Irrigation Technician

Effingham County Chamber of Commerce; Springfield (GA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Effingham County is seeking a Grounds and Irrigation Technician to perform irrigation inspection, digging, trenching, equipment care, sanitation, and related landscape work across county parks and athletic facilities. You will operate vehicles and equipment, report leaks or hazards, keep records, and coordinate with inmate details under correctional procedures.

Requires a high school diploma or GED, at least one year of grounds-maintenance experience, and a valid driver’s license; willingness to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1 year of grounds-maintenance experience or related training.
• Equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
• Mandatory regulated-work credentials required; may not be waived.

Responsibilities

• Performs irrigation inspection, digging, trenching, and maintenance-support tasks.
• Operates vehicles, trailers, pumps, pressure washers, and hand/power tools after training and authorization.
• Observes irrigation performance, reports leaks, safety issues, or utility conflicts to supervisor.
• Cleans and performs equipment care and records service needs or defects.
• Cleans restrooms, pavilions, athletic complexes, parks, and other public spaces; handles sanitation procedures.

Skills

Irrigation operation

Grounds maintenance

Equipment care

Safety awareness

Tool operation

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Vehicles

Pressure washers

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

Performs assigned irrigation-support, grounds, landscape, sanitation, equipment-care, digging, trenching, and project work throughout parks and athletic facilities.

Essential Functions

• Performs assigned irrigation inspection, operation, digging, trenching, backfilling, and maintenance-support tasks within documented procedures, training, utility-location requirements, and delegated repair scope.
• Operates assigned vehicles, trailers, pumps, pressure washers, hand and power tools, and grounds or irrigation equipment only after required training, inspection, and authorization.
• Observes irrigation performance and reports leaks, breaks, pressure problems, overspray, drainage concerns, damaged components, unsafe conditions, or suspected utility conflicts to the authorized supervisor.
• Cleans, washes, greases, and performs operator-level equipment care and records or reports service needs, damage, defects, and unsafe conditions.
• Cleans restrooms, pavilions, athletic complexes, parks, landscaped areas, and other assigned public spaces and empties waste using approved sanitation and product-safety procedures.
• Pressure washes authorized buildings, sidewalks, equipment, boat ramps, and surfaces after controlling the area and following equipment and PPE procedures.
• Performs planting, gardening, grounds cleanup, erosion-control support, and related landscape work when assigned.
• Supports pest-management activities by observing and reporting conditions and performs pesticide handling or application only when authorized, trained, and within applicable credential and label requirements.
• Provides task instructions and communicates with authorized inmate details during daily work only within correctional procedures, tool controls, accountability requirements, and delegated authority.
• Records all hours worked, including required travel between sites, equipment inspection, setup, cleanup, training, special-event, weekend, call-back, or after-hours work.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assists other employees and departments with related irrigation, grounds, sanitation, setup, cleanup, and operational work.
• Maintains work, irrigation, equipment, supply, inspection, and incident records required by department procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no established supervisory responsibility over County employees. Providing task instructions to inmates does not confer County personnel authority. Direction of inmate labor must remain within correctional authorization and does not include hiring, discipline, evaluation, payroll, leave, or overtime authority.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic irrigation operation, digging and trenching safety, grounds maintenance, sanitation, equipment care, and safe manual-work practices; the required level of irrigation-system expertise is Pending Department Validation.
• Skill in operating authorized vehicles, pressure washers, hand tools, power tools, and grounds or irrigation equipment and in identifying observable leaks, defects, or hazards.
• Ability to follow work orders, utility-location requirements, schedules, equipment manuals, product labels, safety data sheets, PPE requirements, and tool-control procedures.
• Ability to distinguish operator-level irrigation support from regulated plumbing, electrical, backflow, utility, or excavation work requiring additional credential, permit, training, or authorization.
• Ability to communicate professionally with supervisors, coworkers, inmate details, event personnel, and the public and promptly report unsafe or unresolved conditions.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

High school diploma or GED.

Experience

One year of grounds-maintenance experience or related training.

Equivalent Combination

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered when it provides the required grounds, equipment, safety, and validated irrigation capabilities. Mandatory regulated-work credentials may not be waived by equivalency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating, inspecting, maintaining, or repairing park, landscape, or athletic-field irrigation systems.

Required Licenses and Certifications

Credential

Required By

Maintenance Requirement

Valid driver's license and County driving eligibility

Before operating a County vehicle

Maintain the license and satisfy County driving requirements.

Assignment-specific irrigation, excavation, utility-location, equipment, and safety training

Before independent work

Maintain required training and perform regulated work only within current credential, permit, and authorization requirements.

Inmate-detail supervision and security training required by the responsible correctional authority

Maintain authorization and follow all tool-control, accountability, transport, and incident procedures.

Work Schedule and Availability

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Operational needs may require schedule changes, special-event or tournament coverage, and other approved after-hours work. All working time, including required travel between work locations, training, equipment inspection, setup, cleanup, call-back, and work performed before or after the scheduled shift, must be recorded and compensated. Occasional weekend coverage for special events or tournaments

Physical and Environmental Requirements

Requirement

Frequency

Job-Related Context

Stand and walk on turf, slopes, pavement, and uneven, wet, or loose ground

Frequently

Performs irrigation-support, grounds, sanitation, inspection, and project work.

Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, climb, balance, dig, and trench

Frequently

Accesses irrigation components and performs grounds and project duties.

Push, pull, lift, carry, load, or unload tools, equipment, pipe, soil, waste, and materials

Frequently

A numerical lifting threshold was not supplied and is Pending Department Validation; use assistance or mechanical devices when required.

Use hands and arms for tools, controls, pressure washing, greasing, cleaning, and repair support

Operates equipment and performs manual irrigation and grounds tasks.

Drive or operate authorized vehicles and equipment

Frequently

Travels among sites and performs hauling, inspection, irrigation support, and cleanup.

Communicate and respond to visual and audible hazards

Frequently

Works around equipment, traffic, utilities, excavations, inmates, events, and the public.

Work is performed in offices, shops, vehicles, athletic complexes, parks, boat ramps, landscaped public areas, and other County properties. The employee may encounter heat, cold, rain, humidity, dust, pollen, noise, vibration, traffic, uneven or slippery ground, insects, equipment, fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides. Exposure must be controlled through documented training, equipment inspection, product labels, safety data sheets, ventilation, storage and mixing rules, required protective equipment, area controls, and prompt reporting of hazards, spills, injuries, or equipment defects. Work may also involve public restrooms, waste, pressurized water systems, digging or trenching, suspected underground utilities, and authorized inmate details.

Disclaimer

Effingham County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable performance of the essential functions of the position, consistent with applicable law. This job description summarizes the position's primary duties and requirements. It is not an exhaustive list of every task, responsibility, or qualification. Duties may be modified or assigned based on operational needs, subject to applicable law and County policy.

Employment Relationship

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It is not an employment contract and does not create a guarantee of employment for any specific duration. Employment with Effingham County is at will and may be terminated by either the employee or the County at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable federal or state law, County ordinances, personnel policies, and any other legally binding employment protections.