Park Keeper II

POSTING TYPE: Open competitive
DEPARTMENT: Facilities Management
HOURS: Full-time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $52,326 - 65,408/year
FULL SALARY RANGE: $52,326 - 81,760/year
LOCATION: Various throughout the Dakota County Park System
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 pm on Monday, October 12, 2026

The Park Keeper II position is responsible to maintain, enhance, and expand our Park and Facility grounds. Staff do routine maintenance and highly skilled project work on our trails, turf, trees, plantings, hardscape, fences, decks, camper cabins, bridges, and picnic shelters. This position is also responsible to serve as a lead person over other Park and temporary staff on tasks and projects.

In the winter months Park Keeping staff are responsible for grooming cross country ski trails and snow removal in County parking lots, access roads, sidewalks, and trails.

The Dakota County Parks system is a growing, thriving natural resource-based park system with over 2.8 million visitors annually. Our park system includes 6 parks, 5,500 acres of premiere park land and 66 miles of scenic regional greenways.

We are currently recruiting to fill two full-time positions, working out of the Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan and Spring Lake Park in Hastings.

Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values:
Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

• One year certificate/degree in Grounds Maintenance, Natural Resources, Landscape;
  Horticulture, Design and Construction, Park Maintenance, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• AND
• Two years of grounds maintenance experience, such as turf maintenance, tree care, forestry, landscaping, snow removal, building and trail maintenance.
• OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience to total 3 years. Experience must be directly related to grounds maintenance experience, such as turf maintenance, tree care, forestry, landscaping, snow removal, building and trail maintenance
• AND
• A valid driver’s license and ability to obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license within the first year of employment.

• Commercial driver’s license
• Minnesota Tree Inspector Certificate
• Minnesota Chemical Applicators License
• Completed training and/or degree focused on grounds maintenance operations, to include but not limited to turf management, pesticide and fertilizer application, tree care, and landscape design and maintenance.
• Computer skills with the ability and experience to use Outlook, Word, and Excel.

* Pursuant to Dakota County Policy and Procedures this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Responsible for implementing tree maintenance/management programs including work such as: trimming, removals, and stump grinding.
• Responsible for performing landscape improvements including work such as: planting trees and shrubs, seeding, laying sod, grading, and site restoration.
• Responsible for snow plowing County parking lots, access roads and greenways using truck plow combinations, UTV', and/or tractor. After hour and weekend snow removal will occur during snow…