Park Specialist

An employee in this position will be responsible for daily parks and facilities maintenance. The Park Specialist I performs a wide variety of semi-skilled tasks to provide day-to-day maintenance and operation of park grounds, facilities and programs. Park Specialists perform a variety of specialized task including tasks associated with the irrigation system, spray application, general landscaping and maintenance, etc. Due to the District's response role and in the total scope of emergency management, this position may at times, be required to provide support before, during and after major storm events and emergency situations, such as hurricanes or other declared emergencies, depending on assigned emergency response role.

Essential functions include but are not limited to

• Operates general landscaping equipment and completes landscaping tasks within park grounds.
• Assists Park users, responding to questions, as necessary.
• Enforces District Park regulations and policies.
• Performs facility and custodial maintenance as needed including trash collection and removal.
• Special events assistance (set up and tear down equipment, attend event as on-duty staff).
• Safely operates parks equipment including vehicles, pick-up trucks, and small hand tools.
• Opening and closing of park facilities, as needed.
• Services and cleans equipment and small hand tools utilized in the maintenance and operation of the park system.
• Performs athletic field preparation; planting, mowing, watering, repair of irrigation systems, buildings and park structures.
• Continuous and on-going departmental projects and cross-training.
• Lays sod, applies grass seed, fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides and herbicides
• Mows, edges, blows, waters, weeds, aerates and fertilizes parks and grounds, athletic field turf, general park areas etc.
• Member of the Hurricane Preparedness Team
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Experience in operating commercial landscaping equipment, and the safe use of small hand and power tools.
• Ability to meet “Drug-Free Workplace” standards.
• Ability to perform manual labor for extended periods in all types of weather conditions, including extreme heat, and adverse weather such as tropical storms, floods, etc.
• Ability to maintain punctuality and complete work hours as scheduled, including weekends (rotating shifts).
• General knowledge of methods, materials and practices used in parks and grounds, clay/turf athletic fields and courts and general park maintenance
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written direction
• Position may require possession of Florida Restricted Use Pesticide License and/or Fertilizers Applicators License
• Current First Aid & CPR certifications or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.

• Must possess the supervisory skills necessary to accomplish the District’s mission.
• General working knowledge of building and facility maintenance
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee works in both indoor and outdoor conditions, near and on machinery, or in high precarious places. The employee will likely be exposed to hot/ dry/ wet/ humid/cold conditions. The employee will occasionally be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, vibration and other potential hazards associated with the maintenance and/or construction of roads and drainage works and other types of construction.

Manual dexterity is necessary in order to manipulate machinery, trucks, and tools. The employee also works in an office setting at times, which may include long hours sitting in one place, utilizing a computer screen. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate, but can be high under certain circumstances. Hand-to-eye coordination is necessary to operate various tools and construction equipment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable…