Skip to main content

Park Maintenance Technician

Summary

Under general supervision, performs a variety of routine semi-skilled and skilled duties in the maintenance, repair, and construction of parks, grounds, and recreation facilities. Areas of responsibility, include, but are not limited to: mowing; trimming; aerating; fertilizing; seeding lawns; and planting a variety of trees, shrubs, and plants. Ensures the continued health of District landscapes. Operates vehicles and a variety of construction and maintenance equipment. Performs related work as required.

Supervision Received And Exercised

Receives general supervision from higher-level supervisory staff and direction from higher-level staff. May direct lower-level staff.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the journey-level classification within the Park Maintenance series responsible for performing a variety of routine semi-skilled and skilled duties in the maintenance, repair, and construction of parks, grounds, and recreation facilities. Incumbents at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies. Work is reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. This classification is distinguished from the Park Foreman in that the latter serves in a lead capacity over the park crews and is responsible for performing the more complex work.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

  • Performs varied semi-skilled and skilled maintenance duties in the maintenance, repair, and construction of parks, grounds, and recreation facilities; areas of responsibility, include, but are not limited to, inspecting and maintaining parks, fields, and grounds to ensure that District facilities provide the highest level of safety for public use.
  • Mows, weeds, trims, aerates, fertilizes, seeds, lays sod, and edges lawns; plants a variety of shrubs, trees, groundcover, and flowers; prunes and trims hedges, trees, shrubs, and flowers; inspects and repairs irrigation systems; ensures the continued health of District landscapes.
  • Assists with diagnoses of turf and plant problems; applies fertilizers and pesticides under direction of a licensed Qualified Applicator; when licensed as a Qualified Applicator, directs other employees in the safe use of pesticides, and keeps accurate logs of chemical use.
  • Inspects, maintains, and repairs picnic tables, fences, benches, trash cans, and playground equipment, ensuring all equipment is in a safe operating condition; reports maintenance needs and safety hazards to appropriate staff.
  • Picks up trash; rakes leaves and clears debris from walkways, fields, and park grounds; removes graffiti; repairs signs and vandalized property; reports vandalism.
  • Operates vehicles and a variety of equipment used in landscape work.
  • Inspects tools and equipment for safety and mechanical defects and ensures they are in proper operating condition.
  • Receives and responds to questions and concerns from patrons; identifies issues and resolves problems or refers to supervisor, as appropriate.
  • Follows safe working practices and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment, as required.
  • Maintains records and logs of daily activities.
  • Assists with District special events as needed.
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

  • High School Diploma or GED;
  • Two years of relevant work experience.
  • Any combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge of:

  • Materials and equipment used in the maintenance, repair, and installation of park fields, grounds, landscapes, and facilities.
  • Methods and techniques of maintaining the safety of parks and playgrounds.
  • Basic plant identification.
  • Identifying plant diseases and their causes.
  • Proper handling of fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Practices and procedures used in turf management, irrigation, landscape construction, and pest control.
  • Maintaining tools and equipment used in park maintenance.
  • Relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Occupational hazards and related safety precautions.
  • Principles and procedures of recordkeeping.
  • Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications.
  • English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Ability to:

  • Assist in the performance of landscape construction and maintenance. 
  • Operate tools and equipment safely.
  • Perform heavy manual labor for extended periods in all types of weather.
  • Troubleshoot maintenance problems and determine materials and supplies required for repair.
  • Make accurate mathematic calculations.
  • Understand, interpret, and apply all relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Independently organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
  • Demonstrate strong customer service skills and establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships.
  • Maintain records and files on work performed.
  • Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.

Licenses and Certifications:

  • At time of appointment, California Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record maintained throughout employment.
  • Possession of any of the following is highly desirable:
  • California Department of Pesticide Regulations Qualified Applicator’s Certificate (QAC), Categories B or C,
  • California Department of Pesticide Regulations Qualified Applicator’s License (QAL), Categories B or C,
  • International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certificate,
  • Certified Irrigation Auditor through the Irrigation Association (IA).

Physical Demands

Must possess: strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work around machines, to climb and descend ladders, to operate a variety of tools and equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen and to distinguish colors in wiring; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. Frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard and/or calculator and to operate tools and equipment. Incumbents in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and inspect work sites. Incumbents must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds or heavier weights with assistance and/or the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Elements

Incumbents work in both indoor and outdoor environments with moderate to loud noise levels. May work in controlled temperature conditions, cold and hot temperatures, or inclement weather conditions. Exposure to chemicals, mechanical and electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Incumbents will interact with individuals in interpreting and enforcing rules, policies, and procedures.

Working Conditions

Incumbents may be assigned an on-call and irregular work schedule, including weekends, early mornings, evenings, and holidays.

Pre-Employment Conditions

  • Department of Justice fingerprint clearance.
  • Medical exam and drug testing clearance.

Classification Details/History

Date Adopted: 5/31/17 Job Code: 7474L FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Supersedes: Park Maintenance Technician I & II dated 8/31/11