Irrigation Specialist

Arapahoe County Government; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 36,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Arapahoe County Government is seeking an Irrigation Specialist to maintain and improve irrigation systems across parks, open spaces, and agricultural sites. You will operate and troubleshoot central control systems, perform routine maintenance, and support water management programs.

The role requires extensive irrigation knowledge, the ability to work independently, and occasional leadership of field staff. Expect a four-day, 10-hour schedule (Tue–Fri) and outdoor work in varied conditions.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of irrigation principles, maintenance, and repair.
• Experience with central controller management, start-up, and winterization.
• Knowledge of GPS, GIS, ET-based data collection and monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Maintains irrigation systems for parks, open spaces, and agricultural sites including installation and repairs.
• Troubleshoots irrigation system issues and operates central control systems.
• Performs routine maintenance on irrigation clocks, valves, pumps, and pivots.

Skills

Irrigation systems

Central control systems

Water conservation

Pumps and electrical

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree in landscape horticulture or related

Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor / Technician

Tools

GPS devices

GIS / ET-based control systems

Job description

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Job Number:819
Salary:$26.58-$39.88
Department/Office: Open Spaces
Division: Operations
Location: 6934 S. Lima St., Centennial, CO, 80112
Job Type:Hourly Full-Time
Posting Date: 09/30/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026

The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we’re here for our neighbors on their best days—and their worst. We share our residents’ goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we’re proud to call home.

NOTE: The work schedule for this position is four 10‑hour days, Tuesday through Friday.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB:

The Irrigation Specialist is a field-based position with an emphasis on landscape irrigation systems, including but not limited to athletic fields, natural grass areas, perennial beds, urban tress, and agricultural irrigation pivots. The Specialist will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the irrigation systems at Arapahoe County Open Spaces properties. This position also serves as a member of the Operations Team supporting general field operations and maintenance of County open spaces, parks and trails as assigned by supervisor.

DUTIES:

• Maintains irrigation systems for parks, open spaces, and agricultural sites to include installing new systems / parts, irrigation start up and winterization, routine inspections and maintenance, and minor and major repairs/renovations.
• Troubleshoots and diagnoses plumbing, electrical, pump and controller issues related to irrigation systems to ensure efficient system operations. Must be able to operate an irrigation central control system and manage associated clocks and monitoring equipment.
• Performs routine maintenance on irrigation systems including irrigation clocks, spray heads, lateral/main lines, booster pumps, backflows, agricultural irrigation pivot systems to optimize equipment functionality and efficiency of water delivery.
• Implements irrigation operational plans and water conservation programs for divisional properties.
• Reads construction documents relating to irrigation plans to understand system components, system design and operations. Provide input for plans for new irrigation systems, landscape, and turf areas in partnership with planning division staff.
• Performs installation, maintenance, and repairs on wells, pumps, and their associated electrical systems not requiring a licensed electrician. Maintain irrigation ponds including but not limited to maintaining water levels, removing vegetation/debris and other issues affecting irrigation ponds.
• Operates parks, horticulture, forestry and trail maintenance equipment including but not limited to county vehicles, seeders, mowers, spray equipment, chainsaws, plows, power tools, tractors, UTVs, dump trucks, trailers, skid steers, front-end loaders, bucket trucks, and mini excavators.
• Assesses conditions of turf, natural areas, horticultural beds, and irrigated trees. Oversees appropriate irrigation system maintenance, programming, and monitoring to support plant health and resiliency.
• Performs landscape and grounds maintenance duties on Arapahoe County parks, turf, irrigation systems, traditional/synthetic sports fields, landscape beds, and other related facilities.
• Coordinates with management staff to ensure well permits with the State of Colorado are kept up to date. Responsible for staying within permitted water rights usage volumes. Position reports water meter readings to various water authorities on established timeframes.
• Understands and adheres to safe work practices and procedures. Monitor parks, open spaces, trailheads, and trails for safety issues and compliance with County standards and policies.
• Maintains assorted records and reports utilizing County software applications to track work reporting/monitoring, develop work orders, and ensure efficient use of irrigation water.
• Supports the overall operation of all Arapahoe County Open Spaces properties when necessary.
• Supports the removal of debris and snow from open spaces, parks, trailheads, trails, and sidewalks using sweeping and snow removal equipment. Supports County level snow removal and emergency management operations when necessary.
• Supports the operations and logistics associated with special events occurring at the 17-Mile House Farm Park, the Fairgrounds Event Center or through Departmental partnerships.

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques of irrigation (including central controller management, start-up, and system winterization) management, maintenance, and repair.
• Extensive knowledge and skills in the use of materials, tools, and equipment used in irrigation and park maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge in the use and application of GPS devices, geographic information systems, evapotranspiration, and other technologies to collect field data, monitor, and manage irrigation systems and associated assets.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques of parks, open space, trail and landscape management and maintenance.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices. Ability to train and educate field staff on these practices.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Best Management Practices in turf management and irrigation system installation, operation,monitoring, and maintenance.
• General knowledge of horticulture includes annuals, perennials, plant identification and basic landscape design and installation.
• Use of maintenance management and work order software to track time and effort required to manage irrigation, turf and horticultural programs and activities.
• Ability to work independently on a regular basis and occasionally lead a team of field staff.
• Ability to apply pesticides/herbicides as part of an integrated pest and turf management program.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions which includes communicating in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing. Ability to produce field reports and provide data summaries.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, general public, internal and external customers.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):

• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Integrity

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED
• Four (4) or more years of grounds maintenance experience with a focus on turf irrigation (pump station maintenance / VFD controllers, ET-based central control systems).
• Two (2) or more years of experience coordinating a work crew and/or volunteer groups.
• Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Associate degree in landscape horticulture, turfgrass management, soil science, or related field.
• Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, Irrigation Technician, or related field.

Pre-Employment (or within time frames after employment) Additional Requirements:

• Possession of or ability to obtain within six (6) months, a valid First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
• Possession of a valid Colorado Class R Driver’s License (Motor Vehicle Report is required at time of interview. Maintenance of acceptable driving record is necessary.)
• Ability to obtain a Colorado Class A Commercial Driver’s License within one (1) year of employment. Must be able to pass Commercial Driver’s license health exam and maintain CDL license while employed with Arapahoe County Open Spaces.
• Must pass pre-employment motor vehicle check, physical, background check and drug screen.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Employee works indoors and out-of-doors, most of their time spent in the field often in extreme weather conditions and over rough terrain frequently near excavated holes and trenches. May occasionally be exposed to confine workspace or working at height.
• Employees in this position may be exposed to all the dangers associated with working outside, including but not limited to: pollen, animal dander, peanuts and other allergens, mouse droppings, snakes, insects, bites and stings and similar hazards.
• Available to work on-call hours in rotation, as needed.
• Available to work the County Fair, including preparations and take-down as well as other Open Spaces special events.
• Available to work during evenings, weekends, irregular hours, as needed. Serves as County essential personnel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

• Spends 20% of the time sitting and 80% of the time either standing or walking.
• Frequently lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 40 lbs.
• Frequently uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 40 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Definitions:

• Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
• Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
• Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

** Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.