Career Center

The Chief Parks and Grounds Worker position reports to the Parks Superintendent, and will serve a key role in the supervision, along with assisting in both short and long term, of daily operations and maintenance of City parks, sports fields, trails, open spaces, waterfront facilities, restrooms, art installations, and all other department associated work. This position will work with numerous departments, agencies, the local communities, and other groups daily while performing their daily tasks and responsibilities.

This position supervises the daily maintenance, operations, and repairs of irrigation throughout the entire City of West Sacramento, located in but not limited to, parks, sports fields, trails, open spaces, waterfront facilities, Lighting and Landscape Districts (L&L’s), Community Facility Districts (CFD’s), public facilities/buildings, etc. While this position reports directly to the Parks Superintendent, this position is expected to communicate, interact, and collaborate with multiple other City Departments, outside agencies, numerous sports leagues and user groups, event organizers, and the community on a daily basis. The daily work of this position requires an individual who is a self-starter, can work both independently and cooperatively, has good communication skills, and above all possesses a great attitude. Regular interaction with the public is to be expected, all while representing the Parks & Recreation Department and The City in the most professional manner.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience or qualifications in the following areas

• Previous experience with Central Irrigation Controllers and their associated software (Laguna, Rainmaster, etc.)
• Previous experience with 9-volt controllers (Hunter, Rainbird, Leits, etc.)
• Previous experience with operation, maintenance/repair, and programming of complex irrigation systems
• Previous experience with irrigation design and plan review.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within 6 months, Irrigation Association Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor Certificate
• Previous experience with operation and maintenance/repair of back flow devices
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within one year, Backflow Prevention Assembly General Tester Certification through The American Water Works Association (California-Nevada Section)
• Previous experience with operation and maintenance/repair of irrigation mechanical booster pumps
• Previous experience with basic principles, trouble shooting and repair of electrical systems and components (2 Wire Systems, controllers, GCFI’s, transformers, etc.) and the tools associated with this work (multi meters, line tracers, etc.)
• Previous experience supervising both full time and part time staff, including that of union staff

Along with these key areas, preference will be given to candidates with experience in sports field management, and pool/splash park maintenance, repair, and management, along with anything else related to a Parks O&M Environment. Previous experience can be attributed to past employment or any other experience working in a Parks/Grounds department, or that of a landscape, golf, or sports field background. Previous supervisory experience is highly desirable.

Certifications and licenses such as Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly General Tester, Certified Pool Operator (CPO), Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM), Certified Backflow Prevention Tester, Certified Arborist, Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), CDPR Certified Applicator License or Certified Applicator Certificate (QAL or QAC), CPR/First Aid Certification, along with any others pertaining to the Parks/Grounds/Irrigation/Turf/Tree Maintenance field are highly desired.

An official City of West Sacramento application form must be filled out, in its entirety. It is the applicant’s responsibility to explain their qualifications fully and clearly. In addition, applicants must submit a resume and complete the required supplemental questionnaire. Incomplete information on the application, resume and/or supplemental questionnaire may be cause for disqualification. Application packages will be reviewed and screened for qualifications. Additional screening criteria will be developed based on the supplemental questionnaire.

DEFINITION: The Chief Parks and Grounds Worker performs a variety of tasks required to maintain grounds, parks and recreational facilities. The Chief Parks and Grounds Worker is considered the senior level in this series, providing lead supervision and training to subordinate staff.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Receives general direction from the Parks and Grounds Superintendent. Exercises technical and functional direction and training over assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS: This is the advanced journey level, lead class in the Parks and Grounds Worker series that performs the most complex technical duties related to the City’s parks and grounds and recreational facilities. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Responsibilities include inspecting and attending to the assigned areas in a timely manner, performing a wide variety of tasks in the maintenance and repair of City parks and grounds, and providing technical and functional direction over assigned staff. This class is distinguished from the Parks and Grounds Superintendent in that the latter is the full supervisory/management level class responsible for organizing, assigning, supervising and reviewing the work of assigned staff involved in parks and grounds maintenance operations.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only):
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Assists the Parks and Grounds Superintendent in implementing goals, objectives, policies and priorities.
• Plans, prioritizes, leads and reviews the work of crews engaged in parks and recreational grounds maintenance, repair and construction.
• Assigns and performs and supervises various landscape maintenance activities.
• Supervises the preparation and application of chemicals and fertilizers which may require the use of air purifying respirators.
• Prepares and maintains records and reports including work schedules, payroll records, and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Supervises the planting and care of plants, trees, shrubs, and lawn areas.
• Assists with budget preparation and control.
• Provides or coordinates staff training.
• Provides input on the evaluation of assigned staff.
• Ensures adherence to proper safety precautions related to all work performed.
• Responds to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Attends meetings as required.
• Works directly with vendors.
• Maintains, repairs, and inventories park equipment.
• Assigns and performs overall supervision during the Superintendent’s absence.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and skill. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. College level coursework in forestry, horticulture, landscaping or construction is highly desirable.

Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in park operations, maintenance and construction. Previous supervisory experience is desirable.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES: Possession of a valid California driver’s license; possession of a pesticide application certificate issued by the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation is desirable.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Ability to wear and use air purifying respirators as regulated by CalOSHA.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must possess mobility to work out of doors; strength, stamina and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, operate varied hand and power tools and construction equipment; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio; fieldwork requiring frequent walking over uneven terrain to identify problems or hazards; finger dexterity to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator, and to operate the above mentioned tools and equipment; the ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites; lift, move, and carry materials and equipment weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, and heavier weights with the use of proper equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS: Employees work primarily in the field and are occasionally exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confined workspaces, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes.  Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Incumbents may be required to work various shifts on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

An applicant who qualifies for veterans’ preference and successfully places on an eligibility list for initial entrance into employment with the city shall be advanced one rank on the final eligibility list. Where there are five (5) or less qualified applicants, no veterans’ preference shall apply and all applicants shall be placed on the certification list forwarded to the departments for hiring consideration. The exercise of veterans’ preference shall be exhausted upon appointment to a regular position from an eligibility list.