Apprentice Facilities Worker - Parks and Recreation

City of Fort Lauderdale; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Fort Lauderdale is seeking an entry-level Grounds Maintenance worker to perform outdoor custodial and landscape tasks in parks and public spaces. You may assist with planting, mowing, graffiti removal, and tool maintenance as part of a crew under supervision.

Requires a high school diploma or GED and a Florida Class E driver’s license. The role involves strenuous physical work, regular shifts, and potential emergency response duties.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency required.
• Valid Florida Class E driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Experience or familiarity with manual maintenance tasks is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Weed, fertilize, and water ornamental plant beds; assist in plant bed installation.
• Operate lawn care and trimming equipment to maintain grassy areas.
• Clean and maintain parks, medians, and facilities; collect litter.
• Trim and prune trees and shrubs using hand tools and polesaws.
• Paint over graffiti and clean affected areas with appropriate materials.
• Perform basic maintenance on park furniture and tools.
• Operate light trucks and other City equipment as needed.
• Assist with loading debris and storing tools and supplies safely.
• Follow supervisor directions and work as part of a crew.

Skills

Manual maintenance knowledge

Physical stamina

Education

High School Diploma or GED equivalency

Florida Class E driver's license

Tools

Hand tools

Gas-powered equipment

Lawn mowing equipment

Job description

Position Summary

May perform entry-level facility and or grounds maintenance duties, which may include minor repairs, cleaning restrooms, landscape, trash pick-up, etc. Work requires strenuous physical outdoor work, often under unfavorable conditions.

In accordance with Article 24 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Teamsters Local Union 769, for posting purposes this open-competitive job posting shall be considered as a simultaneous internal and external posting (it is open to both internal City employees and external applicants).

Essential Job Functions

• Hand weeds, fertilizes, and waters ornamental plant beds; may assist in the installation and maintenance of annual plant beds
• Operates gas-operated trimming/edging equipment to trim/edge around trees, signs, landscaped beds, etc.; waters and fertilizes lawn areas
• Operates smaller gas-operated riding lawn mowers and large push mowers to cut grass in parks, medians, and other City-maintained areas and facilities
• Picks up litter and debris by use of pick sticks, blowers or vacuums; empties trash receptacles
• Trims and prunes trees, shrubs and bushes from ground level by use of hand tools such as hand clippers and pole saws; loads trucks with trimmings and other debris
• Paints over graffiti using either roller or brush; and/or removes graffiti via use of proper cleaning materials (including chemicals/solvents)
• Maintains and cleans areas using rakes, hoes, shovels, blowers, and related tools and equipment
• Performs minor maintenance and repair to park furniture and related equipment
• Operates light trucks and other automotive equipment as needed
• Performs a variety of other manual tasks including digging/shoveling sand and dirt; lifts, loads and properly stores tools and equipment; performs basic maintenance to tools and equipment; mulches landscaped areas
• Performs basic maintenance of tools and equipment
• Performs related work as required or directed by crew leader or supervisor

Job Requirements, Preferences & Work Environment

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalency
• Some knowledge of manual maintenance work methods, procedures, tools, equipment and tasks
• Possess a current and valid State of Florida Class "E" driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• To claim Veterans' Preference, candidates must attach to the application a copy of military separation papers (DD214) and service-connected disability documentation (if applicable) to meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by Florida Statues. For additional information, please refer to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. (link: https://floridavets.org/benefits-services/veterans-preference/)

As public servants, employees may be required to work immediately before, during, and/or after an emergency. All employees must be available and able to work assigned shifts as determined by their Department Heads.

Physical Standards Required To Perform Essential Job Functions

The position involves heavy physical demands, such as exerting up to 100 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects. Must be able to bend and stoop repeatedly and/or continuously over time in order to weed plants, pick up trash, and to perform other maintenance tasks. 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.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity, Veteran's Preference Employer and Drug Free Workplace.

The City of Fort Lauderdale offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance.

The City of Fort Lauderdale participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) which offers an investment option and a pension option and requires a 3% contribution from employees. All new City of Fort Lauderdale employees are automatically enrolled in FRS.