Irrigation Specialist

Colorado Psychiatric; Colorado; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Arapahoe County Open Spaces seeks an Irrigation Specialist to maintain and improve irrigation systems across parks and agricultural sites. This field-based role requires diagnosing pump, controller, and electrical issues, performing startup/winterization, and supporting water conservation programs.

The ideal candidate has extensive irrigation knowledge, turf management experience, and the ability to train staff.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of irrigation principles, maintenance and repair.
• Extensive knowledge and skills in materials, tools, and equipment for irrigation and park maintenance.
• Knowledge of GPS, GIS, ET-based data collection and irrigation asset management.
• Knowledge of parks, open space, trail and landscape maintenance practices.
• Knowledge of safety practices and ability to train field staff.
• Understanding of Best Management Practices in turf irrigation and system operation.
• General horticulture knowledge including plant identification and landscape design baseline.
• Ability to use work order software to track irrigation, turf and horticultural activities.
• Ability to work independently and lead a team when needed.
• Ability to apply pesticides/herbicides as part of integrated pest and turf management.

Responsibilities

• Maintains irrigation systems for parks and agricultural sites, including startup, winterization, inspections, and repairs.
• Troubleshoots pumps, controllers, and electrical issues for efficient operation.
• Performs routine maintenance on clocks, heads, lines, boosters, and backflows to optimize water delivery.
• Implements irrigation plans and water conservation programs for divisional properties.
• Reads irrigation construction documents and provides input for new designs with planning staff.
• Repairs wells, pumps, and electrical systems; maintains irrigation ponds and water levels.
• Operates diverse maintenance and construction equipment and county vehicles.
• Monitors turf and plant health; oversees system maintenance and programming.
• Maintains records and reports using county software; supports event logistics and snow removal as needed.
• Ensures permits and water rights compliance; reports water meter readings to authorities.

Skills

Irrigation systems

Controller management

Pumps and electrical

GPS GIS

Pesticides herbicides

Field staff training

Safety practices

Team leadership

Pond maintenance

Water rights management

Education

Associate degree in landscape horticulture

First Aid/CPR/AED certification

CDL Class A

Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor/Technician

High school diploma or GED

Tools

GPS devices

ET-based central control systems

Maintenance management software

County software applications

Job description

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:

• 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.