Certified Groundskeeper

Charlotte, County of (FL); Port Charlotte (FL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte County is seeking a Certified Groundskeeper to maintain parks, athletic fields, playgrounds and public spaces. Responsibilities include mowing, edging, planting and turf care, plus irrigations, fertilization, and safe field renovations.

You’ll operate equipment, perform routine repairs, and assist in keeping facilities clean and welcoming. This hands-on role rewards attention to detail and pride in visible community impact.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Two years of experience in park or turf maintenance, landscaping, irrigation, and chemical applications desired.
• Must have a valid driver’s license; Florida DACS Public Applicators License within 12 months of assignment is required.

Responsibilities

• Mow, edge, plant, turf care and maintain athletic fields and parks.
• Prepare and renovate athletic fields and maintain irrigation systems.
• Apply fertilizers and approved treatments following regulations and safety procedures.
• Operate landscaping equipment and light vehicles; perform routine repairs and facility maintenance.
• Participate in on-call rotations; work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Ensure clean and well-kept park facilities and contribute to community safety and aesthetics.

Skills

Equipment operation

Safety awareness

Manual labor

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Outdoor work endurance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Irrigation systems knowledge

Job description

Turn your passion for the outdoors into a career that makes a difference! As a Certified Groundskeeper, you’ll help keep our parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, and public spaces looking their best and ready for the community to enjoy. From mowing, edging, planting, and turf care to preparing and renovating athletic fields, maintaining irrigation systems, and applying fertilizers and approved treatments, you’ll play an important role in creating safe, attractive, and welcoming outdoor spaces.

This is a hand-on position for someone who enjoys variety and takes pride in seeing the results of their work. You’ll operate landscaping equipment and vehicles, perform routine repairs and facility maintenance, inspect areas for safety concerns, and help maintain clean and well-kept park facilities. The position may include days, evenings, weekends, holidays, and participation in an on-call rotation. If you enjoy working outdoors, have a strong eye for detail, and want your work to have a visible impact on your community, we’d love to have you on our team!

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Two (2) years of experience in park or turf maintenance, landscaping, irrigation, and chemical applications.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Within twelve (12) months of position assignment:
  • Must possess and maintain Public Applicators License with the Ornamental and Turf category through the State of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) as per F.S.S. 487.

• Knowledge of departmental policies, plans, and procedures.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, plans, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other job-related computer programs and software applications.
• Knowledge of safe work methods and safety regulations and occupational hazards pertaining to the work.
• Knowledge of the operation and daily maintenance requirements of trucks and other light equipment.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques associated with soil preparation and enrichment, planting, transplanting, cultivation, pruning, and maintaining a variety of lawns, ground covers, plants, shrubs, hedges, and trees.
• Knowledge of methods and equipment used in the control of weeds, pests, insects and plant diseases.
• Skill in the basic maintenance and repair of irrigation systems.
• Skill in the use and maintenance of commonly used hand and power landscaping tools and equipment.
• Skill in effective communication, both orally and in writing.
• Skill in prioritizing and organizing work.
• Skill in the use of office equipment such as a computer, multi-line telephone system, scanner, fax machine, and copier.
• Ability to work independently within established procedural guidelines and to work in a team environment.
• Ability to wear required breathing and safety equipment during extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to make recommendations and to use resourcefulness and tact in solving new problems.
• Ability to ascertain priorities and meet deadlines and objectives.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to perform manual labor, sometimes under unfavorable weather conditions.
• Ability to operate automotive/all-terrain vehicles and light-duty motor vehicles.
• Ability to provide internal/external guidance and customer assistance via all forms of communication.
• Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting purposes.
• Ability to author reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, service providers, other employees, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, climbing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception. Frequent lifting of up to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is exposed to one or more disagreeable conditions (i.e., irate customers, outdoors weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme heat, odors, or dust).

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS

This position requires moderate exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, assault and battery, communicable disease, etc.).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.