Sports Turf Maintenance Specialist (10236, Grade HL5)

• Do you have experience in Sports Turf Maintenance and are interested in joining an award-winning program to continue your professional growth?
• Are you a team player and enjoy working in a position with varied work responsibilities?
• Do you love sports and are interested in an opportunity improve athletic fields?

The Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation Southern Region Parks Division seeks an experienced Sports Turf Maintenance Specialist (Principal Parks/Facilities Maintenance Worker-PFA) to work within our Athletic Field Program working at Cosca Regional Park in Clinton, Maryland. This position will perform athletic field maintenance and renovation tasks in our parks throughout the southern portion of Prince George’s County for community passive and active recreation to support our mission for healthy lifestyles for our community involving considerable responsibility, complexity, and variety. The successful candidate will perform a variety of athletic field management tasks such as mowing, lining, pest scouting and control, infield grooming, aeration, seeding, and nutrient management which may include equipment operations such as tractors, skid loaders, mowers, infield groomer, aerators, spreaders, sprayers, and other large equipment working in a team environment. This is the expert level in park/general maintenance work involving all types of equipment, difficult specialized assignments, and directing and training other workers in maintenance procedures and practices. The successful candidate will perform work of increasing difficulty and responsibility to develop and improve skills. Incumbents in this class are regularly given independent work assignments but may work as part of a group. Performs other related duties as assigned.

This position will have a work schedule of Tuesday-Saturday from 6:00am – 2:45pm but maybe subject to change based on program needs. 

All applicants for this job posting will be considered for this and future Principal Park/Facilities Maintenance Worker job openings for 6 months or until all qualified candidates have been exhausted from this job posting, whichever comes first. At that time, a new job posting may be available for application to future openings. 

• Operates trucks, truck and trailer combination, front-end loader, backhoe, dump trucks with plows, bucket trucks, trash trucks, and tank trucks, spreaders, and sprayers. Operates complex equipment and vehicles. Performs routine safety inspection and maintenance of vehicles and equipment. 
• On a regular basis (more than 50% of the time), provides general direction and instructions on proper procedures and safety to a small work group. Informs the Leader or Supervisor of job progress and completion and any problems requiring attention. May collect and/or enter data into daily reports and work order completion. Assists with training seasonal staff. 
• Performs complex athletic field maintenance with large tractor operation with attachments to mow, aerate, seed, or fertilize athletic fields. Cuts and lays sod and other landscaping duties. Operates tree spade to plant trees, shrubs, and plants, according to established standards. Trims and prunes trees and shrubs.
• Develops nutrient management plans for athletic fields, calibrates equipment, performs nutrient applications, and maintains records in accordance with Maryland Department of Agriculture. 
• Operates large equipment which requires expert knowledge for athletic field renovation to include grading, soil modifications, sod installation, watering, nutrient management and pest control on both cool and warm season turfgrass. 
• Inspects athletic fields for playground safety hazards, surface safety, and surrounding areas, develops work orders for improvements and approves completion of projects for detailed work involving sensitive measurements field layout per industry standards. 
• Performs tree maintenance duties. Positions bucket truck and sets outriggers. Trims and fells trees. Operates chain saws. Operates ropes from ground level to assist Tree Climber in cutting down trees. Raises and lowers equipment. Lowers tree limbs with ropes. Operates chipping machine to grind brush into mulch. Operates stump grinder to remove tree stumps.
• Perform pest identification for Integrated Pest Management for organic and conventional pesticide applications and record keeping. 
• Conducts Park inspections for safety and submits detailed reports to supervisor for maintenance prioritization and resource allocation. Inspections. Makes recommendations for Americans with Disability Act access improvements. 
• Reports on unsafe or hazardous conditions of park facilities and amenities. 
• Assists in setting up, monitoring, and taking down Commission programs and rental events. Inform visitors of rules and regulations. Opens and closes Commission facilities.
• Interacts with visitors daily in a courteous and effective manner.
• Snow removal and other related weather duties.

Important Work Characteristics

• General knowledge of: (1) parks and park/general maintenance operations; (2) Commission organization, policies, and procedures*; (3) gardening; (4) groundskeeping; (5) landscaping; (6) safety; (7) turf maintenance; (8) pesticides and their application; (9) building and equipment maintenance; and (10) tree maintenance and removal. 
• Skill in operation of: (1) front-end loader and specialized grounds equipment; (2) hand and power tools; (3) light to medium trucks and truck trailer combinations; (4) tractor with attachments; (5) medium to heavy equipment (backhoe, roller, tree spade, etc.); and (6) pesticides and their application.
• Ability to: (1) understand a system of procedures; (2) read and write routine correspondence; (3) provide courteous service; and (4) lift up to 100 pounds desirable.

*May be developed after employment in this job class. 
 
Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience in sports turf or grounds maintenance industry in relation to turf and infield maintenance, safety inspection, and renovation.
• Knowledge of soil science and ability to interpret soil samples for nutrient needs for plant health; ability to obtain a Maryland Professional Fertilizer License within six months. 
• Knowledge of technology to perform inspections and enter data into portable electronic equipment. Ability to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Experience with hand tools for athletic field maintenance include compact drills, wrenches, impact drills, heat tools, and pressure washers.  

 

1. High school diploma or Certificate of General Educational Development (GED).
2. Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in groundskeeping, building maintenance or park maintenance.
3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total four (4) years.  
4. Valid driver’s license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required of their position.  
5. Pass Commission medical examination. 
6. Depending upon the area of assignment, some positions in this class require within 12 months of hire (a) Commercial driver’s license (CDL) with appropriate endorsements; (b) obtainment of certifications including: 

Class/Specification: Principal Parks/Facilities Maintenance Worker

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

Primarily works outside but may work inside on occasion or as assigned. May work weekends, evenings, and holidays. Exposed to weather, dirt, waste, odors, caustic chemicals, pesticides, wildlife, and potentially harmful insects (for example, bees, hornets, wasps, etc.).

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor. 

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.

Salary : $3,511 - $6,219