Park Technician

POSITION: Maintenance Technician

DEPARTMENT: Parks

LOCATION: Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park

WORK SCHEDULE: M-F, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM

JOB CATEGORY: Full-Time

SALARY: $18.79 per hour

STATUS: Open

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATES: Until Filled

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. St. Joseph County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Park Maintenance Technician for the St. Joseph County Parks & Recreation Department, responsible for performing general upkeep and maintenance of County parks, facilities and grounds.

Benefits  

Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans

Paid Vacation, Personal, and Sick Days

Employer Paid Life Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care

Gym Membership Discounts

Employer-Funded Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF)

Access to additional voluntary benefits and resources

Responsibilities  

Maintain park buildings, grounds, trails, and playgrounds, including painting; mowing grass; trimming and cutting shrubs and trees; cutting and splitting firewood; landscaping; seeding and planting; spraying pesticides and herbicides; applying fertilizers; raking leaves; and removing trash and debris. 

Assist in maintaining safety during ice and snow conditions, including snow removal and applying salt to sidewalks and roadways as needed during winter months. 

Clean and service restrooms, including sweeping and mopping floors; cleaning toilets and urinals; removing and replacing trash bags; cleaning walls and ceilings; and restocking soap and paper products. 

Maintain shelters and rental buildings by sweeping floors; removing trash and replacing trash bags; wiping tables and seating areas; dusting; and cleaning windows. 

Maintain park facilities and equipment, including repairing or replacing picnic tables, fences, and playground equipment; replacing light bulbs and filters; and performing minor plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and carpentry repairs. 

Regularly operate a variety of trucks, heavy equipment, and tools, including backhoe, front-end loader, dump truck, snowplow, tractors, mowers, wood splitters, chippers, weed eaters, hedgers, trimmers, pruners, chainsaws, drills, paint sprayers, welding equipment, cutting torches, and various hand and power tools. 

Perform preventive maintenance on department trucks, tractors, and equipment, including checking fluids and completing routine inspections. 

Perform related duties as assigned. 

Carry out assignments according to established policies and procedures, with work priorities determined by the supervisor and service needs of the public. 

Refer policy or procedural interpretation questions to supervisor as needed; work is reviewed through procedural safeguards and supervisory oversight. 

Report directly to the Park Leader.

Qualifications  

High school diploma or GED required. 

Working knowledge of department policies and procedures and applicable OSHA safety policies and procedures, with the ability to apply them in daily work activities. 

Working knowledge of methods, practices, and materials used in grounds and facility maintenance. 

Knowledge of safety precautions and practices related to pesticides, herbicides, and cleaning chemicals, including the ability to read and understand label directions for proper mixing and application. 

Ability to safely operate a variety of trucks, heavy equipment, and tools used in park and facility maintenance. 

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, and the public, maintaining sensitivity to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities. 

Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct standards. 

Ability to maintain confidentiality of department information and records in accordance with state requirements. 

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out verbal and written instructions. 

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a team environment, often while managing multiple tasks simultaneously. 

Ability to plan and lay out assigned projects, apply knowledge of park locations and operations, and perform simple arithmetic calculations. 

Ability to read and interpret equipment and technical manuals, instruments, gauges, and dials. 

Ability to meet all hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test. 

Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

Physical Requirements  

Ability to perform continuous physical exertion in the performance of essential job duties. 

Lift and carry up to 50 pounds and perform moderate to heavy lifting as required. 

Perform overhead work; push, pull, bend, crouch, kneel, reach, sit, stand, and walk for extended periods, including on uneven terrain. 

Drive for extended periods and operate vehicles safely in varying and adverse weather conditions. 

Climb ladders and work at heights, as well as in awkward or confined positions. 

Walk and work on uneven, slippery, wet, or icy surfaces. 

Operate hand and power tools safely and effectively. 

Perform duties requiring close and distance vision, color and depth perception, hearing for sounds and verbal communication, manual dexterity, and effective communication skills. 

Work primarily outdoors and in a garage environment with frequent exposure to hazards associated with park and facility maintenance, including heavy machinery, excessive noise, traffic, moving parts, toxic chemicals, dust, dirt, fumes, extreme temperatures, and inclement weather conditions. 

Wear required protective clothing and equipment. 

Respond to emergency situations, which may include exposure to downed power lines, fallen trees, and other hazardous conditions. 

Occasionally work extended hours, evenings, and weekends. 

Occasionally serve on 24-hour call for snow removal during winter months. 

Occasionally travel out of town for training, sometimes overnight.