Equipment Operator

ABOUT US

At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here.

The mission of the Parks and Recreation Department is to provide diverse open space, park, beach and community forest resources, and to enrich people’s lives through a broad array of recreation and community services. The Department manages 1,810 acres of parkland encompassing 60 developed and open space parks, beaches, recreation and sports facilities, as well as the City’s urban forest, parkways and medians programs.

Read more about the Parks and Recreation Department here.

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking an experienced Equipment Operator. Incumbents will operate a variety of power‑driven maintenance and construction equipment for conducting maintenance activities including beach cleaning, loading, hauling, mowing and related operations; to perform general maintenance duties; and to participate in a variety of special maintenance projects.

To view our benefits page .

• Operation and maintenance requirements of power‑driven equipment.
• Practices, methods, and materials used in general construction and maintenance work.
• Traffic laws, ordinances, and rules involved in heavy equipment operations.
• Basic mechanical maintenance and repair techniques.
• Principles of lead supervision and training.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

• Operate a variety of power‑driven equipment.
• Perform a variety of semi‑skilled construction and maintenance tasks.
• Read and interpret maps, sketches, drawings, specifications and technical manuals.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Learn, understand and apply pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

One (1) year of experience performing maintenance work involving the operation of light and heavy construction and maintenance equipment.

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a Class B Commercial driver’s license within six (6) months of appointment.

This position is subject to pre‑employment/pre‑duty drug and ongoing random alcohol testing under the City of Santa Barbara Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or “See Resume” are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate’s employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Parks & Recreation Department.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your  account to view these emails.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026.