Job Posting: Groundskeeper - Plant Operations - Metropolitan State Hospital - Various

Department of State Hospitals

JC-518882
-
Groundskeeper - Plant Operations - Metropolitan State Hospital - Various
GROUNDSKEEPER

$3,654.00 - $4,534.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 8/30/2026

Job Description and Duties

*IF YOU HAVE ALREADY APPLIED TO THIS POSITION BASED ON THE PREVIOUS ADVERTISEMENT, YOUR APPLICATION REMAINS UNDER CONSIDERATION AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO RE-APPLY*


Metropolitan State Hospital is located in Norwalk, Los Angeles County.

The Department of State Hospitals – Metropolitan, Plant Operations Department, is accepting applications for the Groundskeeper, Permanent/Full Time position(s).

Under the supervision of the Supervising Groundskeeper I, the incumbent will plant, cultivate, water and spray ornamental plants, shrubs, hedges, trees, and flowers. The incumbent will plant and care for lawns (mowing, edging and spraying for weed control); rake leaves, hoe weeds, and perform general grounds maintenance work, including trimming trees, hedges, shrubs, and erects tree supports; sprinkler maintenance and installation; and other various duties as required.

Training and Development (T&D): Individuals who are eligible for a T&D assignment may also be considered for this position. T&D assignments may be considered for current State employees. If you are a current State employee interested in a T&D assignment, you are not required to meet the Minimum Qualifications; however, you must indicate T&D as your eligibility when applying. Please see the “Training and Development (T&D) Information” section below for more details.


Minimum Qualifications:

Either I: Six months of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Service Assistant (Maintenance).

Or II: One year of experience in flower gardening and general grounds maintenance work.

Or III: Successful completion of a formal vocational training program in flower gardening and general grounds maintenance work such as those operated under the Manpower Development Training Act, the Work Incentive Program, or similar programs operated by State, Federal, or local agencies through school districts.

Or IV: Education: Completion of a two-year curriculum in ornamental horticulture or landscape work at the junior college or college level. (Persons registered in the last year of the required curriculum will be admitted to the examination, but must produce evidence of completion of the required education before eligible for appointment.)

Eligibility Examination: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must have eligibility by way of: permanent civil service status, be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the announcement as of the date this test is taken.

 

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ELIGIBILITY, YOU MUST TAKE THE EXAM. The examination is a separate process from applying for this vacancy. Please carefully read and follow the instructions for each process.

 

Click here to take the exam: Groundskeeper Exam Bulletin

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The employee is required to work any shift and schedule in a variety of settings throughout the hospital and may be required to work overtime and float to other work locations as determined by the operational needs of the hospital. Further inquiries may be directed to the hiring manager during the onsite interview.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-518882
Position #(s):
487-557-0731-XXX
Working Title:
Groundskeeper - Plant Operations - Metropolitan State Hospital - Various
Classification:
GROUNDSKEEPER
$3,654.00 - $4,534.00 A
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
Multiple
Work Location:
Los Angeles County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
DSH - Metropolitan

Department Information

Opened in 1916, DSH-Metropolitan State Hospital is in the vibrant community of Norwalk, 15 miles east of Los Angeles. To the south are entertainment venues like Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, the marinas and beaches of Huntington, Newport and Laguna. To the west are Palos Verdes and Marina Del Rey.

 

DSH-Metropolitan State Hospital has an open campus within a security perimeter. The hospital operates approximately 826 beds. The commitment categories of patients treated at DSH-Metropolitan: Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, Incompetent to Stand Trial (PC 1370), Offenders with Mental Health Disorders (Penal Code Section 2964/2972/2974), Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (PC 1026).

 

Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: DSH Recruitment Survey

Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

Unless there is a specific request to be notified via USPS mail, our main contact will be via email. Email correspondence regarding this job posting will primarily come from MSH.Recruitment@dsh.ca.gov. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their voicemails, email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.

 

Employees applying for this position who wish to be considered on a transfer basis must meet the minimum qualifications and all transfer rules. You may also be required to provide additional documents, such as copies of your college transcripts during the screening process when applicable. Please provide proof of the highest paying class you were permanently appointed to from an eligible list.

All Examination and/or Employment Application forms must include: “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year); time base; and civil service class titles. Examination and/or Employment Application forms received without this information will be rejected. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed Examination and/or Employment Application (STD. 678) form.

 

Note: If you are applying for multiple positions, you must complete a STD 678 for each position separately. Incomplete applications or applications received with multiple positions listed on one application will not be considered.

EMAILED OR FAXED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

 

Applicants are responsible for obtaining proof of mailing or submission of their applications to MSH-Human Resources Department, Selection Services Unit. Confirmation/receipt of USPS mailed submittals can only be provided for by Certified Mail.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 8/30/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of State Hospitals
DSH - Metropolitan
Attn: HR-Selection Services Unit
11401 South Bloomfield Ave
Norwalk, CA 90650

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of State Hospitals
DSH - Metropolitan
Attn: HR-Selection Services Unit
11401 South Bloomfield Ave
Norwalk, CA 90650
Closed Weekends & State Holidays
07:30 AM - 04:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Working for the State offers great opportunities, generous benefits, and career development. Benefits information may be obtained by going to California-State-Civil-Service-Employee-Benefits-Summary.aspx

In addition, you can look forward to:

*Free parking

*Free onsite gym

*Free onsite electric vehicle chargers

*Rideshare Resources

*Convenient to public transportation

*Located near major freeway access

*Multiple eateries within walking distance

 

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Selection Services Unit
(562) 521-1814
MSH.Recruitment@dsh.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Coordinator
(562) 455-4147
Yesenia.Mazariegos@dsh.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Training and Development (T&D) Information

T&D assignments are temporary assignments of up to 24 months for purposes of training and providing career advancement opportunities to prepare permanent civil service employees for future promotions into new occupational fields. DSH encourages the use of T&D assignments to provide employees with the opportunity to obtain any or a combination of the following:

 

  1. Experience necessary to satisfy the experience component of the minimum qualifications of the Training and Development classification or to gain preferred or desirable competencies.
  2. Broader or more specialized competencies that will improve the employee's performance in their current position and classification.
  3. Experience that would prepare the employee for future promotion.
  4. Experience to facilitate the employee's entry into a new occupational or career-related field.

 

Applicants interested in applying as a T&D assignment must have permanent status in their “current class” to be eligible. An employee currently in a Limited Term position is not eligible for a T&D assignment. The employee may, but is not required to, satisfy the minimum qualifications of the T&D classification; except, the employee shall possess any licensure, certificate, or similar credential that is a component of the minimum qualifications.

 

Training and Development (T&D) assignments may be considered for this position for current California civil service employees. T&D assignments cannot exceed 24 months. However, successful T&D candidates may transition to a permanent appointment, if eligible at the end of the T&D assignment.

 

To ensure that your application will be considered for a T&D assignment in this recruitment, you must complete the STD 678 employment application in its entirety and include “Training & Development” in the job title section of the application.  

 

Failure to indicate required information on the STD 678 or submit all items by the Final Filing Date may result in elimination from the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job