TRADES TECH I

Salary Schedule

About the Role

Under administrative direction, this position performs supervisory and technical application of pesticides and herbicides, including planning, organizing, and coordinating OCPS’s Integrated Pest Management operations and herbicide applications. The incumbent applies technical knowledge and skills to the assigned functional area and must understand environmental principles involved with pesticide and herbicide applications. Essential functions vary by assignment and include related work as directed.

Responsibilities

• Responds to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
• Collaborates with district maintenance and construction personnel, other departments, private/public contract service providers, and school administration to plan and coordinate tasks and provide project scopes.
• Reviews and/or assists in preparing contracts, bids, and associated specifications for vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the Grounds Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program.
• Ensures adherence to prescribed pesticide and herbicide application schedules and established district, state, federal, and environmental policies and standards.
• Reviews facilities and property maintenance work orders, preliminary plans, and proposals to determine feasibility and advisability.
• Ensures cleanliness, order, and environmentally safe conditions of district property; addresses safety concerns efficiently and reports environmental or maintenance issues.
• Operates OCPS Grounds’ vehicles with trailers, including herbicide spray rigs.
• Discusses maintenance and repair projects with schools, private contractors, and district officials; prioritizes and coordinates project specifications.
• Supervises and delegates tasks to assigned personnel; inspects progress of ongoing projects and provides updates to upper-level management.
• Plans and schedules major repairs, renovations, and landscape projects to minimize disruption to school activities and enhance landscape appearance.
• Interacts with private consultants/contractors and inspects contractual work for compliance with plans and specifications.
• Oversees proper care, use, and maintenance of equipment, tools, materials, and vehicles; ensures safe equipment operation.
• Stays updated on current technology relevant to the position and attends training to maintain required skill levels.

Marginal Functions

• Performs related duties as directed.

Requirements

• Vocational/technical training in landscaping and pest control.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively knowledgeable and technically skilled work in the horticultural trade, with some experience in a lead worker capacity demonstrating coordination, delegation, and inspection of duties.
• Technical knowledge of applicable laws, codes, ordinances, or regulatory standards governing the trade, preferably in a large commercial or industrial institution.
• Understanding of environmental principles related to pesticide and herbicide applications.
• State of Florida limited certification in lawn and ornamental pest control.
• Must obtain a State of Florida Structural certification within six (6) months of hire.

Performance Aptitudes

• Data Utilization: Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and assess data using established criteria, including discretion in determining consequences and selecting alternatives.
• Human Interaction: Ability to provide leadership, guidance, and interpretation to others on applying procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Ability to operate, maneuver, and control electric and gas-powered service equipment, hand-held maintenance tools, computers, and associated programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Outlook).
• Verbal Aptitude: Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Functional Reasoning: Ability to follow written, oral, diagrammatic, or scheduled instructions and perform semi-routine standardized work with some independent judgment.
• Situational Reasoning: Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in dynamic situations involving frequent change.

ADA Compliance

• Physical Ability: Regular and sustained performance of moderately physically demanding tasks, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling objects weighing 20-50 pounds.
• Sensory Requirements: Visual perception and discrimination; oral communication ability.
• Environmental Factors: Potential exposure to adverse conditions such as dust, fumes, wetness, humidity, machinery, vibrations, temperature extremes, electrical currents, bright/dim lighting, and toxic/poisonous agents during inspections.

The Orange County School District provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions upon request.