Grounds Technician IV (Depot Park)

City Of Gainesville, FL; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

On-site fitness centers

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness program

Pension plan

Job summary

The City of Gainesville is seeking a Community Builder to lead a small crew in grounds and facilities maintenance at Depot Park Operations. You will supervise skilled tasks, perform landscaping, and operate multiple pieces of heavy equipment to keep city parks safe and inviting.

Qualification includes at least three years in laboring work with two years in a lead role, along with driving and equipment operation experience.

Qualifications

• Completion of high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma, and three or more years experience in laboring work, with at least two years as a lead worker or supervisor including the use of hand and power tools and motorized equipment including trucks, trailers, mowers and tractors, equipment maintenance, repair and construction work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversees field operations involving landscape maintenance within City Parks.
• Provides leadership and guidance to crew members.
• Performs skilled trail, grounds and landscaping work including pruning, mowing, fertilizing, and plant care.
• Operates motorized equipment such as mowers, tractors, backhoes, dump trucks, and trailers.
• Inspects equipment and performs scheduled preventative maintenance.
• Ensures park facilities are secured and responds to incidents as needed.
• Assists in cemetery site location work and related tasks.

Job description

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builder—an employee with the City of Gainesville— you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it’s a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life. Department: GG_Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs: Depot Park Operations Salary Range Minimum: $19.13 Salary Range Maximum: $29.85 Closing Date: 10/27/2026

Job Details

This is a semi-skilled and skilled lead craft work over a small crew performing grounds maintenance and facilities maintenance and construction. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of administrative and supervisory duties and from lower classes by its emphasis on skilled work requiring an above average degree of skill, knowledge and proficiency.

Job Description

SUMMARY

Semi-skilled and skilled lead craft work over a small crew performing grounds maintenance and facilities maintenance and construction. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of administrative and supervisory duties and from lower classes by its emphasis on skilled work requiring an above average degree of skill, knowledge and proficiency.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Depending on area of assignment: Oversees field operations involving landscape maintenance and maintenance and construction activities within City Parks.
• Provides leadership and knowledgeable guidance to crew members.
• Performs skilled trail, grounds and landscaping work including, but not limited to, pruning or trimming vegetation, pulling weeds, mowing, spraying or applying herbicide and fertilizer, raking or blowing leaves, edging curbs, loading trimmings onto truck, picking up trash and blowing or sweeping debris off parking lots and sidewalks.
• Utilizes a specialized knowledge of trees, shrubs, and bedding plants and horticultural practices to perform and oversee installation of city trees, shrubs, and bedding plants including, but not limited to, preparing planting sites, digging holes, setting and watering plants and preparing appropriate supporting structures.
• Operates motorized equipment such as mowers, tractors, frontend loader, backhoe trucks, dump trucks, and trailers used to transport materials and equipment to maintain parks, grounds, athletic fields and other areas.
• Operates other equipment as required.
• Services and washes vehicles.
• Inspects and performs scheduled preventative maintenance on assigned equipment including, but not limited to, checking and making appropriate adjustments, lubricating, performing fluid and filter changes, replacing components and lighting maintenance and repairs.
• Performs excellent care and cultural maintenance of athletic fields including, but not limited to, verticutting, aerating, top dressing and installation of clay in-fill materials, chalking, dragging and watering infields and warning tracks, packing holes on pitchers mounds, home plates and bullpens, laying out fields, painting lines and bases, picking up trash and removing practice equipment from fields.
• Performs skilled upkeep, maintenance and the assembly and repair of recreation equipment.
• Assists or performs skilled electrical, carpentry, plumbing, painting, concrete, and other trade work.
• Uses and maintains power hand tools, such as drill, nailing gun, and circular saws.
• Performs metal fabrication, cutting, welding and metal repairs.
• Installs and repairs fencing.
• Builds wood structures including pole barns, ramps, sheds, warehouses, pavilions, decks, concrete forms, fences and scaffolding.
• Performs hand and bench work in a carpentry shop.
• Performs excellent customer service by providing information and assistance to citizens who visit the City’s parks or conservation areas.
• Supports City special events and programs by updating, repairing and caring for displays and exhibits, moving and lifting of heavy equipment, tables, and chairs, setting up barricades and other temporary traffic control devices, providing flagging services and cleaning up at the end of events.
• Assists in moving and storing office equipment and cleaning and maintaining buildings and facilities.
• Ensures park facilities are properly secured after normal hours and responds to emergencies and disasters.
• Enforces compliance with building rules and regulations.
• Participates as a member of a trained, professional prescribed burn team.
• Participates as a member of a trained exotic pest plant control team.
• Diagnoses weed and pest problems within City landscapes and performs corrective measures.
• Prepares and or enters work orders.
• Performs skilled cemetery site location work including, but not limited to, locating gravesites using maps, diagrams, surveys, posts, and probe and assessing area relative to obstacles and safety such as tree limbs, vegetation, monuments and irrigation.
• Performs skilled pre- and post-burial site work including, but not limited to, operating backhoe and dump truck to open grave, assisting vault company with vault installation and set up, directing funeral procession to site and operating frontend loader to close grave and recondition site.
• Assists Cemetery Coordinator with general inquiries directed to the office, lot sales, diagramming lots, and genealogy requests.
• Researches cemetery ownership and perpetual care records relative to burials and schedules services as necessary, ensures payment for services, ensures all ownership and authorization processes are properly completed and obtains official documents.
• Prepares daily work reports and visitor reports in a timely manner.
• Trains employees in cemetery field operations including rules and regulations, map reading and grave location procedures, equipment usage and methods of safe and efficient operations.
• Attends work on continuous and regular basis.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• May drive or operate other pieces of light, medium, or heavy equipment or trucks in the absence of regular equipment operators or truck drivers.
• May perform lead work in the absence of supervisor.
• May perform work of a lower classification.
• Will chauffeur other employees, depending upon assignment and work location.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma, and three or more years experience in laboring work, with at least two years as a lead worker or supervisor including the use of hand and power tools and motorized equipment including trucks, trailers, mowers and tractors, equipment maintenance, repair and construction work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Depending on area of assignment: A valid Florida Driver License is required, a class A or B CDL may be required at time of appointment or within 3 months of hire depending on job assignment and work location.* May be required to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications. May be required to obtain and maintain certifications for: S: 190/S-130, I-100 and Standards of Survival, and other specialized prescribed fire courses. May be required to obtain Sawyer Certification, Natural Areas Weed Management Certification or other training required to conduct natural resource management maintenance. May be required to obtain State of Florida Dept. of Corrections Inmate Training certification within 6 months of employment. *Information on whether or not a CDL license and which class: A, B, or C is required, will be provided by the hiring department based on their specific needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Depending on area of assignment: Knowledge of types and uses of common hand tools, materials, and standard equipment used in maintenance, construction, and repairs. Knowledge of horticultural practices and the tools and equipment used in landscape and grounds keeping. Knowledge of maintenance and construction methods related to parks, athletic fields and recreation equipment and playgrounds. Knowledge of precautions necessary to work safely with tools and mechanized equipment and around the public. Knowledge of Florida native plants and non-native invasive species. Ability to perform manual tasks involving physical strength and endurance under varying climatic conditions including working with herbicides and around smoke and extreme heat during prescribed burns. Ability to work effectively with coworkers and the general public, including angry and/or abusive individuals. Ability to read and understand detailed plans, complex work schedules and diagrams. Ability to work independently with little supervision. Ability to conform to grooming and dress codes (uniforms furnished).

