City Careers

Working for the City of Santa Cruz

Working with us gives you the opportunity to work with an extraordinary team of people committed to delivering excellence in all services provided to our residents, businesses, and visitors.

If any of the following speak to you, then we encourage you to sign up for e-notifications for City job opportunities:

  • like working outdoors
  • love helping people and solving problems
  • want to help keep the community safe
  • believe in protecting and maintaining environmental and natural resources

Whether it's joining us as a Police Officer, Community Service Officer, Fire Fighter, Water or Wastewater Operator in training, we have a job opportunity for you. Sign up now and check current job opportunities.

Firefighter/Paramedic

Lateral Opportunity Available Now

Learn more about Lateral Opportunity(PDF, 1MB)

Apply Online

Apply online the following attachments at time of application. Note: Applications will be dated as of the date that all three required attachments are submitted.

  1. A valid State of California Paramedic License; licenses from other states or National Registry will not substitute.
  2. Current (within 1 year of recruitment opening date) CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card. Please review schedule and registration information.
  3. A current (within 30 days of recruitment opening date)State of California Department of Motor Vehicles driving record report (3 or 10 year). Official driving records will be accepted from other states; the form must be official/verified and current (within 30 days).

Police Department

Join the City Police Department

Career Opportunities include Police Officer and Community Service Officer. Other positions that support the Police department include Records Technicians, and administrative staff such as Analysts and Assistants.

  • Serve and protect your community
  • Signing Bonuses
  • Education Pay
  • Bilingual Pay
  • and more!

Learn more by visiting the Police Department webpage.

Wastewater Careers

Start Your New Career Today!

Job Application(PDF, 214KB)

The Wastewater Treatment Facility provides state-of-the-art wastewater treatment for the City of Santa Cruz and for Capitola, Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos and UCSC. Come join our dynamic team motivated by a strong environmental ethic. Dedicated staff throughout our organization lead the way in environmental action based on the latest scientific research and accomplished with appropriate uses of technology.

We welcome you to a virtual tour of our facility led by our Operations staff:

You can also learn more about us in this video or in our latest edition of Neighborhood News(PDF, 617KB).

All positions within the facility require certification, which is gained by a combination of study, on- the-job training and examination by the State of California. Typical duties for Plant Operators include monitoring, reading and calculating the flow of water or sewage through the plant by meters, gauges and visual inspection; operating pumps and valves to regulate flow and adjust chemical feeding according to established standards; and collecting samples and making routine chemical and physical tests monitoring for changing conditions and chemical feed requirements.

For Wastewater Plant Operator Career Path

  1. Learn how to become certified as a Wastewater Plant Operator
  2. Find out how to obtain experience needed to earn certification
  3. Take classes via the internet prior to taking certification tests. California State University at Sacramento (CSUS) is recommended by the department as the best place for distance learning.
  4. Review City of Santa Cruz Job Descriptions for City requirements and career path:
    • Wastewater Plant Operator in Training/I/II/III

For Mechanical Tech, Electrical/Instrument Tech, Collection Tech Career Paths

  1. Learn how to become certified as a Mechanical Technologist, Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist, or Collection System Maintenance 
  2. Access  education and experience requirements, study references and FAQs
  1. Review City of Santa Cruz Job Descriptions for City requirements and career paths:
    • Wastewater Facilities Mechanical Technician I/II
    • Wastewater Facilities Electrical Technician I/II
    • Wastewater Facilities Instrumentation Technician I/II
    • Wastewater Collection Maintenance Trainee/Technologist I/II
    • Wastewater Collection Mechanical Tech II

Additional Information

For further information about any Wastewater career path, contact HR Department staff HR@santacruzca.gov

Water Careers

Water Treatment Career Paths

  1. Learn about state water certification requirements. Link includes steps in certification process, list of exam dates, and exam application form.
  2. Take water specific classes at Gavilan College (Gilroy) or by distance learning. California State University at Sacramento (CSUS) is recommended by department as the best place for related distance learning. Below you will find more options for distance learning. List of online education providers, recommended reading, and range of knowledge required for each level of certification on the SWRCB website listed in #1 above.
  3. Review City of Santa Cruz entry level job descriptions for required certification and career paths:
    • Water Meter Specialist
    • Water Treatment Operator in Training/II/III/IV
    • Water Distribution Operator in Training/II/III

Water Production

The Water Production Section operates and maintains water storage, diversion, collection, pumping, and treatment facilities from all sources throughout the system. Our system includes the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant, which can process up to 16 million gallons of water per day and is the only conventional water treatment plant on the Monterey Bay.

Water Distribution

The Water Distribution Section maintains and operates all transmission and distribution mains throughout the water piping network. Water Distribution also maintains and operates all service lines, hydrants and valves.

Additional Distance Learning Options

Plant Maintenance, Mechanical Tech, Electrical/Instrumentation Tech Career Paths

  1. Certification. Learn about what you need to qualify, what you need to pass the test, and list of study materials Certification Candidate Materials Find out how to earn certification.
  2. Apply. Review related City of Santa Cruz job descriptions for required certification and career paths:
    • Water Facilities Electrical/Instrumentation Technician
    • Water Facilities Mechanical Technician II/III
    • Senior Electrician
    • Service Maintenance Worker
    • Utility Maintenance Technician

Additional Certification Questions?

City’s Water Treatment Division

Contact the Superintendent of Water, Plant and Production at (831)420-5455 for information about certification, coursework, correspondence course, and examples of required manuals for classes. The Water Treatment Facility is currently currently undergoing some major construction and are not offering public tours at this time. They hope to offer them again late next fall, or early winter.

City’s Water Distribution Division

Contact Miguel Valencia, Water Distribution Supervisor at 831-420-5563 or by email for additional information about certification, coursework, and correspondence course work for distribution certifications.

Career Application and Salary Information

Visit the City of Santa Cruz Human Resources for job opportunities including salaries and benefits.

Contact the Human Resources Department for further information HR@santacruzca.gov.

 
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