Skilled Trades Worker I

Sarasota County; Street (MD); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

11 paid holidays

Paid vacation days

Job summary

Sarasota County's Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources is seeking a Skilled Trades Worker I to maintain park grounds, perform mowing, trimming, planting, and basic facility upkeep, ensuring safe, clean, and welcoming spaces for the community. This full‑time role requires 2+ years in landscaping or grounds maintenance and a High School diploma.

A valid Florida driver’s license is required; Pesticide Applicator license or pool operations experience are a plus.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 2+ years of related landscaping or grounds maintenance experience.
• Valid Florida driver's license.
• Pesticide Applicator License or pool operations experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain campground and park grounds through mowing, trimming, mulching, planting, weeding, tree care, pressure washing, and litter removal.
• Safely operate and perform basic maintenance on commercial equipment (i.e. zero‑turn mowers, string trimmers, stick edgers, pole saws, backpack blowers, chainsaws, utility carts, and other hand and power tools).
• Apply and properly handle herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, and other landscape chemicals in accordance with safety guidelines.
• Perform minor facility maintenance, including basic carpentry, plumbing, painting, irrigation, and pool upkeep.
• Keep restrooms, laundry facilities, community/game rooms, pool areas, and storage areas clean, safe, and well‑maintained.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Equipment operation

Customer service

Work outdoors

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Pesticide Applicator License

Pool operations experience

Basic mechanical skills

Job description

Department: Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources is looking for a Skilled Trades Worker I to help keep Sarasota County's parks and facilities safe, clean, and welcoming for the community. In this hands‑on role, you'll perform a variety of maintenance tasks, including groundskeeping, mowing, landscaping, facility repairs, restroom cleaning, pressure washing, trash removal, and operating landscaping equipment. If you enjoy working outdoors, staying active, and taking pride in maintaining public spaces, we'd love to hear from you!

Starting pay is $20.10/hour (Step 1), with the opportunity for higher starting pay based on your experience.

While not required, we'd love to see candidates with a Pesticide Applicator License, pool operations experience, experience operating grounds maintenance equipment, basic mechanical and computer skills, and a strong commitment to customer service and workplace safety. If you're dependable, enjoy working independently and as part of a team, and are ready to make a difference in our community.

About the Position

• Maintain campground and park grounds through mowing, trimming, mulching, planting, weeding, tree care, pressure washing, and litter removal.
• Safely operate and perform basic maintenance on commercial equipment (i.e. zero‑turn mowers, string trimmers, stick edgers, pole saws, backpack blowers, chainsaws, utility carts, and other hand and power tools).
• Apply and properly handle herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, and other landscape chemicals in accordance with safety guidelines.
• Perform minor facility maintenance, including basic carpentry, plumbing, painting, irrigation, and pool upkeep.
• Keep restrooms, laundry facilities, community/game rooms, pool areas, and storage areas clean, safe, and well‑maintained.
• Inspect park facilities, identify maintenance needs, and submit work orders for repairs requiring specialized services.
• Transport equipment and materials between park locations using County pickup trucks and trailers as needed.
• Manage work orders, maintain equipment and supplies, monitor inventory, review campground reservations to anticipate maintenance needs, and provide excellent customer service while supporting other park locations as needed.

About the Schedule

• Work Hours: Full‑time, 40 hours per week.
• Typical Schedule: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Flexible schedule required, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens.
• Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

About You

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 2+ years of related experience in landscaping, facility, or grounds maintenance.
• Valid Florida driver's license.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities: Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.

Ideal Candidate Skills & Knowledge

• Pesticide Applicator License and/or experience with pool operations.
• Experience operating grounds maintenance equipment, including mowers, power tools, pickup trucks, and small engines; basic mechanical repair skills are a plus.
• Basic computer skills, including email and other common software applications.
• Strong customer service and communication skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of workplace safety practices, including OSHA guidelines, and the ability to safely perform physically demanding outdoor work.

Requirements

• Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre‑employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of 5 years.
• Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Fingerprint Screening Requirement: This position requires a fingerprint‑based background check, as required by law. The screening reviews criminal history and other legally permitted information. Applicants who do not meet the screening requirements will not be eligible for employment.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $21.51 (Step 1); Potential higher pay (steps) for those with multiple years of experience. Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in‑person interview(s).

Benefits

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more!
• Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• Utilize our award‑winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full‑time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone.

Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco‑Free/Drug‑Free Workplace.

Do you like leaving things better than you found them? We serve the greater good! Our team is here to make Sarasota the premier community to live, work and play!

Sarasota has 37 miles of award‑winning beaches, over 80 parks and 100 golf courses, and is known as the cultural capital of Florida with museums of art, theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens and the annual international film festival. Unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural offering, diverse educational opportunities, wide‑ranging recreational possibilities make Sarasota a great place to live and work!

We believe in work‑life balance with a generous leave plan. “US News & World Report: Sarasota is No. 1 in Florida and No. 18 in the country for best place to live.”