Groundskeeper II

Salary : $16.79 - $21.83 Hourly

Location : North Port, FL

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 201401771

Department : Parks and Recreation Department

Opening Date : 01 / 07 / 2025

Closing Date : 1 / 21 / 2025 5 : 00 PM Eastern

General Description

Performs labor of grounds maintenance and application of a variety of authorized chemicals for the control of noxious vegetation, evasive plants and pests. Work is performed under direction of a Senior Groundskeeper and / or Parks and Grounds Manager. This position may be required to work varied hours including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. May be required to work on-call hours as needed.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs routine ground and lawn maintenance (i.e. landscaping, turf care, irrigation, planting, weed-whacking, mowing, and applying pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and related chemicals in accordance with applicable Federal, State and local regulations).
• Performs work involving the precise trimming, hedging and pruning trees, hedges and plants.
• Assists in preparation and review of specifications for plant materials and coordination of landscape projects.
• Provide input and feedback on park amenities and placement as they relate to maintenance and operations of parks and green spaces.
• Performs inspection of parks to ensure proper care and maintenance, including, ball field maintenance, turf care and field preparation.
• Inspects and reports on the status / condition of parks and green spaces, such as broken or missing items, amenities, infrastructure, and structures.
• Mixes, applies, stores and disposes of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and related chemicals in accordance with applicable Federal, State and local regulations.
• Performs required adjustments and calibrations on spray and granular application equipment.
• Operates a variety of vehicles, trailers, standard lawn maintenance equipment (i.e. mowers, weed eaters, edger, trimmers), spray and granular equipment, and job essential equipment to perform duties (rakes / hoes).
• Performs light maintenance on standard lawn maintenance equipment, such as cleaning air filters, checking fluid levels, checking air pressure, checking safety features, etc.
• Recognizes and reports safety issues to direct supervisor.
• Ensures cleanliness of park grounds and provides litter pick-up and debris removal as applicable.
• Performs a variety of special tasks such as removing graffiti, assembling equipment, and assisting with special event set-up and tear down.
• Receives and / or reviews various records and reports such as instructions, equipment lists, schedules and calendars.
• Interacts with the public in a professional, helpful, and pleasant manner.
• Assists in the daily operations of Parks maintenance yard(s) and building(s) as necessary (cleaning, blowing, shipping & receiving, minor maintenance of site, etc.)
• Performs other functions related to City-wide Property Maintenance (grounds and facilities) as assigned.

These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned, including City directed work assignments in the event of a declared emergency.)

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Education, Experience, Licenses and Certifications

Education and Experience :

A comparable amount of relevant training, education and / or experience may be substituted for the above qualifications.)

Licenses and Certifications :

Emergency Response Responsibility

Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will require routine assignments during an emergency event. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.

Hiring Range Statement

Please note, the hiring pay range for this position is the minimum up to a rate equal to or less than the midpoint of the salary range.

Vets Preference Statement

The City of North Port, FL is an Affirmative Action / ADA / Veterans' Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.

All benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days.

Aetna - Health Insurance

The City offers eligible employees the choice of 2 Open Access In Network plans and 1 Open Access PPO Plan. Premiums and co-pays are dependent upon your plan choice.

Cigna Dental- Dental Insurance

The City's dental plan is a PPO plan providing eligible employees with in network or out of network options. You are entitled to two (2) preventive care treatments per calendar year (6 months apart). There is a $1,500 lifetime maximum for Orthodontia (children up to age 19). Premiums will depend on which tier you choose.

EyeMed Vision Care - Vision Insurance

The City's vision plan allows eligible employees to stay in network or go out of network. Your co-pays will vary depending on the network you use. You are entitled to an exam, frames and lenses once every 12 months.

Cigna Life - Life, Voluntary Life, Dependent Life Insurance

The City offers eligible employees a basic term life insurance benefit equal to their annual salary up to a $75,000 maximum at no charge. You can purchase additional voluntary life insurance for yourself and your dependents.

Cigna - Short Term Disability

The City provides short term disability coverage to all eligible employees at no cost to the employee. This coverage is used in the event of an accident or illness outside of work. The plan pays 66.67% of your weekly salary up to a maximum of $1,000. Benefits begin on the 31st day of your disability. The City offers a buy-up to the Short Term Disability Benefit with a 7 day wait period.

E-Flex - Flexible Spending Account

A flexible spending account helps you pay out-of-pocket medical, dental, eye care, daycare and other expenses, with tax deferred money deducted from your paycheck each payroll. The maximum annual election is $2,500.00. Over-the-counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription although other medical supplies will still be eligible for reimbursement. This is a voluntary benefit.

Trustmark- Supplemental Polices

Trustmark Insurance Company offers voluntary supplemental Critical Illness / Cancer, Accident and Universal Life policies which are paid for by the employee.

LifeLock Benefit Solutions

Protect your personal information and defend against attacks with 24 / 7, proactive identity theft protection from LifeLock. This is an employee paid voluntary program.

ICMA-RC - Deferred Compensation Plans

The City offers eligible employees the opportunity to enroll in a deferred retirement plan. The money that is deducted from your paycheck each payroll is put into this account and is tax deferred at the end of the year. One-on-one meetings with each company are held quarterly so employees can speak with the representative confidentially on preparing for their retirement. This is a voluntary program.

Florida Retirement System - FRS

Eligible employees are enrolled in the Florida Retirement System with an 8 year vesting period. Employees contribute 3% of their gross earnings per payroll which is subject to change with the IRS.

Cigna - Employee Assistance Program

The City offers this program to all employees. This is a confidential counseling program for employees and their families. The City pays for 3 visits and if you choose to continue, you would use the specialist co-pay on your insurance plan. Counseling can include stress, alcoholism, family problems, marriage difficulties, financial trouble, depression, work / life and more.

VPI - Veterinary Pet Insurance

The City offers Pet Insurance as a voluntary benefit. This benefit is not payroll deducted.

Florida Prepaid College Board

Employees are eligible to enroll in college savings programs as well as 529 plans.

Educational Assistance Program

Employees are eligible for job-related or degree required educational assistance reimbursement up to $2,500 per fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds).

Paid Holidays

The City observes 13 paid holidays per year.

Sick Leave and Annual Leave

Full time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month starting on the first day of employment. Accruals and usage will appear on your pay stub each payroll. Full time employees accrue annual leave (vacation) bi-weekly, based on years of service.

Sick Leave Incentive

Employees receive an incentive of up to four (4) days per calendar year for every 250 hours remaining in their sick leave bank. Sick leave incentive days cannot be carried over to the next year.

Personal Leave

Employees are eligible for a maximum of two (2) personal leave days per calendar year when they have accrued 96 or sick more hours. This leave is approved by the department director through the department leave approval process.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to five (5) days of bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Employees should check the personnel policy or union contracts, whichever is applicable, for the definition of an "immediate family member".

Salary : $2,500 - $250,000