Entry Level Public Works Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $57,951.96 - $70,440.96 Annually
Location : City of Coachella Corporate Yard - 53-462 Enterprise Way Coachella CA 92236, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00072
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 07/06/2026
Closing Date: 7/20/2026 6:00 PM Pacific
Description
***DISCLAIMER: The City reserves the right to accelerate or extend the "Closing Date" of open positions at any time, dependent upon the number of applications received.
The finalist must pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen, and background check.
Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of work in the construction, modification, maintenance, and repair of City parks and related facilities, including park facilities and buildings, sports fields, open spaces, and recreation trails. Includes repair of City infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, roadway base and sub-base, guard rails, asphalt pavement, crack seal application, concrete repair, traffic and street sign installation and repair, pavement markings, graffiti removal, and/or stormwater and drainage systems and facilities; uses and operates a variety of manual and power tools and light to heavy power driven equipment; and performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct or general supervision from assigned management and supervisory staff. Exercises no supervision of staff. May provide technical and functional direction to assigned staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker Trainee: This is the entry-level class in the public works maintenance worker series. Under direct supervision, incumbents learn to install, maintain, and repair City infrastructure, such as streets, storm drains, sidewalks, and traffic signage, and remove graffiti according to City practices and procedures, as well as State and Federal regulations. Since this class is used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker I: This is the first working-level class in the public works maintenance series. Under general supervision, incumbents perform basic maintenance and repair of City infrastructure, systems, and facilities according to City practices and procedures, as well as State and Federal regulations. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the II level, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker II: This is the full journey-level class in the public works maintenance series that performs the full range of duties required to ensure that City infrastructure, systems, and facilities to which assigned, are maintained in a safe and effective working condition and provide the highest level of safety for public use. Responsibilities include inspecting and attending to assigned areas in a timely manner, and performing a wide variety of tasks in the maintenance and repair of assigned facilities and systems. Positions at this level are distinguished from the I level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from Senior Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker in that the latter is responsible for technical and functional supervision of lower-level maintenance staff and is capable of performing the most complex duties assigned to the division.
Positions in the Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker class series are flexibly staffed, and positions at the I and II level are normally filled by advancement from the Trainee and I level, respectively, requiring additional years of experience and after gaining the knowledge, skill, experience, licenses, and certifications which meet the qualifications for and after demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class. When filled from the outside, the employee is required to have prior related experience that allows the employee to meet the qualification standards for the I or II level.
Examples of Essential Functions
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Performs construction, maintenance, and repair activities of City parks and related facilities to ensure safe and efficient access for the public, including park facilities and buildings, sports fields, open spaces, and recreation trails.
• Performs turf maintenance duties, including watering, mowing, weeding, trimming, aerating, renovating, and fertilizing turf.
• Performs shrub and flower bed maintenance, including planting, watering, fertilizing, and maintaining landscaped areas such as bushes, trees, flowers, and shrubs; performs weed abatement using a chemical sprayer.
• Trims and prunes bushes, trees, and shrubs to provide clearance of sidewalks and signs, as well as to ensure the continued health of the bush, tree, or shrub.
• Removes fallen trees, stumps, fallen limbs, and related debris resulting from storm damage and general conditions.
• Cleans and maintains restrooms; stocks restrooms with necessary supplies; repairs and replaces plumbing fixtures, sinks, toilets, faucets, and pipes; clears obstructions from plumbing systems.
• Performs skilled construction work on parks and recreation facilities and buildings, including framing and installing walls, partitions, doorways, and windows; patches and repairs roofs; replaces broken windows as necessary.
• Pours and finishes concrete structures related to parks and recreation facilities; repairs concrete flatwork including the preparation of subgrades and setting forms for and finishing sidewalks, slabs, drives, and ramps.
• Repairs and constructs brick and block masonry walls, structures, and retaining walls.
• Repairs and installs electrical lighting systems and fixtures.
• Maintains and vacuums City swimming pools, tests chemical balances, and adds chemicals as required; repairs drinking fountains, plumbing systems, and City decorative fountains.
