Parks Technician

Administrative Duties Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values.
The Parks Technician is a position that works with a team of other parks, recreation and open spaces employees that is responsible for performing a wide variety of tasks.
Employees of this class perform duties ranging from unskilled manual labor to journeyman level work in the care and maintenance of City assets and projects.
Work may be performed under direct supervision of the Public Works Supervisor-Parks to exercise a considerable amount of independence and initiative in performing the responsibilities assigned.
Work generally requires heavy physical exertion and may be performed under adverse weather conditions.
Duties include but are not limited to, direction to other staff, cleaning shelters, restrooms and hardscapes, mowing and hand-picking trash in all areas with focus on highly visible areas like public entrances to parks and facilities, parking lots, landscape areas adjacent to buildings.
This position also performs event support services and snow and ice control/removal duties for City buildings, parking lots, trails and parks.
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES Supervisory: This job does not have formal supervisory responsibilities but may lead (coordinates and monitors) the work of temporary employees.
Budgetary: This job does not have budgetary responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities within approved budget.
Strategic Planning: This job does not have strategic planning responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities in order to reach the stated goals and objectives.
Policies/Procedures: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Compliance: For Cemetery assignment -This job has partial responsibility at the program level for ensuring compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
For Parks assignment - This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
Council Communications: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Council’s adopted priorities and direction.
Reporting: This job does not have duties related to reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies.
Examples of the Work Performed Maintains parks, trails and open space as assigned including planting trees and shrubs; maintaining irrigation systems; mowing and trimming lawns, shrubs and trees; weed control; raking leaves; and litter removal.
Assists in disease and pest control and horticulture as requested or needed.
Aerates, eradicates weeds and removes plants as needed or requested.
Reports the necessity for replacements as observed.
Assists with installation, maintenance and repairs (including painting) of park shelters, restrooms, picnic tables, benches, bleachers and trash receptacles as well as scoreboards, soccer goals, park signs, other park structures and irrigation/sprinkler systems.
Assists with maintenance and repairs on sprinkler irrigation systems; installs or assists in installation of new sprinkler systems.
Safely operates construction and maintenance equipment such a pickup trucks, dump trucks, tractors, water trailers, riding mowers, hand mowers, front loaders, backhoes, tillers, aerators, snow blowers, sprayers, spreaders, weed trimmers, pruning tools, trenchers, grinders and hand held tools for the appropriate projects.
May include heavy equipment Plows, shovels, and removes snow to provide useable citizen areas during inclement weather, using snow blower, shovel, hand tools, etc.
Maintains a variety of records relating to maintenance, construction, and inspection of parks systems (parks, cemetery, open spaces, etc.
).
Maintains operations resources and equipment in regard to inventory control and resource allocation.
Ensures equipment is maintained per fleet policy.
Completes and submits daily work reports, work orders, and payroll timesheets in an accurate and timely manner.
Accepts new work assignments and schedules work hours to meet the needs of the organization.
Cooperates with co-workers, supervisor and other departments to foster the spirit of a team environment.
Communicates ideas clearly and respectfully in order to improve processes.
Understands written and verbal assignments and asks questions if needed.
Keeps supervisor apprised of issues and concerns within the organization.
Accepts constructive input and implements suggestions for improvement.
Applies chemicals, fertilizers, and other hazardous materials following all safety precautions.
Promotes a culture of safety in the workplace and reports safety hazards when observed.
Provides courteous customer service; responds to questions and inquiries from the general public and internal customers.
Participate in a wide variety of assigned maintenance duties on parks and facilities including repair and installation of irrigation sprinkler heads, lines, and controllers.
Perform equipment repair, adjustments, and lubrication.
Participate in the construction, maintenance and renovation of City parks facilities.
Clean shelters and restrooms as needed and perform plumbing repairs as needed.
Plant and maintain shrubs, flowers, turf, and landscaped areas.
Maintain grounds for municipal buildings and parking lots.
Work alone or as a member of a crew.
Assist in snow operations.
Accept “on call” assignments as needed.
May provide work direction to subordinate personnel and use personnel management skills to effectively address and resolve job related problems, as assigned.
May be assigned responsibility for the acceptable completion of a maintenance project, with little or no direct supervision.
Ability to work from blueprints, sketches, building plans, oral, or written instructions.
May assist in estimating and requisitioning materials, supplies, and equipment needed to maintain parks facilities, exterior grounds, amenities, exterior municipal facilities, and projects.
