Seasonal Park Specialist

About the role

This is a non-exempt, seasonal position limited to 1,300 hours annually. Under the supervision of the Parks Crew leaders, Horticulture Crew leader, and the immediate supervisor. This position is distinguished by working completely independent or leading a crew of other seasonal workers. The employee will be expected to preform unskilled/semi-skilled work with independence and initiative in the maintenance and upkeep of city-maintained properties.

Responsibilities

• Cleans, maintains, and services equipment and tools.
• Maintains and performs light repairs of equipment, buildings, and grounds of the Parks and Recreation department.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.
• May be required to lead a crew of other seasonal employees in special projects.
• Safely operate light-duty vehicles, and trash trucks for driving to work locations and performing the essential functions of the position.
• Safely operates a variety of hand tools, such as trash picker, mop, broom, shovels, rakes, and gas-powered equipment such as chainsaws and portable power washer.
• Affords assistance in picking up trash within the work areas, parks, and streetscapes to dispose of properly.
• Operates vehicles and equipment in either specific or a variety of maintenance, construction and/or utility tasks to include light-duty vehicles, trucks, tractors, backhoes, trenchers, blowers, various other power equipment and hand tools.
• Affords assistance in the Parks trash removal program which includes emptying trash receptacles, clean and stock public bathrooms, graffiti removal, minor painting, and power washing.
• Loads and disposes of trash, debris, and refuse at various park locations.
• Maintains sprinkler and drip irrigation systems throughout the city.
• To assist in the inspection, adjustment, repair, replacement, and installation of irrigation system components including valves, heads, controllers, supply, lines, pumps, drip line and drip emitters.
• Cleanup of public bathrooms, disposal of trash, debris, and other janitorial/custodial duties in the assigned areas.
• The employee may be assigned to cut grass, prepare, and maintain ballfields for games or practices.
• Drag the baseball/softball infield, using a field drag machine to build, repair and patch holes around the pitching mound, home plate, and turf playing field.
• Prepares fields using chalk and/or a paint striping machine to paint base and foul lines. Sets up base blocks/anchors, and pitching mounds using tape measures, line level, and string.
• Loads and unloads dirt, gravel, trash, and other debris.
• May be required to care, cultivate, monitor, and maintain nursery plants for use within the city greenhouse.

Important Functions

• Affords assistance with the general maintenance of all city parks facilities.
• Performs emergency duty after normal working hours.
• This position may require working weekends.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Lifting and carrying moderate to heavy weight (up to 96 pounds).
• Driving motor vehicles.
• Considerable walking and standing, as well as other activities requiring a full range of body movement, including bending, kneeling, leaning, sitting, stooping, crouching, pushing, pulling, and climbing.
• Frequent hand/foot/eye coordination for operation of tools, equipment, and vehicles.
• Far and near visual acuity to read manuals, record data, monitor/observe instruments, gauges, and to safely operate equipment/vehicles to adequately perform maintenance operations.
• Ability to hear verbal instructions, warning signals and for troubleshooting.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of commercial irrigation systems and related components and/or the ability to learn about commercial irrigation systems.
• Materials, tools, and equipment used to perform irrigation maintenance.
• Occupational hazards and safety precautions.
• Knowledge of turf maintenance, and the operation of turf maintenance equipment.
• Knowledge of the preparation of recreation and professional athletic fields.
• Knowledge of greenhouse practices, care of plants, including cultivating plants from seed, splitting, transplanting and propagating, trimming and pruning.
• Knowledge of the types and application of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers.
• Requires Ability To Use common hand tools, such as shovels, pickaxes, hammers, screwdrivers, etc.
• Operates motorized vehicles and other related equipment.
• Establish and maintain effective, harmonious, cooperative, and productive working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions and posted schedules.
• Follow city policies and regulations.
• Perform all job duties in a safe manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have legal authorization to work in the United States of America.
• Must submit to and pass a pre-employment background check.
• Must submit to and pass a preemployment drug screen.
• A valid driver’s license at the time of application, and a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of employment.
• Licenses restrictions that may hinder your ability to drive on City business, such as an interlock, will be cause for disqualification.
• During the course of employment, a valid license must be maintained, and the employee must notify the City immediately upon changes to the status of their license.

Special Conditions Of Employment

• This position involves outdoor work with exposure to all weather conditions, noise, fumes, dust, and various cleaning chemicals.
• The work may also be performed around water, electrical currents, traffic, and other potentially hazardous conditions.
• All required licenses and certifications must be maintained throughout the term of employment.
• Failure to obtain or maintain licenses and certifications may result in demotion or termination.
• Due to Federal and State Criminal Justice System access requirements, classifications that access and maintain criminal justice information may also be required, as a condition of employment, to not have been convicted of and/or have pending charges of a felony or misdemeanor crime that would deny or otherwise restrict access to criminal justice information.
• This requirement applies to all existing City employees as well as external candidates seeking to fill positions that meet the given criteria.

Benefits

For Temporary/Seasonal Positions Because of its reduced schedule, temporary and seasonal employment with the City gives you the time to maintain a quality work/life balance and offers the following benefits:

• As a PERA member you contribute a percentage of every check to PERA in exchange for a lifetime defined benefit, or pension.
• City of Pueblo Temporary and Seasonal Employee Sick Leave Benefits Beginning January 1, 2021, all employers in Colorado are required to provide paid sick leave to employees under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (“HFWA”). Said leave is accrued at one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours.
• Said leave may be used for any of the following reasons: The employee has a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; needs a medical diagnosis, care, or treatment related to such illness, injury, or condition; or needs to obtain preventive medical care.
• The employee needs to care for a family member who has a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; needs a medical diagnosis, care, or treatment related to such illness, injury, or condition; or needs to obtain preventive medical care.
• The employee or family member has been the victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or harassment and needs to be absent from work for purposes related to such crime;
• A public official has ordered the closure of the school or place of care of the employee's child or of the employee's place of business due to a public health emergency, necessitating the employee's absence from work.
• Consistent with the HWFA, part-time temporary and seasonal employees of the City shall not carry forward more than forty-eight (48) hours of unused sick leave from one year to the next.
• Pueblo Municipal Code 6-6-5.5, 6-6-5 and 6-6-6 City employment as a temporary or seasonal employee means that the most you can expect to work is 1300 hours in a calendar year. Depending on the work schedule required by the hiring department, this means more time to spend with your family and/or doing other activities.