start. Three weeks after five years of year-round paid service. Paid Holidays: Up to 13 days. 

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

A Principal Gardener supervises gardening personnel, gardening maintenance, and related activities in a designated Maintenance and Operations area.

 

Some of the core duties that job incumbents will perform, may require that he/she:

  • Plans, schedules, and assigns work performed by gardening crews, including landscaping and designing, planting, fertilizing, pruning, weed eradication, irrigation, lawn renovating, stabilization of slopes, mowing, and cleaning of grounds.
  • Determines appropriate assignments for gardening personnel.
  • Inspects gardening and related work and prepares required reports.
  • Establishes priorities for the handling of emergencies, such as fire and tripping hazards.
  • Investigates accidents, recommends preventive measures, and conducts safety meetings.
  • Recommends requisitions for gardening supplies, tools, equipment, controls their issuance; and maintains inventories.
  • Recommends the services of other Maintenance and Operations units, such as tree trimming, landscaping, pest management, and irrigation repair.
  • Prepares estimates and scopes for special landscape projects.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

PROMOTIONAL STATUS IS REQUIRED. You must be a current or retired employee of LAUSD with 130 paid days in regular status in the Classified Service or permanent status in the Certificated Service or have been laid-off within the past 39 months from a regular, permanent LAUSD position in which you passed probation. Laid-off employees' eligibility as a promotional candidate expires at the end of their 39 month period; as such, laid-off employees applying for promotional career opportunities may not be eligible to complete the assessment process or may be removed from the employment eligibility list once their eligibility as a promotional candidate expires.

 

EDUCATION:
Graduation from high school or evidence of equivalent educational proficiency, preferably supplemented by related courses such as supervisor practices, computer essentials, or landscaping provided by LAUSD’s Organizational Excellence Branch or the Division of Adult Education.

 

EXPERIENCE:
Four years of experience in general maintenance gardening including the care of lawns, trees, shrubs, hedges, ground covers, and flowers; including two years of experience as a Los Angeles Unified School District Gardener. Two years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity is preferable.

 

SPECIAL:
A valid driver’s license to legally operate a motor vehicle in the State of California and use of a motor vehicle.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal Principal Gardener will possess broad technical skills and good working knowledge of:

  • Methods of grounds maintenance and gardening, such as landscaping and design, planting, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, and weed control
  • Fire, health, safety, and other laws, regulations, District policies and procedures that may affect students, gardening employees, and other District personnel and property
  • Procedures for the receipt, storage, and disbursement of gardening tools, and equipment
  • Procedures for the maintenance and safe operation of gardening and related equipment
  • Basic personnel and payroll rules and procedures and applicable terms of the appropriate labor agreements
  • Plants suited to the climate of the Los Angeles area
  • Various commonly-used types of turf
  • Soils, fertilizers, and chemical preparations used in gardening operations
  • Irrigation as it relates to plant life
  • Seasonal timing of gardening operations
  • Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

 

Additionally, we are seeking candidates with a demonstrated ability to:

  • Provide effective direction to and coordinate the activities of multiple gardening crews
  • Plan, coordinate, schedule, and inspect gardening-related activities
  • Analyze work methods, equipment and other aspects of gardening and related activities
  • Conduct training programs for gardening personnel
  • Estimate costs of plant materials and labor
  • Prepare reports and write clear, concise instructions
  • Speak clearly and effectively
  • Work effectively with school and other District personnel
  • Maintain an accurate inventory of equipment and material supplies

EMPLOYMENT SELECTION PROCESS

The assessment plan for this position tentatively consists of a Computerized Multiple-Choice Assessment and an Interview.

 

Please be sure to include correspondence from @lausd.net and @successfactors.com as an approved sender so that messages aren't accidentally placed into your spam/junk e-mail folder. We anticipate receiving a number of well qualified applicants for this position; therefore, there will be a competitive process. The hiring departments have requested that we proceed with the selection process in an expeditious and timely manner. To honor this request we will be adhering to a pre-planned employment assessment schedule. If you are unable to attend the scheduled assessment dates, please note that we recruit for this position on a regular basis. We encourage you to visit our website, http://www.lausdjobs.org periodically to check for the next recruitment and we encourage you to apply again. For more information about the LAUSD employment assessment process, visit the hiring process section of our website at http://www.lausdjobs.org.

 

If you have questions regarding the employment selection process, please contact Kailash Malla at kailash.malla@lausd.net

APPLICATION PROCESS

DO YOU NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE ON-LINE APPLICATION? Email us at helpmeapply@lausd.net To find out whether the application deadline has been extended, visit the website at: http://www.lausdjobs.org . The Los Angeles Unified School District intends that all qualified persons shall have equal opportunities for employment and promotion. Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities. Please call (213) 241-3455 for more information.

ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION

The Los Angeles Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct, or bullying. The District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct or bullying based on actual or perceived race or ethnicity, gender/sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation status and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code), ancestry, immigration status, physical or mental disability (including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease), medical condition (cancer related and genetic characteristics), military and veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and above), genetic information, political belief or affiliation (unless union related), a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation in any program or activity it conducts or to which it provides significant assistance. For inquiries or complaints contact our Equal Opportunity Section, (213) 241-7685. Selection and promotion are based on a competitive employment assessment process. Candidates who pass all parts of the assessment process are placed on a hiring (eligibility) list based on their assessment score. Hiring departments may make job offers to candidates on the top three ranks of the hiring list. Eligibility typically lasts for 12 months. The hiring list resulting from this assessment process may be used to fill open positions in related job classifications.

 

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