May participate in the preparation, layout, and planning of projects, as assigned.
Performs related duties as required.
Cemetery Assignment (Parks Technicians in the Parks and Cemetery Section may be assigned to work in the Cemetery program on a rotating basis) Processes invoices and payments made to the cemetery Assists with the development of vacant areas such as tract layout, surveying and installation of reference monuments.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS High school diploma or GED Three (3) years of experience and/or training relating to parks or grounds maintenance including experience in training others Must possess at least two (2) certifications within 6 months of hire/promotion, American Backflow Prevention Testing & Repairs, National Playground Safety Inspector, Certified Arborist, ARC View GIS Level I and II, National Playground Installer, Certified Tree Worker, Aerial Lift Specialist, Master Gardener Program, Structural Pest Control License in Rights of Ways Weeds and Turf & Ornamental Spraying).
OTHER REQUIREMENTS Demonstrate considerable knowledge in irrigation systems, athletic field preparation and turf management Working knowledge of plants, trees, grasses, and their uses, propagation, care and maintenance Working knowledge of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and their safe application Must be able to train, direct, plan, organize jobs, and review the work of others reporting findings back to supervisor Must be able to perform a wide variety of manual labor for extended periods of time and under adverse weather conditions Must be able to operate various grounds related equipment and power tools (mowers, line trimmers, blowers, snow blowers, aerators, chainsaws, skilsaws, etc.
Proficient in operating heavy equipment such as backhoes, skid steers, plow trucks, forklifts, bucket trucks, tractors and mowers Must be able to recognize or make repairs as necessary within assigned areas and report back to Supervisor Must possess, or obtain upon employment, and maintain, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
Driving on behalf of the City is an essential function of this position.
Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
Ability to work nights in adverse weather conditions during snow operations All Emergency Service Employees shall maintain their principal residence within the state boundaries of Arizona.
All Emergency Service Employees, except those holding a position in Fire, will arrive at the assigned or emergency work location within one (1) hour from notification to report to duty.
Incumbents of this position are subject to pre-employment drug/alcohol screening, and post-employment post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol screening.
Must have the ability to be contacted and to respond in a timely manner and be willing and able to perform emergency work on an evening, weekend, and 12-hour shift basis.
Must have the ability to pass the Truck and Trailer Safety Test and Global Harmonized System Training within the first thirty (30) days of employment DESIRED REQUIREMENTS Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation, Forestry, Horticulture, Construction Management or related field Supplemental Information REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY) Ability to perform a wide variety of tasks that relate to various building and ground maintenance tasks.
Ability to acquire a working knowledge of the methods, equipment, and materials used in the care of building, parks, ground, and trail maintenance.
Working knowledge of the hazards and applicable safety rules and precautions involved in equipment operation and general maintenance and construction.
Ability to work independently, as required.
Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.
Ability to recognize and make repairs as necessary within assigned areas and report to supervisor.
Ability to perform a wide variety of manual labor for extended periods of time and under adverse weather conditions.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of an assigned crew, as needed.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, supervisor, and the general public.
Ability to operate hand tools and heavy equipment, as required.
Ability to operate a City Vehicle off road on areas not regularly maintained.
Ability to prepare and submit reports, as assigned As assigned, assists in recordkeeping requirements for Safety Data Sheets for Parks facilities.
Knowledge of proper use of PPE and enforcing proper PPE among co-workers.
General knowledge of automated irrigation system maintenance and installation.
Cemetery Assignment REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of how to collect data to input into computer, maps, books and spreadsheets.
Working knowledge of the methods, equipment and materials used in the care and maintenance of grounds (weed trimmer and mower) and buildings within the cemetery.
Knowledge of how to assist the public with questions and directions regarding the cemetery.
Working knowledge of quality internal/external customer service during emotionally turbulent times.
Working knowledge of hazards and applicable safety procedures and precautions involved in cemetery/state regulations.
Knowledge of the procedures for safe operation of co-workers and visitors.
Knowledge of effectively setting up a safe work area and interment site for funeral services.
Note: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, stand, talk or hear, use hands or fingers to handle or feel, reach with hand and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and regularly required to sit, climb or balance and taste or smell.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds or more.
Vision requirements for this position include close vision, distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).
Working conditions include frequent exposure to wet or humid conditions (non-weather), work near moving mechanical parts, outdoor weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles and extreme heat and cold (non-weather) and regular exposure to work in high, precarious places and vibrations and occasional exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.
The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.