Senior Greenskeeper

Job Description

Description

The position opens Monday, August 31, 2026, and the final filing date is Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:00 pm or after receiving 75 qualified and complete applications, whichever is first.

The City of Sunnyvale is currently recruiting for a regular, full-time Senior Greenskeeper to oversee golf course maintenance activities at the two City owned golf courses. The preferred candidate should possess outstanding leadership skills, enthusiasm and be an innovative thinker. The candidate must be able to multitask between the two courses and communicate effectively both written and orally. It is critical that this person leads by example in the field and can maintain effective working relationships with other City staff and customers. The Senior Greenskeeper is expected to assist staff in both the day-to-day maintenance activities and projects at both courses.

Sunnyvale Golf Course is a par 70 regulation 18-hole course with numerous bunker, dog legs, and water holes. Sunnyvale is a well- manicured test of the player's skill stretching out to 6,225 yards. Sunken Garden Golf Course is a 9-hole, 1,502-yard executive course. Sunken Garden is ideal for the beginner golfer with ample practice facilities and shorter length holes.

City of Sunnyvale Benefits:

• CalPERS retirement pension
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Retiree medical benefit
• 11 paid Holidays
• 30 hours* of Floating Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accruals
• Employee Wellness Programs
• And MORE!

(*Prorated based on date of hire)

Under general direction plans and directs the maintenance activities and operations of City golf courses; supervises golf course maintenance crews; coordinates golf maintenance activities, programs, and projects with other City divisions and departments; and performs related work as required.

This hands-on leadership role is responsible for overseeing and participating in daily turfgrass operations, irrigation management, landscaping, equipment operation, and course conditioning activities. The Senior Greenskeeper is expected to maintain an active presence on the course, working alongside staff to achieve exceptional playing conditions and facility standards.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Senior Greenskeeper is the full supervisory classification in the Greenskeeper series. Incumbents are expected to direct the maintenance activities and operations of both City golf courses by actively participating in the overall maintenance of the golf course and facility grounds. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties, including providing technical and functional supervision. This classification is distinguished from the lower-level Greenskeeper classification in that the latter is the entry-level in the series and does not have full supervisory authority. Senior Greenskeeper is distinguished from the higher-level Golf Operations Manager in that the latter has supervisory and budgetary responsibility for the division.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Plans, develops, implements, and actively participates in a comprehensive maintenance program to provide regularly scheduled maintenance for the City's golf courses, including specialized turf programs for greens, tees, fairways, roughs, bunkers, and surrounding areas.
• Leads daily golf course maintenance operations while maintaining a hands-on approach by working alongside maintenance staff in the field. Participates in daily tasks such as mowing, course setup, bunker maintenance, turf repairs, landscaping, irrigation repairs, and other routine and seasonal maintenance activities to ensure high-quality playing conditions.
• Plans, develops and implements maintenance programs for contiguous areas around the golf courses, including parking lots, clubhouse and storage buildings.
• Prepares and recommends modifications and improvements for the City's golf courses, including tees, fairways, greens, roughs and surrounding areas. Works directly with staff during improvement projects, renovations, and course preparation activities.
• Provides analyses for turf and plant diseases; develops and implements corrective actions; makes recommendations regarding methods of control within a balanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
• Identifies plant pests and provides input to the appropriate staff regarding methods of control within a balanced IPM program. Performs field inspections and works directly with staff to address turf challenges and maintain agronomic standards.
• Prepares, calibrates, and operates spray equipment; safely applies fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and other turf management products to the golf course as needed, following all label instructions, safety regulations, and California Department of Pesticide Regulation requirements.
• Manages the golf course water conservation program, including a computerized irrigation system.
• Evaluates irrigation performance in the field and adjusts to improve water efficiency and turf quality.
• Inspects golf course properties and projects to ensure compliance with established City and California Department of Pesticide regulations.
• Prepares work schedules and directs maintenance activities. Provides guidance, training, and support to staff while working alongside employees to complete maintenance tasks efficiently and safely.
• Prepares employee performance evaluations, identifies training needs, provides hands-on instruction, makes hiring recommendations, and implements disciplinary procedures.
• Responsible for the crew's effective interaction with the public, other crews, and outside construction or maintenance workers.
• Effectively resolves on-the-job problems as they occur; troubleshoots complex maintenance and repair issues and develops solutions or makes recommendations.
• Responsible for ensuring the safety of workers, equipment, and the public at the City's golf courses.