NOTES

Pre-employment medical examination required, including satisfactory drug screening. Work requires physical strength and agility sufficient to safely perform all essential functions. Work may require performance of tasks outdoors under varying climatic conditions. Work may require exposure to hazardous conditions, prolonged noise levels, and noxious chemicals. Work may require performing tasks in and around heavy traffic. May be required to work outside business hours depending on departmental needs. Skill in this area will take three or more years to acquire. Note: May Require Assessment(s). May fill multiple positions. May establish an eligibility list.

The City of Gainesville offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. All ‘regular’ employees are eligible for traditional benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also offer great things like on-site fitness centers, tuition reimbursement, on-site medical staff and a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy. Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should notify the Human Resources Department at 352-334-5077 or TDD/TTY at 352-334-2292. Veterans' Preference Veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference ensures that veterans and eligible persons are given consideration at each step of the selection process. However, preference does not guarantee that a veteran or other eligible person will be the candidate selected to fill the position. Section 295.07, Florida Statutes (F.S.) specifies who is eligible for Veterans’ Preference. State of Florida residency is not required for Veterans’ Preference. If you are unable to apply online due to a disability, contact recruiting at [e-mail] or by calling 352-334-5077.

The City of Gainesville proudly employs more than 1,500 dedicated community builders who work every day to make a positive impact on our community. Our team includes professionals from a wide range of fields, from creative innovators and financial experts to public safety personnel and critical infrastructure engineers. We offer diverse and rewarding career opportunities across many departments and service areas, including General Government, Gainesville Police Department, Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Information Technology, Gainesville Fire Department, Regional Transit System, and more. No matter your background or expertise, you'll find meaningful opportunities to grow your career while serving the Gainesville community.