Parks Planner Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $95,309.00 - $115,958.00 Annually
Location : Carlsbad, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 08122026
Department: Parks & Recreation
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
The Position
Carlsbad - The Community
The City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County where a great climate, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and abundant natural open space combine with world-class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a charming village atmosphere to create the ideal California experience. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the City of Carlsbad is currently home to about 115,000 residents. The city sets the standard for high-quality local government services and is home to corporate headquarters in technology, life sciences and action sports, supported by a thriving tourism market and nearly 40 percent preserved open space. Thanks to an award-winning growth management plan, the city's infrastructure and services keep pace with development and promote an excellent quality of life.
The Department: The Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department is the steward of approximately 450 acres of parkland, featuring community and historic parks, senior services, playgrounds, multigenerational facilities, aquatic centers, tennis courts, and multi-use fields. Nearly 40 percent of the city is dedicated open space, and the department maintains approximately 40 linear miles of recreational trails. The department is a leading provider of world-class projects, programs, and events that strengthen and build community connectivity. The department has a robust Capital Improvement Program, which includes projects for parks' retrofits, infills, and new developments. The Parks Superintendent will assume a lead role in retrofit projects and a support role in infill and new development project.
You belong in Carlsbad: The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.
The Position: The Parks/Trees Supervisor, supervises the maintenance and enhancement of landscaped areas in public parks, open space, school fields, civic facilities, community gardens, medians, planters, street trees, trails, and beach accesses.
Key Responsibilities
Plan, organize and supervise subordinate personnel in the maintenance and enhancement of the above landscaped areas, including but not limited to: mowing, trimming, weeding, and treating grass, ground covers, shrubs and trees, including the use of chemicals in the control or insects and diseases; planting and transplanting of grass, ground covers, shrubs, and trees; removing and replacing grass, ground covers, shrubs, and trees, as necessary.
Supervise the installation and repair of irrigation systems, recreation equipment, athletic facilities, synthetic turf, and other landscape features.
Select, train, and evaluate assigned personnel; monitor workflow; assign and prioritize work activities; and recommend methods and procedures.
Oversee the accuracy and maintenance of time, material and equipment use records; prepare job estimates and establish priorities for work crews.
Requisition supplies and materials and monitor inventories.
Recommend the purchase of equipment and assist in the development of specifications.
Receive, investigate and resolve complaints.
Check the above landscaped areas for needed maintenance and repair.
Inspect work sites before, during and after completion to assure work is completed in a satisfactory and thorough manner.
Collect data necessary to prepare division budget; monitor and approve expenditures within budget limits.
Ensure the accuracy and retention of various records, and prepare reports as required.
Ensure the adherence of safe work practices by maintenance and office staff.
Assist in the preparation of a variety of bid specifications and contract administration as necessary.
Coordinate field services and maintenance activities with other city departments, divisions and with outside agencies.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Modern methods, practices, materials, equipment, and tools used in the planting, cultivating, propagating, fertilizing, and trimming of grass, ground covers, shrubs, and trees.
• Grass, ground cover, shrub, and tree pests and diseases, and the methods of their control and eradication.
• Irrigation system installation, programming, trouble shooting and repair.
• Basic construction and repair methods, including carpentry, pipe fitting, painting, concrete, masonry and fencing.
• Applicable state and local codes and regulations related to assigned work.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions necessary in the work.
• Principles of organization, administration, budget and personnel management.

Ability to:

• Supervise a landscape and civic facilities maintenance and operations program.
• Determine cost-effective ways for efficient and effective operation of a landscape and civic facilities maintenance program.
• Prepare reports and memorandums.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Supervise, train and evaluate subordinates.
• Read and interpret construction plans and specifications.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Provide prompt, courteous and high level of customer service to residents, stakeholders and co-workers.

Experience & Education
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical background would include:
Four years of increasingly responsible experience in parks, trees, or grounds maintenance, including two years in a supervisory capacity.
Specialized training in landscape and building construction, maintenance, and repair, supplemented by two years of college academic training involving horticulture, park management, and business administration.

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Retirement under the CalPERS program, 2% @ 62 formula, Classic Members (those who are enrolled in CalPERS at another local agency) have the 2% @ 60 formula
• Holidays- 11 scheduled
• Floating Holiday- 2
• Paid vacation
• Executive Leave
• Computer purchase loan
• Tuition reimbursement

A detailed list of our benefits can be found here:
Additional CalPERS information can be found here:
01
Initial in the box below that you acknowledge "see application" and "see resume" are not valid responses to the questions below.
02
What is your highest level of education?

• Attending High School
• High School / GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or Higher
• None of the above

03
Regarding your education, please indicate your area(s) of study in the space below. If you answered "None of the above," please indicate N/A in the space below.
04
How many years of experience do you have managing contractual landscape, tree or other services?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 3
• 3 years but less than 5
• 5 or more years

05
How many years of experience do you have supervising or managing employees?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year, but less than 3
• 3 years, but less than 5
• 5 or more years

06
How many years of experience do you have in parks, trees, or grounds maintenance?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 3
• 3 years but less than 5
• 5 or more years

07
Do you have specialized training in landscape and building construction, maintenance, and repair?

• Yes
• No

08
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please provide details on the type of specialized training you received. If you answered No, please indicate N/A.
09
Do you have any college academic training involving horticulture, park management, and/or business administration?

• Yes
• No

10
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please provide details on the type of academic training you received. If you answered "No", please indicate N/A.
Required Question