Park Maintenance Worker (FT Year-Round, with 4-10s in Summer)

Position Description

The City of Inver Grove Heights seeks a Parks Maintenance Worker. With the addition of our new Splash Pad and Inclusive Playground, updated picnic shelters and busy athletic complex, the person hired for this position will help address the staffing needs year-round, but especially as they relate to weekends and evenings during the summer.

The hiring range for this position is $30.38 to $32.15/hr., with increases at 6 and 12 months. This is a fulltime, benefited IUOE Local 70 union position, on a 10-step system for pay increases (2025 top step is $38.32/hr.). Please see the Benefits Tab on this posting for more information on available benefits. Deadline to apply is September 30.

• From approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day, the hours will be 9am-7pm, Wednesday - Saturday (Four, ten-hour days per week).
• For the remainder of the year, the hours will be 6am to 2:30pm, Monday - Friday (Five, eight-hour days per week).

Essential Job Functions

Maintains and performs turf maintenance and athletic field maintenance activities to include:

• Mows and trims assigned park areas/fields and other city owned properties.
• Ballfield and mound maintenance.
• Aerates, fertilizes, seeds and/or applies herbicide and pesticide applications.
• Performs irrigation maintenance and operation.
• Applies top dressing applications, field and sod restoration.
• Mows grass/weeds on Right of Way and code enforcement properties.
• Layout and paints athletic fields.

Performs Forestry/Landscaping functions and projects.

• Plants trees and shrubs.
• Performs tree and shrub pruning and/or removal.
• Distributes mulch and watering of landscaping.
• Participates in rain garden construction and maintenance activities.
• Performs maintenance on prairie and natural areas.
• Identifies natural and invasive plants and takes appropriate course of action.
• Identifies natural and invasive plants and takes appropriate course of action.

Performs various park building maintenance and park amenities maintenance activities to include:

• Interior and exterior painting; roof repair and siding repair; floor maintenance and repair; and general cleaning services to park facilities.
• Constructs and repairs playground equipment; picnic and bench construction and repair.
• Maintains and repairs tennis, pickleball, basketball and volleyball courts.
• Makes repairs to drinking fountains.

Performs data entry, timecard entry, and credit card account recertification.

Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.

Qualifications

Requires a minimum of 2 years’ experience in grounds and basic building maintenance; or an equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the work. Ability to obtain a Valid Class A MN CDL license with Tanker and Air Brake endorsement and Commercial Pesticide Applicator License within one year of hire.

Supplemental Information

Essential Knowledge And Specialized Subject Knowledge Required To Perform The Essential Functions Of The Job

• Knowledge of requirements of the fundamentals of landscaping, prairie maintenance, tree care, tree ID, lawn/turf care, athletic field, trails, and general ground facilities (parking lots, buildings, etc.) maintenance.
• Knowledge of pesticide/herbicide application and procedures.
• Knowledge of tools, equipment, machines and materials used in maintaining grounds and outside facilities.
• Knowledge of preventive maintenance practices and procedures for tools, equipment and machinery.
• Knowledge of department/City safety procedures and requirements in the operation of powered equipment, mowers, chain saws, chemicals, park vehicles, etc.
• Knowledge of risk management procedures and proper lifting mechanics.
• Knowledge of general mechanical maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge of playground safety requirements.
• Knowledge of outdoor ice rink maintenance.

Essential Skills Necessary To Perform The Work:

• Operating and maintaining all equipment associated with grounds maintenance, snow removal, park vehicles, equipment, and accessories.
• Ability to lay out, mark and maintain athletic fields and hockey rinks.
• Ability to conduct routine preventive maintenance to grounds equipment, machinery and tools.
• Operating mowers, irrigation systems and sprayers.
• Reading and understanding documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Applying basic mathematics in determining areas, quantities, adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying units of measure.
• Communicating and cooperating with city staff, supervisors, department personnel, seasonal help, volunteer crew, conservation crews, Sentence to Serve, Tree Trust crews and City contractors.
• Operating power equipment, tools, and hand tools.
• Skilled in implementing landscaping, ground maintenance and lawn care processes.

Work Environment:

The work involves some potential hazards and risks associated with exposure to various hazardous chemicals, fumes, human and animal waste; physical injury from operating power equipment and hand tools; working in and around moving equipment and parts; occasional lift operation and working at heights. Duties are performed in a variety of weather conditions. The work environment involves exposure to materials and situations that require following safety precautions and the use of protective equipment or safety procedures.

Physical Job Requirements:

Employee walks and stands; frequently using hands and fingers dexterously to handle or feel, talk, hear, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl; and on occasion sits in the performance of the job. Exerting up to 100 lbs. pounds of force on occasion, up to 50 lbs. frequently; and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.