• Performs maintenance and repair of irrigation systems; changes and adjusts sprinkler heads; maintains controllers; participates in performing system installation and maintenance projects.
• Installs and maintains playground equipment, picnic tables, barbecue pits, public address equipment, and related parks equipment and facilities; repairs and paints playground equipment, fences, trail fences, and related parks equipment and facilities; inspects playgrounds for hazardous objects to ensure the safety of the public.
• Paints park buildings and other facilities; removes graffiti in parks and in other areas; power-washes hard surfaces.
• Rakes leaves and clears debris from walkways, fields, and other facilities.
• Opens parks and restrooms, and raises flags daily; picks up trash and empties barrels.
• Assists in the set-up and removal of equipment and facilities needed for special events.
• Inspects assigned City infrastructure for safety issues, structural integrity, and possible future work projects and programs, and appropriately marks areas that need to be repaired.
• Removes graffiti using state of-the-art computerized equipment to color match and otherwise abate graffiti.
• Operates and maintains specialized vehicles and a variety of light, medium, and heavy equipment related to the construction, maintenance, and repair of construction systems and facilities.
• Operates a variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignment as instructed.
• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required.
• Maintains public facilities, shop and garage areas, storage sites, and other work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including securing equipment at the close of the workday.
• Installs street barricades and cones and controls traffic around work sites and special events to ensure safe conditions for the general public and City workers.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Maintains accurate logs and records of work performed and materials and equipment used.
• Responds to after-hours emergencies.
• Performs duties of a disaster worker in event of an emergency.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Maintenance principles, practices, tools, and materials for maintaining and repairing parks, streets and roadways, including sidewalks, curbs and gutters, asphalt pavement, crack seal application, concrete repair, traffic and street sign installation and repair; as well as stormwater and drainage systems and facilities, including concrete and open channels, drains, retention basins, drop inlets, and related facilities, systems, and appurtenances.
• Principles, practices, tools, and materials for maintaining and repairing assigned City infrastructure, systems, and facilities, including electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, masonry, and irrigation.
• Operational characteristics of specialized public works maintenance and repair equipment.
• Traffic control procedures and traffic sign regulations.
• The operation and minor maintenance of a variety of hand and power tools, vehicles, and light to heavy power equipment.
• Operational characteristics of specialized construction maintenance and repair equipment.
• Occupational hazards and safety equipment and practices related to the work, including the handling of hazardous chemicals and safe driving rules and practices.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Basic mathematics.
• Basic computer software related to work.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.

Ability to:

• Perform construction, modification, maintenance, and repair work on assigned municipal infrastructure, facilities, systems, and/or appurtenances.
• Operate specialized construction maintenance and repair and graffiti abatement equipment.
• Interpret and apply the policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions.
• Set up and operate traffic area construction zones, including cones, barricades, and flagging.
• Locate underground utilities by use of blue prints and electronic locating equipment in accordance with Underground Service Alert (USA) regulations.
• Read, interpret, and apply technical information from manuals, drawings, specifications, layouts, blueprints, and schematics.
• Troubleshoot maintenance problems and determine materials and supplies required for repair.
• Make accurate arithmetic calculations.
• Safely and effectively use and operate hand tools, mechanical equipment, power tools, and light to heavy equipment required for the work.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Follow department policies and procedures related to assigned duties.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker Trainee, I, and II: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker Trainee: Some experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of concrete, asphalt, buildings, landscapes, or other related area is desirable.
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker I: One (1) year of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of concrete, asphalt, buildings, landscapes, or other related public works facilities and/or infrastructure.
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker II: In addition to the above, two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of concrete, asphalt, buildings, landscapes, or other related public works facilities and/or infrastructure equivalent to that of a Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker I at the City of Coachella.
Licenses and Certifications:
Public Works Parks Maintenance Worker Trainee, I, and II:
Valid California Class C driver's license with satisfactory driving record and automobile insurance.
Physical Demands/Environmental Elements/Working Conditions
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in the field; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work in confined spaces and around machines, to climb and descend ladders, to operate varied hand and power tools and construction equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various City sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person