Park Maintainer

This position assists with the maintenance of athletic playing fields, playgrounds, facilities, sidewalks, rights-of-ways, streets, parking lots and park lands for Lower Merion Township (Township). Work involves maintaining landscape beds, shrubs, playground equipment, restrooms, natural areas, walkways, and trees. Conducts seasonal work including utilizing pesticides and herbicides and removing leaves and snow.

Works under the general supervision of a Work Leader, Crew Leader and ultimately the Parks Supervisor.

Grades baseball diamonds and lines athletic fields; paints benches and other facility structures.

Cleans and maintains buildings including comfort stations.

Operates parks maintenance equipment and machinery including tractors, large mowers, chain saws and various hand and power tools.

Maintains lawns and fields; plants shrubs and flowers.

Plants grass seed, spreads fertilizer, sprays weeds, and rakes leaves.

Removes leaves and snow from sidewalks, rights-of-way, streets and parking lots.

Cares for, trims and removes invasive saplings, undergrowth and plant material in natural areas; develops and maintains trails.

Performs basic construction tasks including mixing and forming cement, laying bricks and assembling and installing playground equipment.

Uses tools, equipment and materials responsibly and performs basic inspection and preventive maintenance prior to use.

Fabricates and installs signs.

Paints, repairs and maintains swimming pool facilities.

Fills out job forms, as assigned.

Operates snowplow and spreads salt and other materials on roads and parking lots.

Maintains and repairs park equipment, tables, benches and buildings.

Interacts professionally with residents or businesses; provides assistance and addresses inquiries or concerns.

Follows Township and public safety guidelines and protocols and performs job functions in a safe manner; reports all safety hazards per established policies and procedures.

May be required to work outside regular shift including some evening and weekends hours based on organization responsibilities and assignments.

May be assigned to snow and ice control duties during snow emergencies.

May be assigned to other departments or divisions to perform required duties, as needed.

High school diploma or GED; and three (3) years of parks maintenance or equipment operation experience.

OR a combination of experience, certification, education and training that demonstrates expertise in the related areas.

Must possess and maintain a valid Class C driver’s license. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B free of air brake restriction preferred.

May be required to secure appropriate certifications related to parks maintenance operations as necessary.

Knowledge of the practices and procedures involved in maintaining lawns, outdoor pools, playgrounds, and playing fields.

Knowledge of tree species, ground cover, invasive plants, herbicide use and related safety procedures.

Knowledge of safety regulations related to playground equipment.

Skill in the operation and maintenance of tractors, lawn mowers, loaders, chain saws, string trimmers, blowers, snow blowers, sod cutters, sprayers and powered pruners.

Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook and Excel) and applicable department and organization specific software; ability to learn and become proficient in the use of other specialized software as may be required.

Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to read and interpret project blueprints and construction drawings and perform construction tasks.

Ability to follow Township and public safety guidelines and protocols and perform job functions in a safe manner.

Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure, diffuse potentially confrontational situations and resolve disputes.

Ability to stand for a minimum of 1 up to 8 hours, walk for a minimum of 1 up to 8 hours and sit and drive for a minimum of 1 up to 8 hours per workday. In severe weather conditions, ability to sit, drive, stand and walk for up to 16 hours.

Ability to squat, crawl, climb, reach above shoulder…