Job Description

Posting number: 202603266

Department: PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Job classification: Park Operations Manager – Regional Parks and Specialty Use Facilities

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Management, Parks and Recreation

The City of Port St. Lucie is an equal opportunity employer.

This position requires the applicant to successfully pass a drug screening.

Please note that this is an external job posting intended for non-city employees. If you are a current city employee applying through this posting, your application will not be reviewed with other internal candidates. In order to be considered with internal candidates, please apply on the internal posting by clicking HERE

Overall management and supervision of a diversified segment of the Parks and Recreation Department responsible for daily operations of Regional and Specialty Use Parks, including skilled supervisory work in natural turf, synthetic turf and groundskeeping and landscape and irrigation operations. Under the direction of the Assistant Director-Parks, responsible managerial work overseeing a variety of administrative, supervisory, and procedural functions involving operations and maintenance pertaining to city Regional and Specialty use parks. Coordinates divisional and interdepartmental activities as directed. Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the City.

This position is considered an "Essential Position" for the purpose of Emergency Management. Emergency duties will be assigned as needed. This position requires 24 hours a day, 7 days per week availability during City of Port St Lucie emergencies, as determined by City Administrators, Emergency Manager or City Officials.

Examples of duties

The following duties are illustrative for this position. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Keeps the mission, vision, and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintains high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Direct and oversees daily operations, maintenance functions, and staff through direction to Supervisors.
• Responsible for educating the public about park rules and regulations.
• Performs assigned administrative duties and functions.
• Assembles and maintains pertinent division and department records.
• Prepares and recommends procedural tasks and policies for approval and implementation.
• Handles personnel-related items, disciplinary investigations, and conducts recruiting functions and orientations to new hires.
• Evaluates subordinates and reviews evaluations completed by Parks Supervisors.
• Performs and reviews purchasing functions including cost estimates, requisitioning, and invoicing.
• Assists in preparing division budgets and inventory control. Analyzes monthly budget documents to track expenditure.
• Provides project management for operating and capital improvement projects.
• Conducts and documents site safety inspections related to working conditions, facilities safety and procedures, coordination or projects, and recommendations for improvements.
• Administers, supervises, inspects, and documents various grounds maintenance and improvement contracts in coordination with department staff and Office of Management and Budget.
• Prepares and documents investigations of public complaints and requests for services.
• Recommends and directs training programs and procedures in conjunction with the department’s Safety & Training Manager.
• Attends and chairs various division and department meetings.
• Serves as a coordination liaison with interdivisional staff for functions and activities.
• Plans and coordinates with the Turf and Landscape Supervisor the development of turf/landscaping maintenance programs and synthetic turf maintenance and operations.
• Performs and supervises turf landscaping and maintenance.
• Ability to recognize common pests affecting landscape plants and turfgrass, diagnose symptoms, and differentiate insect damage from disease or environmental stress.
• Proficiency in identifying a wide range of invasive, noxious, and turf-related weeds to support appropriate control and management strategies.
• Knowledge of major warm-season and cool-season turfgrass cultivars, their growth characteristics, maintenance needs, and environmental tolerances.
• Ability to identify signs of fungal infections and other turf or plant diseases, including early symptom recognition and appropriate response recommendations.
• Installs and repairs turf and drainage systems.
• Inspects irrigation systems and makes repairs.
• Proposes and installs new and upgrades to irrigation systems.
• Leads and supervisors Regional Parks and Specialty use facility maintenance crews.
• Operates motor vehicles and equipment and performs preventative maintenance on same.
• Supervises and performs chemical calibrations and applications and fertilization of turf and landscapes to ensure accurate delivery rates based on product labels, site conditions, and turf/landscape needs and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
• Oversee the fertilizer and pesticide applications for Regional and Specialty Use facilities
• Manages subordinate park supervisors who supervise employees in the department. Also directly supervises non-supervisory employees.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with City’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Turf Management, Horticulture, Landscape Management, Environmental Science or a related field is required. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Turf Management, Horticulture, Landscape Management, Environmental Science, or a related field is preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in parks operations, turf and landscape maintenance, sports field management, or grounds maintenance, with demonstrated experience in the maintenance and repair of natural and synthetic turf, installation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems, operation and preventative maintenance of specialized turf equipment, and the calibration and application of chemicals and fertilizers for turf and landscaped areas. A minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience overseeing full-time staff, maintenance crews, or contractors is required. Five (5) years of experience managing Golf Courses/sports fields, including design, construction, or maintenance of natural grass and synthetic turf surfaces, is required. Experience in a municipal or public-sector parks environment is preferred.

