Description

Summary/Objective

• Assist with park maintenance operations that include mowing, tree trimming and management, landscaping, leaf/debris removal, restroom cleaning and garbage upkeep.
• Assist in the maintenance of the downtown and Bayfront streetscape, parking areas, and facilities.
• Contribute with the maintenance of the city’s trail systems.
• Prepare and evaluate event and rental spaces for use.
• Support with irrigation maintenance.
• Support staff and/or contractors with city park projects. 
• Assist with snow removal throughout the park system.
• Supervision of seasonal workers as assigned.

Essential Functions

• Mow parks, clean restrooms, and assist with planting and prepping landscape and flower beds and litter control in parks and parking areas.
• Assist with setup for rentals and events and works events as assigned.
• Shovel walks, plow park related facilities and groom trails for skiers and hikers.
• Recondition picnic tables and benches in winter season.
• Daily maintenance of park equipment as assigned for use.
• Ability to obtain licenses:
  • Maintain a valid Michigan driver’s license.
  • Maintain CPR and First Aid Certification.
  • Ability to obtain commercial pesticide/herbicide application license.
• Able to schedule routine maintenance of restroom facilities and grounds.
• Keep inventory of fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, cleaning products, etc. as utilized under area assigned and order items after approval by supervisor.

Requirements

Competency

• Need to thrive in a fast paced, team-oriented environment. Coordination, communication and extremely high standards are necessary to succeed.
• Must be able to operate all parks and grounds keeping vehicles and equipment, including small and large area mowers, tractors, turf carts, Bobcat Toolcat truckster, push mowers, chain saws, edgers, overseeders, aerators, etc.
• Must be able to perform basic maintenance on above equipment and be able to properly train seasonal employees on safe operation.
• Able to correctly apply fertilizers, weed control products, herbicides and pesticides and to prepare, mix and utilize cleaning elements for restroom and building maintenance.
• Able to work without direct supervision.
• Able to work with direct supervisor to train, schedule and direct seasonal staff, community service workers and volunteers.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Able to direct, schedule and train seasonal employees as assigned.
• Perform other supervisory tasks as assigned.

Work Environment

• Must be able to perform at a high standard and succeed in a team environment.
• Able to work outdoors.
• Will need to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, holidays.
• Able to work in a public environment.
• Able to work under a variety of weather conditions, including hot or cold weather, rain, snow and sleet.
• Work environment may contain allergens such as dust, pollen, mold, insects, birds and other animals.

Physical Demands

• Requires the ability to work in a variety of environments such as heat, cold, rain and snow.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, such as fertilizer bags, grass seed, marking paint, ball field chalk, etc.
• Operate, push or carry leaf blowers, push mowers, weed whips, and other grounds keeping equipment that involves long periods of strenuous labor.
• Ability to kneel, stand, climb ladders and scaffolding, and walk and pull a fire hose on ice rinks, rake, shovel and walk on varying terrain as required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

• Hourly position with varying hours of work, days off and varying shifts.
• Weekends, holidays and varying shift work is required.
• Standard work week is 40 hours.

Travel

• Travel may be required to attend training sessions.

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma with college training or technical skills training in grounds keeping, tree management, building maintenance or building trades.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in parks and recreation related field.
• Experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping and building maintenance is a plus.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Must possess a valid Michigan Driver’s License with a good driving record.
• Must be able to pass security and criminal history background check that will allow working in and around sensitive data, visitors, clients and recreational participants.
• Ability to obtain commercial pesticide/herbicide application license and CPR and first aid cards.