Parks Manager

About the role

Under the general direction of the mayor and the parks board, manages and coordinates the operation, maintenance, and repair of the city’s parks; allocates materials and personnel resources; supervises and provides direction to all assigned personnel; evaluates employees’ performance; administers and/or recommends discipline or corrective actions; resolves complaints; prepares, submits for approval, and monitors parks budget; performs duties of parks maintenance worker as necessary.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required
• At least three (3) years of experience in parks maintenance, public works, general contracting, or a related field
• Previous supervisory or lead experience in a municipal or government setting preferred
• Solid understanding of general contracting, including basic construction, facility maintenance, project coordination, and working with vendors or contractors
• Experience with municipal operations such as budgeting, purchasing, and compliance with local and state regulations helpful
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills essential
• Comfortable interacting with the public, responding to community concerns, and working collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and local partners
• Commitment to serving the community and maintaining safe, welcoming parks and public spaces
• Flexible with scheduling, including occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays

Licensure & Certifications

• Must obtain a valid commercial driver’s license with appropriate endorsements within 60 days of employment
• Must obtain an Ohio Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License within six (6) months of employment
• Must maintain all required licenses and certifications and remain insurable under the city’s vehicle insurance policy for duration of employment

Equipment Operated

• Computer, copier, printer, and other standard office equipment
• Pickup truck, dump truck, backhoe, man lift
• Mowers, tractor, weed eater, chainsaw, pole saw
• Posthole digger, drill press, and other hand and power tools

Working Conditions

• Exposure to chemical compounds found in an office environment (e.g., toner, correction fluid)
• Works in the vicinity of floor or wall openings and/or elevated platforms
• Ascends and/or descends ladders, stairs, or scaffolds
• Works on and around powered platforms and/or vehicle mounted platforms
• Exposed to environmental conditions which may result in injury from fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and/or poorly ventilated work areas
• Exposed to possible injury from extremely noisy conditions above 85 db (e.g., mower, chainsaws)
• Exposed to possible injury from hazardous gases, chemicals, flammables, air contaminants, unclean or unsanitary conditions, electrical shock
• Works with moving mechanical parts of equipment or machines (e.g., mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, backhoe, man lift)
• Exposed to possible injury from falling from high places
• Works in or around crowds
• Contact with potentially violent or emotionally distraught persons or vicious animals
• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions
• Exposure to hazardous driving conditions
• Occasionally lifts objects 80 pounds or less
• Frequently carries objects 50 pounds or less
• Frequently pushes objects 80 pounds or less
• Classified as heavy work per U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings

Responsibilities

• 75% Manages and plans park operations, construction maintenance, and repair (plans and determines work priorities, assigns personnel, oversees work in progress, examines completed projects); works with schools, civic organizations, etc. to coordinate park maintenance activities with scheduled events within the park (e.g., cross-country, fishing derbies, sporting events, festivals, car shows); maintains inventory of materials and supplies and orders new materials and supplies as necessary; makes recommendations to mayor and parks board regarding improvements to the parks.
• 16% Manages city’s tree maintenance, removal, and plant program within the parks and public areas along city streets (examines existing trees for damage, disease, or infestation; determines trees that need care or removal); makes recommendations for removal and planting of trees; assigns staff to care for, remove, or plant trees which are the responsibility of the city; meets with property owners to discuss tree issues and to determine responsibility for trees in question.
• 3% Oversees and participates in pesticide applications on public properties; manages the city’s mosquito control program; prepares and maintains records of pesticide applications and submits any reports or records required by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
• 3% Participates in the planning of new parks, playground equipment, trails, fountains, gazebos, shelter houses, ball fields, memorials, etc.; oversees the installation or construction of such items by parks personnel or private contractors.
• 3% Performs duties of parks maintenance worker as necessary; may be assigned to assist with work normally performed by personnel in other divisions of the city.
• Maintains required licensures and certifications.
• Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge

• Bookkeeping
• Budgeting
• Inventory control
• Purchasing
• Goals and objectives of Parks Board
• Policies and procedures
• Government structure and process
• Workplace safety practices and procedures
• Grounds maintenance and repair processes
• Public relations
• Community resources and services
• Supervisory principles and practices
• Manpower planning
• Project management
• Vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair
• Records management
• Employee training and development
• Proper lifting techniques
• Forestry
• Grounds keeping (fertilization, aeration, irrigation, mowing, weed control, disease identification, etc.)
• Athletic field maintenance
• Heavy equipment operation

Skills

• Data entry
• Computer operation
• Use of modern office equipment
• Motor vehicle operation
• Operation of power equipment (e.g., chainsaws, line trimmers, etc