Parks Maintenance Specialist - Recreation & Parks, Parks/Park Operations Division

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024 Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) the most awards in the state of Maryland and the fifth highest in the nation as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents improve existing programs upgrade working conditions and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What youll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented diverse and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical retirement and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team youll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Works and cooperates with co-workers and supervisors at all levels.
• Learns and performs all essential job functions accurately.
• Performs park maintenance activities such as grounds and turf maintenance pavilion and picnic area maintenance and cleaning and repairs in an assigned park region.
• Performs trail construction and maintenance.
• Performs minor plumbing janitorial painting electrical and carpentry work in the maintenance of parks and facilities.
• Performs landscape/horticultural maintenance including pesticide application trimming edging pruning and mulching of beds and trees.
• Uses hand and power tools trimmers chain saws blowers snow blowers in performing the assigned tasks.
• Removes graffiti and repairs vandalism
• Performs preventative maintenance on equipment such as tractors mowers and skid loaders.
• Sets up mobile stage.
• Handles administrative paperwork which includes: incident reports police reports timesheets department requisitions parks and playground inspection forms chemical application cards daily park pavilion vandalism journal entries.
• Requires considerable public contact including: communicating with tournament directors and staff during tournaments conflict resolution picnic shelter disputes questions and comments.
• Estimates supplies and materials for maintenance tasks and jobs. Develops supply requisitions for supervisors approval and is assigned a PDQ card for purchases with supervisor approval. Responsible for keeping an inventory for tools supplies and materials and chemicals.
• Assigns work detail through guidance of supervisor.
• Assist with the sport field maintenance in county parks. Duties include: field aeration seeding fertilizing grading and sod installation.
• Directs crew in daily projects; ensures that the work quality and quantity meet standards.
• Operates complex vehicles and equipment such as mowers tractors loaders large trucks aerators graders turf shapers and other bureau vehicles and equipment. Demonstrates methods techniques and operations to crew members.
• Plans daily activities assigning appropriate tools and equipment. Maintains supplies and materials.
• Performs routine playground inspections and repairs.
• Assist the recreational staff with program set up and tear down. Works on the department special events as directed.
• Perform specialized maintenance on unique park amenities depending on assignment location (Ex. Skills Course Equestrian Ring etc.)
• Routine inspection and maintenance of dams including a high hazard dam dependent upon assignment location.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to determine work in a written verbal or e-mail form.
• Serves on committees as assigned.
• Responsible for identifying and applying good sustainability practices into all aspects of Department operations.
• Performs snow removal duties and assists during inclement weather conditions to include working for Public Works if needed.
• This position is considered essential and will be required to work emergency situations.

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of the 12th grade plus two (2) years of experience in landscaping park maintenance or a related field; or completion of an associates degree program in horticulture or park/resource management plus some experience requiring the use of hand tools and motor equipment.

PREFERRED EDUCATION KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Associates degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; related experience and/or training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger handle or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; and risk of electrical shock.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

LANGUAGE SKILLS MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read analyze and interpret general business periodicals professional journals technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers clients customers and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts interest commissions proportions percentages area circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems collect data establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Possession of a Maryland Restricted Class A may be required upon job assignment and must be obtained within department time frames and maintained during tenure of employment.
• Obtain CPR and First Aid certification within one year of employment.
• Obtain Maryland Pesticide Applicator Certification offered through our Department within two years of employment.
• Possession of a Maryland Boater Safety Operator may be required
• Maryland Roadside Tree Care Expert Certificate may be required of this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

TO APPLY:You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening background screening and reference checks.

At time of application please submit a copy of any college degree coursework licenses or certifications that you have referenced on your who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation ( County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Howard Countyis an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity equity and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color religion age sex ancestry creed national origin disability status genetics marital statusmilitary service sexual orientation gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at .Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.