• Participates and contributes to division, departmental and City-wide safety programs; ensures that safety rules and regulations are followed by subordinates.

• Maintains training program and provides hands-on instruction to staff in the safe, productive operation and maintenance of all equipment related to golf course operations. Demonstrates proper equipment use, turf maintenance techniques, irrigation practices, and safety procedures in the field.
• Provides information for use by the Golf Operations Manager in completing annual audits and operation reviews.
• Maintains daily logs and records of work performed and materials used; completes work orders and routine reports as required; utilizes and maintains related computer programs and databases.
• Prepares equipment specifications, makes recommendations for purchase of equipment; develops and implements equipment maintenance programs for specialized golf course equipment.
• Estimates needs for materials, fertilizer and pesticides for the golf courses; orders golf-related items and materials.
• Oversees and inspects the work of contractors at the golf course properties.
• Investigates and resolves customer concerns and/or complaints and responds appropriately within established division guidelines.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Supports and communicates the City's customer service philosophy of Commitment to Excellence to employees and the public.
• Provides Golf Services staff with pertinent seasonal and current golf course conditions, including course related projects or activities that may negatively impact course patrons.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties. The position also requires both near and far vision when operating assigned equipment. Acute hearing is required in both the field and the office. The ability to lift, carry and push tools, equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, such as lifting a bag of concrete or fertilizer, is also required. Additionally, the incumbent in this indoor/outdoor position works in all weather conditions, including wet, heat, and cold. The incumbent may be exposed to fumes, dust, chemicals and air contaminants. The nature of the work may also require the incumbent to climb ladders, use power and noise producing tools and equipment and drive motorized vehicles. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

The base salary for this classification includes pay for potentially hazardous duties as listed in the essential job functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:

Graduation from high school or tested equivalent; AND college level coursework equivalent to three classes in turf management and golf course maintenance and one class in Management/Supervision.

Five years of professional experience in golf course maintenance including two years of supervisory experience.

Knowledge and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of:

• Materials, methods and equipment used in golf course maintenance.
• Golf course construction techniques.
• The rules and etiquette of the game of golf.
• Pesticide application laws and regulations.
• Modern irrigation theory and technology.
• Work safety practices, procedures and regulations.
• Customer service practices.
• Personnel management and record keeping techniques.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of technical and functional supervision, motivation, and training.

Ability to:

• Make sound decisions within established guidelines.
• Complete projects and meet critical deadlines.
• Coordinate schedules and establish and maintain logs.
• Follow complex oral and written directions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Observe workplace rules and safety principles and work in a safe manner.
• Work independently and as a member of a team; function effectively with minimal supervision and use independent reasoning to solve complex problems and develop recommendations for action.
• Motivate, supervise and lead crews and individual workers engaged in golf course maintenance activities.
• Provide technical and functional supervision and training.
• Operate greenskeeping and related golf course equipment and machinery.
• Monitor contract compliance.
• Provide estimates of materials, supplies and labor needs.
• Train and instruct employees in proper golf course maintenance, equipment operation and associated safety techniques.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare clear, accurate and concise reports.
• Identify plant pests and pathogens typically found on the golf course, especially as related to golf greens maintenance.
• Provide customer service in a professional and tactful manner to the public, other City employees, licensees and club members.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Possession and continued maintenance of a current State of California Qualified Pesticide Applicator's Certificate (QAC) in the B (Landscape Maintenance) category.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a current State of California Qualified Pesticide Applicator's Certificate (QAC) in the F (Aquatics) category.
• Possession of a Class A or B membership in Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
• College level degree in Turfgrass Management or related field
  

Application and Selection Process

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & PROCESS

The application submitted must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description in order to move forward in the recruitment process with the City of Sunnyvale. The information provided in the Work Experience, Education, and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application will be used to determine if the application meets the minimum qualifications. A resume, employment history provided elsewhere in the application, or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application.

Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as the posting will close after receiving 75 qualified and complete applications or by Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:00pm, whichever is first.

Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS

Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position.Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Mon day, September 28, 2026 . (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources.)

SELECTION PROCESS

Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in an in-person selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled for the week of October 5, 2026.

Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION

Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). A candidate with education obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense to determine its equivalency in the United States. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search ‘education equivalency verification’ or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA).

For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:

• How to Apply for a City of Sunnyvale Job- YouTube (5:13)

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state, or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 730-7490 or recruitments@sunnyvale.ca.gov .

Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees AssociationSEA

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 9/14/2026 5:00 PM Pacific