LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATE

Job Description:

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATE

Description

Position/Program Information

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county in the nation. As the largest employer in Southern California, with more than 42 diverse departments and over 2,300 different job descriptions, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers. We are Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest municipal Public Works agency in the nation. With more than 4,000 employees, Public Works offers over 500 different types of career opportunities that promote professional and personal growth as well as a rewarding and exciting work environment. Don't miss an opportunity to join our team!

EXAM NUMBER

C4049D

FILING PERIOD

We will begin accepting applications on Thursday , February 13, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

Open Competitive (OC) Job Opportunity - We welcome applications from anyone.

Essential Job Functions

A Landscape Architectural Associate is responsible for performing a combination of the following essential functions:

• Reviews and coordinates project requirements by collaborating with project team members, County representatives, and internal and external stakeholders (e.g., County Inspectors, Contract Monitors, Project Managers, community members, etc.) to gather information and understand the needs, goals, costs, and constraints of County projects.
  
  
• Prepares, designs and assists in coordinating the preparation of landscape architectural construction drawings (e.g., construction, grading, drainage, irrigation, and planting plans and details) by collaborating with clients and project team members, reviewing project goals, specifications, and requirements and using applicable technology (e.g., computer-aided design (CAD) software, etc.) to successfully produce accurate and precise drawings that are aligned with project guidelines and goals.
  
  
• Prepares project budget estimates for supervisor review by compiling soft costs, construction costs, and maintenance costs after conducting site analysis, consulting with clients regarding the scope of the project, and researching costs of required materials, equipment, and labor, to ensure compliance with regulations and project constraints.
  
  
• Prepares and assists in coordinating the preparation of special provisions for County construction projects based on Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (e.g. Greenbook standards) and other applicable design guidelines and regulations to successfully produce accurate, compliant, and precise project specifications.
  
  
• Functions as a technical consultant to other Los Angeles County departments, as well as inter-departmental divisions and other external agencies, by providing guidance, feedback, and assisting with recommendations regarding site planning and project development; conducting field investigations and site analysis; and assisting with suggesting functional or economical alternatives where appropriate to ensure Los Angeles County projects are environmentally sustainable and in compliance with local, State, and Federal guidelines.
  
  
• Performs comprehensive on-site field investigations for design, construction, and post-construction phases by gathering necessary data and measurements regarding the conditions of the project site (e.g., topography, soil composition, vegetation, environmental factors, etc.); identifying site-specific challenges and opportunities that may impact design and functionality of landscape; and generating field maps, diagrams, and reports to effectively capture site conditions in all phases of the project.
  
  
• Assists with composing and disseminating information regarding proposed, ongoing, or completed projects and County, City, and State rules, requirements, and regulations by communicating with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. members of the public, officials, etc.) orally and/or in writing (i.e. via presentations, technical reports, e-mail correspondence, etc.) to ensure the public is informed of proposed, on-going, and completed projects.
  
  
• Creates visual representations of proposed, on-going, or completed projects (e.g. illustrative plans/sections/details, graphic perspectives, environmental graphics, 3D models, etc.), via hand drawing and the use of applicable software programs (e.g. AutoCAD, Adobe Create Suite, SketchUp, Lumion, etc.) to successfully communicate proposed, on-going or completed projects.
  

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

OPTION I : Graduation from an accredited college* with a degree in Landscape Architecture -AND- one year's experience in the development and preparation of landscape plans under the supervision of a certified landscape architect**.

OPTION II : Any combination totaling five years of related college* training and landscape design experience under the supervision of a landscape architect certified by the State of California***.

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE OR WITHHOLDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS EXAMINATION. REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE LAST DAY OF FILING AND CLEARLY INDICATED ON THE APPLICATION.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION:
* To receive credit for your education, include a copy of your official diploma, official transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution within five (5) business days of filing your application. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf

In order to receive credit for the required degree/coursework, certification, and/or license, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization, and/or a legible copy of the official certificate and/or license at the time of filing or within five (5) business days of filing your application . Please submit documentation to pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov and indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

** A certified landscape architect is a landscape architect who has met the education, work experience, exam, and ethics requirements set by the CLARB (Council for Landscape Architecture) .

*** A landscape architect certified by the State of California is a person or business with a valid California State Certificate to practice landscape architecture.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class “C” Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

Physical Class II - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

DESIREABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• One (1) year of experience or more in the preparation of irrigation plans (which includes irrigation design equipment, components, calculations, and supporting documentation) and ensuring compliance with California's Statewide Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) standards.
• One (1) year of experience or more in the preparation and review of proposed planting design plans that are consistent with permit review requirements, which includes water-use requirements and design considerations. The following is a partial list that demonstrates a candidate's planting design experience: utilized California's Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WULCOLS) database; developed designs for mitigation of fire hazards using Fuel Modification Plant Selection per LA County Fire requirements; applied California’s design standards and requirements, which includes the County Board’s Enhancing Biodiversity and Saving Water with Native Plants at County Facilities (Sept 2022) water conservation policy; as well as other standards and permit requirements for public projects.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, assessing:

• Professional Potential
• Achievement
• Coping with Uncertainty
• Responsibility
• Working to High Quality Standards
• Willingness to Learn
• Working Relationships
• Analyzing Information
• Learning Quickly
• Generating New Ideas
• Using Time Efficiently
• Adapting to Change
• Numerical Reasoning

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND MUST ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION: If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, email pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov before the test date. Write the name of the exam in the subject line of your email. We require a completed “Request for Reasonable Accommodation” form as well as supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the request. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond and keep you moving through the process.

TEST PREPARATION: We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/. The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."
• Online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests.

VETERAN'S CREDIT: If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for veteran’s credit, which is an additional 10% of the total points added to a passing score. We will need a copy of your form DD214 to review, so please include that with your application or email it to pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov .

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. Your score will be valid for twelve (12) months from the date of your assessment results notice.

VACANCY INFORMATION: The list of eligible candidates created from this exam will be used to fill vacancies throughout Los Angeles County Public Works as they occur.

SPECIAL INFORMATION: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment . The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Application & Filing Information:
We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL, AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Please click HERE for additional employment information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed to pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov .

All emails must clearly identify the applicant's name, and the subject line must include the exam name and exam number.

Department Contact Name: Airess Batungbakal

Department Contact Phone: (626) 458-2141

Department Contact Email: pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 458-2141

Teletype Phone: (626) 282-7829

California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 2/27/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$88,605.84 - $113,100.00 Annually