A comparable amount of training, education or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Possession of valid driver’s license and maintenance of clean driving record required with the ability to obtain a valid Florida driver’s license within 30 days from date of hire.
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector certification required, or to obtain within twelve (12) months of the date of hire.
• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional preferred.
• Commercial Turf and Ornamental Pesticide License required or the ability to obtain it within twelve (12) months from date of hire
• Commercial Aquatic Applicators License preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Knowledge, skill, and ability to control drainage as it relates to sports fields, including the use of laser grading equipment.
• Knowledge of landscape and turf maintenance and installation and related equipment
• Knowledge and Skill to organize and manage all aspects of landscape and turf maintenance and installation techniques.
• Skill in operation and preventative maintenance of the tools and equipment related to the position.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor under adverse weather conditions.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of Parks & Recreation management and operations.
• Knowledge of Parks & Recreation issues and terminology.
• Knowledge of various sports fields design, construction, and maintenance that includes natural grass and synthetic turf
• Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to implement and maintain complex records.
• Ability to exercise discretion and implement judgment.
• Ability to delegate authority, plan, organize, and review the work of technical and clerical personnel.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive professional decisions in the resolution of division problems.
• Ability to focus on the positive in every situation.
• Ability to model respect for individuals, teams, and the organization.
• Ability to stay centered when challenged.
• Ability to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the department and public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow through with assigned tasks.

Supplemental information

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions that may be adverse and extreme (heat, humidity, cold, rain, etc.). The employee is frequently exposed to noise, dust, fumes, airborne particles, uneven surfaces, heights, and stressful situations.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Documentation Requirements

Please Read Carefully

Applicants, including City of Port St Lucie employees, must upload and submit attached copies of their education credentials with the employment application. Please be sure to attach all required documents to your employment application each time you apply. Uploaded documents remain in your online profile, but they will not attach automatically, and you will be deemed ineligible without the proper documentation.

ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED MUST BE CLEAR, LEGIBLE, AND IN PROPER FORMAT.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT(S) ARE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION AND ARE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF:

1. Proof of education in the form of a diploma, degree, or transcripts. Foreign diplomas/degrees must be submitted with a credential evaluation report from an approved credential evaluation agency*. Translations of diplomas/degrees are not accepted. Audit/Academic reports are not accepted as substitutions for college transcripts.
2. Driver's License: A Valid Driver's License from any state (Equivalent to a State of Florida Class E) may be utilized upon application; however, within thirty (30) days from the date of hire, a State of Florida Driver's License (Class E or higher) must be presented.

*Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies:

Credential evaluation reports showing the United States equivalency for academic credentials earned in other countries may be provided by:

• An accredited four-year college or university in the United States, OR
• A current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), OR
• A current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), OR
• A recognized Professional Organization

For an additional list of approved credential evaluation agencies, visit the Florida Department of Education

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents submitted with the employment application are in a format that is acceptable, clear, and legible for eligibility determination or risk being disqualified.

Applicants, including City of Port St Lucie employees, must completely detail their work experience on the employment application or risk being disqualified. Resumes will not be reviewed in place of the employment application.

It is the applicant's responsibility to update their online profile with personal data, work experience, education, and certifications when submitting application(s); failure to do so may result in disqualification.