Job Details

Vegetation Field Operations Maintenance Worker III

Position Number: 7052725
Location: San Jose, CA
Position Type: Agriculture - Environmental Science, Ecology & Forestry

Vegetation Field Operations Maintenance Worker III

Valley Water

Salary: $100,006.40 - $127,982.40 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 01973-E

Location: CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Operations and Maintenance

Closing: 4/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Overview:

Are you an experienced Vegetation Maintenance professional with five or more years of experience and a valid Class A driver's license? If so, we encourage you to consider this opportunity with Valley Water.

Maintenance Worker III is an advanced journey-level position responsible for operating a variety of light construction equipment in support of Valley Water's maintenance and construction projects. This role provides agency-wide support for work on creeks, ponds, reservoirs, and other flood control facilities throughout the county.

Assigned to the Vegetation Field Operations Unit, this position performs a broad range of duties supporting Valley Water's vegetation management programs. Responsibilities include vegetation control, integrated vegetation management, arboriculture, native plant revegetation, invasive plant management, and biotechnical erosion control on Valley Water properties.

This is primarily an outdoor position requiring work in varying and sometimes challenging environmental conditions, including heat, cold, and rain. Incumbents may also be required to respond to after-hours flood control emergencies, including nighttime callouts.

As a light equipment operator, the Maintenance Worker III must possess a valid Class A driver's license to operate Valley Water commercial vehicles and to transport light equipment used in vegetation management and flood control projects. Daily equipment operation may include a compactor, water truck, tree truck and chipper, dump truck, and wheel loader. Equipment is used to haul vegetative debris, maintain native plant mitigation sites, support invasive plant management efforts, and assist with Valley Water's sandbag operations.

This position also ultimately requires a Qualified Applicator's Certificate (QAC) in Category C (Right-of-Way) and Category F (Aquatics) to mix and apply herbicides and calibrate spray equipment for vegetation control on Valley Water managed properties.
Our Commitment:
We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water:
Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San Jose, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Operation of vehicles and equipment associated with vegetation management activities.
Support of skilled labor contract work on vegetation management activities.
Calibration of herbicide spray equipment, interpreting pest control recommendations, calculation of herbicide tank mixes, mixing loading and application of herbicides to control undesirable plants.
Supporting the monitoring and assessment of success criteria on mitigation sites.
Providing input on and assisting lead and supervisory staff in tracking daily work accomplishments associated.
Participate in a variety of integrated vegetation management activities using chemical, mechanical, and biological controls to manage native plant revegetation projects, invasive plant management projects, vegetation control projects, tree removals, biotechnical erosion control projects, and overall integrated vegetation management work on Valley Water properties.
Clear brush, weeds, and debris from worksites, canals, ponds, creeks, reservoirs, pipelines, water treatment plants, dams, and other open areas; prune vegetation, perform tree removals including standing or downed trees.
Prepare soil and install native plant revegetation per established plans; maintain mitigation areas to achieve success criteria and meet monitoring requirements.
Install, adjust, and repair irrigation systems, including heads, lines, and controllers.
Operate a variety of small power tools and light equipment, including spray equipment, mowers, chain saws, weed eaters, pole saw, hydro seeder, small trenchers, loader, compactors, water trucks, forklift, straw mulcher, auger, sandbag machine, and chipper; clean, adjust, and perform minor maintenance on light equipment to ensure proper operating condition.
Mix and apply herbicides, and calibration of spray equipment to control the growth of vegetation on and around flood control and water distribution facilities and rights of way.
Build or remove browse cages or other devices to keep wildlife from damaging native plant revegetation sites.
Build phytosanitary benches, fences, irrigation, etc. in support of native plant holding facility.
Participate in Valley Water's sandbag program as needed.
Perform calculations of required work materials; document daily application of chemical use; photo documentation of work, complete work order dailies, best management practices checklists, surveys, forms, and time data entries. Maintain paper and electronic records of work performed.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

Five (5) years of experience in a regulated integrated vegetation management program performing vegetation control activities, invasive plant management, and native plant revegetation projects.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

Participate in a variety of integrated vegetation management activities using chemical, mechanical and biological controls to manage native plant revegetation projects, invasive plant management projects, vegetation control projects, tree removals, biotechnical erosion control projects, and overall integrated vegetation management work on Valley Water properties.
Clear brush, weeds, and debris from worksites, canals, ponds, creeks, reservoirs, pipelines, water treatment plants, dams, and other open areas; prune vegetation, perform tree removals including standing or downed trees.
Prepare soil and install native plant revegetation per established plans; maintain mitigation areas to achieve success criteria and meet monitoring requirements.
Install, adjust, and repair irrigation systems, including heads, lines, and controllers.
Operate a variety of small power tools and light equipment, including spray equipment, mowers, chain saws, weed eaters, pole saw, hydro seeder, small trenchers, loader, compactors, water trucks, forklift, straw mulcher, auger, sandbag machine, and chipper; clean, adjust, and perform minor maintenance on light equipment to ensure proper operating condition.
Mix and apply herbicides, and calibration of spray equipment to control the growth of vegetation on and around flood protection and raw water distribution facilities and rights of way.
Build or remove browse cages or other devices to keep wildlife from damaging native plant revegetation sites. Build phytosanitary benches, fences, irrigation, etc. in support of native plant holding facilities.
Participate in Valley Water's sandbag program as needed.
Perform calculations of required work materials; document daily application of chemical use; photo documentation of work, complete work order dailies, best management practices checklists, surveys, forms, and time data entries. Maintain electronic records of work performed.
Employees have a responsibility for safety; for following safety regulations and safety policies and procedures applicable to their work.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all public employees are required to serve as disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their supervisors or by law.

Ideal Knowledge:

Operations, services, and activities of integrated vegetation management.
Practices, procedures, tools, and equipment used in integrated vegetation management on raw water distribution and flood protection facilities.
Use and application of a variety of herbicides for vegetation control and invasive plant management activities.
Operation characteristics and maintenance requirements of irrigation systems.
Principles, practices, and responsibilities involved in leading the work of assigned staff on native plant revegetation, invasive plant management, biotechnical erosion control, and vegetation control methods.
International Society of Arboriculture ANSI pruning and safety standards.
Various plant diseases and pests.
Cultural, biological, chemical, and mechanical methods for vegetation control activities.
Planting techniques and irrigation assembly and maintenance.
Biotechnical erosion control techniques, including geotextile fabric installation, and hydroseeding.
Integrated pest management strategies.
Best management practices, including ground nesting survey techniques.
Principles and practices of horticulture, arboriculture, and soil restoration.

Ideal Training and Education:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Required License or Certificate

Must have a satisfactory driving record and possess a valid California Class A driver's license with tanker endorsement at the time of hire.

Possession of a Qualified Applicator's Certificate or Qualified Applicator License in Category C issued by the State of California's Department of Pesticide Regulation at the time of hire.

Possession of a Qualified Applicator's Certificate or Qualified Applicator License in Category F issued by the State of California's Department of Pesticide Regulation within 6 months of hire.
To review the Classification Specification, please click here

Vegetation Field Operations Unit (Position Code 1059)
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position requires the individual to be onsite and is typically not a teleworking position.

Selection Process

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.
(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.
Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/scvwd/jobs/5293211/vegetation-field-operations-maintenance-worker-iii