Parks Maintenance Specialist- Rec and Parks, Parks & Program ServicesHorticulture & Land Management

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of centralMaryland 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 sustainability and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the 2025 Howard County Government received a record-breaking 85 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents improve existing programs upgrade working conditions and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

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.

This is specialized park maintenance which typically involves skilled manual work at the crew leader level in the maintenance of park lands government properties and related facilities and structures however some positions may be assigned to park security. Work involves operating equipment and vehicles and the use of a variety of tools and the application of regulated horticultural and landscaping practices. Work includes performing skilled grounds maintenance tasks and directing subordinate crew members or outside contractors as assigned by the supervisor. Operates dump trucks tractors with attachments small motor grader and other medium duty construction equipment in the completion of parks and grounds maintenance.

Work is performed with general supervision from a technical superior. Assignments are stable in nature and are carried out in accordance with accepted laboring and equipment operation standards and applicable regulations. An employee in this class provides park security services or operates equipment and oversees others to accomplish an assigned part of park or grounds operations in grounds maintenance sports field preparation construction or park-site management. Work may include considerable public contact.

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.
• Operates a variety ofequipment to include but not limited to: Large 16-footand zero turn mowing units trucks with trailer front loaders backhoes skid loaders as well as tractors with miscellaneous attachments including flail mowers aerators seeders spreaders line trimmers/brush cutterschain sawsblowers edgers chippers leaf vacs various power hand tools etc. Operates in heightsof 70 feet in bucket trucks. Operates Class A vehicles in performing the required tasks. May operate motor vehicles with trailers that exceed 10000 pounds GVWR or with combination GVWR exceeding 26000 pounds.
• Operate a chainsaw properly and safely according to ANSI safety and industry standards.
• Performs preventative maintenance and repairs on assigned equipment and vehicles and completes repair forms.
• Perform and follows proper horticultural practices in turf maintenance tasks such as turf aeration fertilization applying pesticides sodding seeding and top-dressing.
• Performs and follows proper horticultural practices with landscape maintenance tree removal pruning planting mulching watering chipping and tree felling and removal.
• Directs a crew performing a broad variety of park maintenance operations.
• Administrative duties include: incident reports timesheets department requisitions park and playground inspection forms pesticide and nutrient application records Miss Utility forms work order forms vehicle logs repair requests daily park reports and pavilion and vandalism journal entries.
• Ability to use basic computer skills to include but not limited to: filling out time sheets PDQ card statement reconciliation send and receive emails create and save word documents submit Facility Max requests and monthly reports.
• Must be able to estimate supplies and materials for maintenance tasks and jobs. Develops supply requisitions for supervisors approval. Responsible for keeping an inventory current for tools supplies and materials and chemicals.
• Leads and assists with trail maintenance field and meadow mowing vandalism repair and other tasks associated with park maintenance such as trash removal fence and sign installation and repair and snow removal.
• Leads and directs in various construction projects requiring significant carpentry/construction skills.
• Prepares drawings/plans for various construction projects.
• Ability to utilize a GPS device and decipher information.
• May be required to schedule and oversee work of outside contractors.
• Handle traffic control by flagging and properly setting up minor road control systems.
• This position is considered essential and will be required to work emergency situations.
• Performs snow removal duties and assists during inclement weather conditions to include working for Public Works if needed.
• Serves on committees as assigned.
• Attend trainings as assigned.
• Responsible for identifying and applying good sustainability practices into all aspects of Department operations.

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 frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger handle or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop kneel crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or cause to move up to 50-pounds and occasionally lift and/or cause to move up to 100-pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

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 outside weather conditions (rain wind snow cold heat poor air quality sun etc.) and wild life (snakes bees ticks rodents poisonous plants etc.). The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud. Ability to handle heights of 70-feet in a bucket unit.

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers clients and other employees of the organization.

Ability to add subtract multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Possession of a valid drivers license. This license must be valid as long as the individual is employed in this class.
• Possession of a Maryland Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is required and must be obtained within Department time frames and maintained during tenure of employment.
• Certified or County trained in CPR First Aid forklift bucket lift chainsaw and van passenger training or the ability to obtain certification within time limits specified by the County.
• Possession of State Roadside Tree Expert certification or the ability to obtain within time limits specified by the County.
• Possession of State Certified Nutrient Applicator certification or the ability to obtain within time limits specified by the County.

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.