Parks Maintenance Specialist

The City of Lakewood is dedicated to upholding City values to include: Performance Excellence, Leadership, Respect and Collaboration. Best fit candidates will demonstrate innovation, customer service, dedication, passion and engagement. All people, citizens and employees, will be treated with respect, relevance, and importance.

HIRING RANGE: $27.56 - $30.62/hour

This position is responsible for performing a variety of park management and maintenance operations functions with specific assignments or duties dependent upon placement of the position within the organizational structure of the Parks Division.  General knowledge in chemical applications, irrigation practices, plant physiology, and equipment operation is required for all positions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Performs park maintenance operations by establishing and prioritizing work under supervision of a Supervisor or Lead.  May work independently or with a team. 
• Operates City of Lakewood-owned vehicles, equipment, hand tools, and office equipment in performance of position responsibilities.
• Maintains, or functions as a team member with the responsibility to maintain, City landscape improvements in parks. This may require expertise in specific areas, for example, irrigation, athletic field preparation, chemical applications, or turf management.   
• Supervises seasonal workforce in performance of maintenance practices and utilizes them in meeting maintenance objectives. 
• Performs contract administration and inspections on maintenance service-related contracts.
• Participates in the planning of short-term projects and capital equipment purchases providing input and information pertinent to the situation.
• Functions as member of snow removal crews during winter months and assists in staging special events held at park facilities.
• Must be able to interact with others in a positive manner to include team and park users’ interactions.
• Participates in weekend picnic pavilion cleaning.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received: Receives direct supervision from the Parks Supervisor or City Forester depending on assignment.  May receive Lead direction from Parks Lead Staff as needed.

Supervision Exercised:  Provides lead direction to variable seasonal staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have ability to work well as a team member.
• Must have, or be able to develop, skill in the operation of hand tools and equipment.
• Knowledgeable in the care of trees, turf, annual plants, perennial plants, and interior plants as the position requires.
• Ability to manage time and resources effectively.
• Ability to take projects from inception to completion with minimal supervision
• Ability to handle complex problems with minimal supervision.
• Ability to be proactive, recognize problems and offer solutions.
• Ability to use insight, knowledge, and experience to monitor park maintenance activity to help minimize problems in a park setting.
• Due to the nature of the work, an employee in this position may be considered essential.  Essential personnel are determined by the chain of command, the type of emergency and the human resources needed.

Technological Skills

Ability to operate a personal computer

Education and Experience

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree or two-year technical training beyond high school preferred.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in park management or a related field is highly preferred.

Experience: Two or more years of cumulative experience and/or education in park maintenance or landscape maintenance or a closely related field.

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Must have or ability to obtain within six months of appointment, a Colorado State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's License or higher in the appropriately designated categories.

Must successfully complete and maintain required state or departmental physical standards and certifications.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly