Irrigation Specialist (Austin Parks and Recreation)

austintexas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation is seeking an experienced irrigation professional to design, install, and maintain irrigation systems across City facilities. The role involves troubleshooting, audits, and creating as-built drawings, with a focus on water conservation.

The candidate will plan watering schedules, monitor compliance with laws, and prepare detailed reports while coordinating with staff and partners. A Texas irrigator license and valid driver license are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 3 years irrigation installation/maintenance experience.
• Texas Class C Driver License; Landscape Irrigator's License or ability to obtain within 90 days.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops specifications for irrigation systems.
• Installs, troubleshoots, inspects, audits, and repairs irrigation systems.
• Plans and implements water conservation programs.
• Maintains detailed blueprints, diagrams, records, and reports.
• Creates accurate depictions of field installations (as-built drawings).
• Creates and oversees watering schedules considering rainfall, solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, and other factors.
• Obtains local permits for new installs and repairs.

Skills

Power tools

Irrigation systems

Hand tools

Data entry

Asset management

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Driver license (Texas Class C)

Landscape Irrigator's License

Job description

About This Position

Under limited supervision, this position designs, oversees, assigns, directs, and performs tasks in the installation, maintenance, and/or operation of irrigation systems.

Purpose

Under limited supervision, this position designs, oversees, assigns, directs, and performs tasks in the installation, maintenance, and/or operation of irrigation systems.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

• Designs and develops specifications for irrigation systems.
• Installs, troubleshoots, inspects, audits, and repairs irrigation systems.
• Provides technical expertise to design professionals, gardeners, volunteers, vendors, and City staff.
• Plans and implements water conservation programs.
• Monitors water quality and ensures compliance with all laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Maintains detailed blueprints, diagrams, records, and reports associated with City irrigation systems.
• Creates accurate depictions of actual field installations (as-built drawings).
• Creates and oversees watering schedules with consideration to rainfall, solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, and other factors.
• Operates all necessary equipment for the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
• Tests, as necessary, backflow devices.
• Performs cross-connection checks in accordance with City of Austin standards.
• Obtains local permits for new installs and repairs.

Other related duties may be assigned.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Knowledge of power tools.
• Knowledge of installation and operation of irrigation systems.
• Knowledge of proper safety practices, procedures.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to work being performed.
• Knowledge of water conservation initiatives and methods.
• Knowledge of irrigation controllers.Knowledge of backflow principles.
• Skill in irrigation system layout.
• Skill in planning, directing, or organizing the work of others.
• Skill in preparing simple reports.
• Skill in working from drawings, blueprints, plans, and specifications.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus three (3) years of experience in installing and maintaining irrigation systems.

Licenses and Certifications Required

• Texas Class C Driver License.
• Texas Landscape Irrigator's License or the ability to obtain within ninety (90) days of employment.
• Appropriate certification(s) or license(s) as specified for the assignment

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Experience managing non-potable water systems.
• Work experience using hand tools, powers tools and other maintenance equipment (e.g,drills, reciprocal saws, hammer drills, augers, snakes,)
• Experience with minor repairs in the areas of - restroom fixtures, drinking fountains, sinks, showers, and toilets.
• Experience with wireless remotes, icloud, Rainmaster, Hunter, Weathermatic, tablets in the fields to operate irrigation systems and perform data entry.

Preferred Licenses

• Back-flow Prevention Assembly Tester License or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.

Preferred Skills

• Intermediate computer skills, including knowledge in creating spreadsheets, memos, emails and asset management tracking reports.

Other

• Ability to travel to more than one location.

Notes to Candidate

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) provides, protects and preserves a park system that promotes quality recreational, cultural and outdoor experiences for the Austin community. Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Click HERE for more information.