Parks Specialist Grounds

Join Our Team as a Parks Specialist!

Starting salary: $47,320–$69,160 depending on experience and qualifications

If you love being outdoors, enjoy hands‑on work, and get satisfaction from helping create beautiful, safe, and vibrant community spaces, this is the job for you! Our Parks & Planning team is looking for a skilled, motivated individual who wants to make a real impact on the parks, natural areas, and facilities our community enjoys every day.

• 100% employer-paid HMO BCBS health insurance (or low-cost PPO option)
• 100% employer-paid dental insurance
• 100% employer-paid life insurance
• 100% employer-paid EAP
• Wellness program
• Free/discounted Park District programs
• Participation in the IMRF pension fund

This is a skilled classification; which requires a greater technical knowledge, specialized skill set, or previous trade experience in park and general constructions, development, maintenance and operations.

This individual performs developmental, preventative and routine aspects of park and planning department operations, under general supervision, through a wide variety of tasks that may be assigned.

• Ability to perform and direct/lead others in the operations that require specialty/trade skill background. This includes basic carpentry, landscape and maintenance.
• Rakes, gathers, loads and hauls refuse and cut vegetation from parks and recreational facilities in order to clean park grounds, structures, and playing fields of trash and debris.
• Layout and design for landscape installation and plant beds.
• General turf maintenance including but is not limited to watering, mowing, weed control, restoration, and fertilization.
• Landscape maintenance including but not limited to natural area maintenance, trimming, pruning, planting, raking, tilling, weed control and cleaning.
• Strong plants and weed identification and knowledge for the Northern Illinois climate.
• Perform unskilled and semi‑skilled tasks involving the construction, maintenance, and repair of parks, recreational facilities, and equipment, with appropriate supervision or direction.
• Apply herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides safely and in accordance with procedures.
• Operate various equipment; including but not limited to mowers, tractors, skid steers, and vehicles.
• Utilize a variety of hand and power tools and small engine equipment.
• Inspect, report, remedy, repair any hazards, damage, vandalism and unsafe conditions for any recreation facility that includes but is not limited to buildings, pavilions/shelters, parks, playgrounds, and courts.
• Performs routine and preventative maintenance of equipment, machinery, and various components of the Park District system.
• Demonstrate, support, and enforce Park District customer service standards.
• Safely operate district vehicles and equipment.
• Participate in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Perform all job tasks within the rules and guidelines of the Park District’s safety program.
• Assist in other sections of the department as assigned or required.
• This position may include weekend shifts and/or weekend coverage.
• Performs any additional related tasks as assigned or required.

• High School diploma or equivalent required. Some college experience in horticultural or related field preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Specialized skill, knowledge or trade skill regarding the maintenance operation in areas that may include the following: landscape management, plant identification, turfgrass management and Athletic field management.
• Ability and willingness to follow direction.
• Ability and willingness to work independently with little supervision, as a team member on a crew, and to direct and oversee the work of assigned staff.
• Pesticide Applicators license required; ability to certify within 6 months of hire.