Maintenance Operations Coordinator - Centennial Lakes

The Maintenance Operations Coordinator position with a horticulture emphasis is responsible for the care and maintenance of all plantings and landscape beds at Centennial Lakes Park and the Edina Promenade adjacent to the park.  In addition, the position is responsible for winter ice rink maintenance and other seasonal maintenance duties.

Scope of Impact:

The duties and responsibilities of this job are performed with latitude for independent judgment in accordance with Department and City policies, Federal, State and Local regulations.  Work is subject to periodic review by the supervisor, who provides approval of recommendations and discusses assignments, priorities, and work.

• Establishes and maintains park safety and the aesthetic horticultural integrity of the park and adjacent promenade.
  1. Designs seasonal selections for flower beds and pots, chooses best materials for the sites;
  2. Provides estimates for projects to be included in annual and capital improvement budgets;
  3. Purchases tools, materials and plants as needed, up to approved spending level;
  4. Keeps plants and trees healthy through a regular program of care and maintenance;
  5. Keeps planter beds looking neat, clean and attractive;
  6. Removes trash and dead plant material, replacing plants as needed;
  7. Establishes and follows Integrated Pest Management program choosing and applying pesticides as needed;
  8. Solves site problems including soil levels, drainage, lighting requirements, etc.

• Operates and maintains grounds maintenance equipment.
  1. Operates, maintains and makes repairs to large irrigation systems;
  2. Operates and maintains tractor, loader, mower, snow blower, plow, trimmer, chainsaw, and ice resurfacer;
  3. Operates, maintains, and trains staff on small engine equipment including blowers, hedgers, trimmers, chainsaws and others;
  4. Makes repairs or arranges for repairs to equipment.
• Assists in the training, work plans, resource allocation, and job performance reviews of part-time maintenance staff, horticultural staff and volunteers.
• Assists with park maintenance during the winter months.
  1. Maintains park ice rink, including flooding of rink, removing snow, grooming the ice, and operating an ice resurfacer;
  2. Removes snow and ice from park pathways and steps.
• Assists other park maintenance personnel as needed.
  1. Perform light custodial work as needed including trash removal and restroom cleaning.

The job requires a high school diploma or equivalent and three years of experience maintaining plants, trees, and shrubs, or equivalent.  A Minnesota Class D driver’s license is required to transport materials and equipment. A Minnesota Pesticide Applicators License is required or must be obtained within 6 months.

Desired Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in horticulture or landscape architecture is preferred. MNLA nursery certification or similar experience is preferred. Shade Tree Inspector Certification is desired. Customer service experience and experience working in a facility open to the public.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Desirable for Successful Job Performance:

• Knowledge of plants, trees and growing conditions;
• Identification knowledge of insects, plants and diseases; 
• Knowledge of fertilizers pesticides and how to apply them; 
• Knowledge and experience in landscape design and seasonal selections;  
• The ability to work independently to prioritize work requests; 
• The ability to communicate effectively verbally as well as tactfully and courteously with the public and park staff;
• Ability to safely operate and maintain grounds maintenance equipment;
• Ability to train and provide work direction to seasonal employees, work crews, and volunteers;
• Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds;
• Ability to operate and maintain irrigation systems.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

Occasional daily standing or walking to perform park maintenance, horticulture or turf activities. Daily sitting, all seasons, while operating golf and utility carts, etc. (summer while operating mowing equipment, winter operating snow removal and rink equipment). Occasional daily lifting and carrying of hand and power tools and equipment up to 50 pounds. Ability to shovel snow in winter. Infrequent daily lifting and carrying of heavy powered equipment and materials for horticulture and turf activities or event set-up up to 80 pounds. Daily push-pull of walk-behind mowers, snow removal equipment, manual carts, pallet jacks, etc. Weekly climbing of portable ladders, 2-step tractors, etc. Maintenance of certain areas, including ground and facility maintenance can involve using a lift and/or working at heights of 30 feet.  Must be comfortable at heights. Ability to bend, knee, squat, grasp, reach to perform horticulture or maintenance activities.

Custodial duties can cause exposure to body fluids and hazardous chemicals. Horticulture activities require use of hazardous chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Moving machinery, cutting equipment, powered tools, etc. produce work area exposures to crush, compression, cut, laceration, falling objects, projectiles, high intensity light, and noise. Seasonal rink maintenance with exposure to slip/trip/fall. Use of various personal protective equipment (PPE) for identified hazards.

Work interruptions are frequent.  

Position contingent upon background check, medical exams and drug testing

Working Conditions:

Approximately 75% of the time is spent outdoors within the park in normal or inclement weather conditions.   Approximately 25% of the work is performed in a maintenance garage environment. The job includes driving a vehicle or slow-moving vehicles (i.e. golf carts, ATV, work carts) on a daily basis. Valid driver’s license required. The job can involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged. Incumbents work frequent weekend and holiday hours during the months of December through March.  

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required.  To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.  The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this job at any time.

Salary : $31 - $41