Parks Maintenance Foreman: (Full-Time)

South Padre Island Chamber; Texas; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

South Padre Island Chamber seeks a Parks Maintenance Foreman to lead the parks maintenance division, managing native plant care and landscape upkeep for the city’s parks. The role supervises daily operations, irrigation, and equipment use to ensure high standards of safety and aesthetics.

You will coordinate planting, pruning, and repairs with a focus on sustainability and community spaces. Responsibilities include supervising crews, overseeing preventive maintenance on park equipment, and

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• A degree in forestry, horticulture, or a closely related field is preferred.
• Two (2) years of related work experience in tree and/or plant care operations or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead parks maintenance division for long-term care of native plants and landscapes.
• Perform maintenance of trees, shrubs, turf, and landscape areas; decide methods and timing.
• Inspect and repair playground equipment and park facilities for safety and function.
• Oversee planting, pruning, and care of plantings; manage irrigation and water needs.
• Train staff and ensure safety standards are followed; perform routine inspections.

Skills

Equipment knowledge

Tool operation

Heavy manual tasks

Safety awareness

Landscaping procedures

Interpersonal skills

Written and oral instructions

Arboriculture/landscape knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Degree in forestry/horticulture preferred

Tools

Dump truck

Front end loader

Tractor

Saws

Pumps

Generators

Job description

Deadline to apply to this position is November 18, 2026

JOB SUMMARY

The Parks Maintenance Foreman performs a variety of skilled maintenance work, and operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of parks equipment and landscaping and irrigation systems. This position is a working supervisor and will lead the parks maintenance division to successfully manage the long-term care and maintenance of the City’s native plants and landscapes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs studies and creates report for management regarding the cultivation and management of native plants and landscape on South Padre Island.
• Responsible for maintenance of tree, shrub, vine, ground cover and turf maintenance, including decision making on method, timing and tools.
• Responsible for culture and care of specialty landscape to include topiaries, trees and foliage plants.
• Responsible for bedding plant selection, care and layout.
• Performs diagnosis of plant and tree nutrition and pest control needs; fertilization and herbicide.
• Performs landscape rehabilitation, including repair and installation.
• Identifies need for and provides supplemental water with manual operation of automatic irrigation zones and hand watering.
• Inspects and/or repairs parks playground equipment at frequent intervals to insure that all aspects of the equipment are functioning properly and safely
• Inspect, clean and/or repairs park restroom facilities at frequent intervals to insure that all aspects of the facilities are clean and functioning properly.
• Performs landscaping to include the planting, transplanting, watering, pruning and selection of plants, flower, bushes and trees as needed to maintain parks and other assigned city properties.
• Responsible for mowing, weed eating, and trash pickup of park grounds and other assigned areas.
• Responsible for painting and rust protection to parks grounds equipment, facilities and sign and in other assigned city properties.
• Insures the proper maintenance of equipment and tools by cleaning and checking equipment and tools after use.
• Drives trucks of various sizes and weights in the loading, hauling and unloading of various equipment, gravel and sand.
• Performs routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment and refers defects or needed repairs to supervisor; cleans equipment.
• Performs all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.
• Performs required labor involved in construction and maintenance projects as part of a crew.
• Operates a variety of power construction and maintenance equipment.

SECONDARY JOB FUNCTIONS

• Inspects and/or repairs streets and drainage systems at frequent intervals to insure that all aspects of the systems are functioning properly as needed.
• Installs and repairs street signs.
• Performs required labor involved in construction and maintenance projects as part of a crew, including pavement cutting, ditch digging, manhole cleaning, storm sewer pipe repair, laying and backfilling.
• Serves on various employee or other committees as assigned.
• Performs placement of traffic control barrels, barriers and barricades.
• Use front end loader and tractor.
• Performs minor electrical work to replacement of plugs and outlets when needed.
• Operates light and medium front end loaders when needed.
• Trains other staff.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

FISCAL BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

• Responsible for adhering to all City of South Padre Island Purchasing Policies while performing purchasing tasks.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• A degree in forestry, horticulture, or a closely related field is preferred.

Experience:

• Two (2) years of related work experience in tree and/or plant care operations or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education and experience, equivalency to be determined by the City.

Licenses or Certifications:

Special Requirements:

• Bilingual: Spanish and English preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Some knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods and procedures used in maintenance, construction and repair activities.
• Skill in operation of some of the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to perform heavy manual tasks for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work safely.
• Knowledge and skill in landscaping procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public.
• Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.
• Considerable knowledge related to arboriculture, horticulture and or landscape management.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Dump truck, pickup truck, utility truck, tamper, plate compactor, saws, pumps, propane kettle, compressors, sanders, generators, common hand and power tools, push and riding mowers, shovels, wrenches, detection devices, mobile radio, telephone, ditch witch and computer and other office equipment such as a printers, Xerox machine, fax machine and scanner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock. The noise level n the work environment is usually loud. While performing the duties of this position the employee will be exposed to direct sunlight on a regular basis.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.

Additional Postings available from City of South Padre Island