Athletic Field Specialist (FL, Winter Garden) - City of Winter Garden

ATHLETIC FIELD SPECIALIST

This position requires scheduling flexibility.  The position is Monday through Friday, but requires flexibility to work additional hours, weekends, holidays, and events as needed.

This position has an On-Call requirement, once fully trained.

WORK OBJECTIVE

Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of athletic fields and adjunct facilities. Performs skilled and advances maintenance duties in the following areas: turf management, lining/painting of athletic fields, chemical spray application, pest identification, irrigation and/or equipment operation. Provides customer service to patrons of facilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs field maintenance duties including aerating, mowing, vertical cutting, weed abatement, top dressing and other duties as required.
• Performs proper maintenance techniques to ensure safe, playable surface including maintaining infield skin, infield lips, baselines, warning tracks, pitching mounds and home plate areas. Includes regular dragging, screen dragging, watering, mowing, edging, and trimming as required or as scheduled
• Paints and marks fields, sets bases and pitching mounds under applicable rules and specified dimensions. Provides set-up and cleaning of facilities for practices, games, tournaments and events. Performs general ground’s maintenance, repair and janitorial duties of fields, fencing, common areas, amenities, parking lots and other areas.
• Operates special equipment in the maintenance, repair and renovation of athletic facilities including but not limited to: Versa Vacs, Top Dressers, Drum Rollers, Sod Cutters, Aerators, etc.
• Conducts general inspections of athletic facilities to ensure the safety of the public. Reports potential safety hazards or maintenance issues to supervisor for follow up as necessary.
• Assist with planning and implementing annual renovation projects.
• Performs weekly sprinkler system operations testing, maintenance, repairs, programming and adjustments to irrigation systems.
• Utilizes Integrated Pest Management Techniques in the cultivation of natural turf surfaces and landscapes in a southern growing environment. Applies chemicals and fertilizers in accordance with State of Florida regulations/laws. When dealing with continuous or predictable pests, takes appropriate preventative measures to control plant damage.
• Oversee and participate in the preparation and application of a variety of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and other pest and disease eradication and control chemicals as necessary.
• Manages the safe handling, storage, and application of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides, ensuring proper calibration on chemical sprayers and granular spreaders

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A High School Diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of experience in applicable trade (athletic fields).
• Possession of a valid Driver's License.
• Must obtain an Ornamental & Turf Applicator's License, Florida GI-BMP License and a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class "B" within six (6) months from date of hire.
• Degree or certification in Turf Management, Sports Field Management or related field strongly preferred.
• Based on FMCSA regulations, applicants for employment and existing employees in positions requiring a CDL are subject to pre-employment, post-employment, and ongoing testing for controlled substances and alcohol as a condition of employment.

Exceptions to the minimum qualifications must be reviewed by the Assistant City Manager – Administrative Services and approved by the City Manager prior to job offer.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of equipment in the maintenance, repair and renovation of athletic facilities including, but not limited to: Versa Vacs, Top Dressers, Drum Rollers, Sod Cutters, Aerators, Boom Sprayer, Tractor, etc.
• Ability to work with customers in a courteous, efficient and tactful manner. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials and the general public.
• Ability to read chemical labels; read material safety data sheets (SDS).
• Ability to perform semi-skilled carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing and landscaping tasks.
• Knowledge of Work Order Management Systems.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

• Heavy manual labor in dusty and dirty environments. Occasional exposure to fumes from automotive exhaust, paints, chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers. Subject to inclement weather involving rain, heat, cold, etc. Exposure to mosquitos, flies, bees and other pests is also common. Bending, kneeling, stooping and climbing required.

The City of Winter Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Winter Garden provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.