The City and County of San Francisco’s Recreation & Parks Department and Public Utilities Commission will soon be accepting applications for the 3410 Apprentice Gardener - Fall 2026 cohort, in partnership with LiUNA, Local 261. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply when the job posting is available.
*Information on this page is subject to change. Please review the official job posting carefully and follow all instructions when it becomes available at SF Careers.
Overview
About the Apprentice Gardener Position: The Apprentice Gardener position is a hands-on training role that supports the care and maintenance of parks and natural areas while building skills through supervised, on-the-job learning.
About the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department: The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department manages a nationally renowned, 4,100-acre park system with more than 225 parks and facilities, providing spaces for residents and visitors to gather, play, and enjoy nature.
About the Natural Resources and Lands Management Division: The Natural Resources and Lands Management Division of the SFPUC oversees 61,000 acres of watershed lands and ensures ecological stewardship and environmental compliance to support reliable water service for 2.7 million customers.
Minimum qualifications
All applicants must submit verification of meeting the minimum qualifications.
- ***Meet admission and eligibility requirements for enrollment at City College of San Francisco as follows https://www.ccsf.edu/admissions-recordsregistration/credit-admission:
a. You must be eighteen (18) years old on or before the first day of instruction for the term which you are applying; or
b. You are a high school graduate; or
c. You are the equivalent of a high school graduate, i.e., you have passed GED or a state's high school proficiency examination; or
d. You completed a minimum of 120 high school credits and have submitted a permission/consent form. Please visit the High School Programs page for more information.
AND - Possession of a valid California (Class C) driver's license.
***NOTE: If selected for this program, participants must be registered with City College of San Francisco and enrolled in OH50 Introduction to Environmental Horticulture.
WORKING CONDITIONS: The nature of the work may require exposure to inclement weather conditions and may require exposure to hazardous conditions and/or materials which may include feces and/or urine, used syringes, etc. Some positions require safe driving of large trucks or vans. Some positions may require riding mowers and driving small utility vehicles. Some positions may require heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. Some positions may require weekend or shift work.
How to apply
Step 1: Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online when the job posting is available and follow the instructions as prompted.
Step 2: Complete and submit all verification documents as requested, including but not limited to the following:
- Verification of meeting eligibility and entrance criteria for enrollment in City College of San Francisco (i.e. copy of high school diploma, certificate of completion/GED, bachelor's degree, or college transcripts, etc.); AND
- Verification of valid California Class C Driver's License - Applicants must submit a legible copy of their driver's license with photograph clear and visible; AND
- DRIVING HISTORY RECORD PRINTOUT - Applicants are required to submit an original Department of Motor Vehicles driving history record printout. The printout is available from any Department of Motor Vehicles office or online. The printout must be current, dated within one month of the date when requested. The printout must be complete and state the word “End” on the final page of the printout. Applicants who do not submit the DMV printout will not be allowed to move forward in the selection process.
NOTE: Failure to complete ALL steps above will be considered as INCOMPLETE and will be disqualified.
Selection process
Applicants selected to advance in the selection process MUST be available to participate in a written, performance, and oral assessment administered. More specific information (final date/time) will be provided to individuals if invited to advance in this process.