Turf Maintenance Specialist

StartupNWA; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Bentonville seeks an experienced turf and parks maintenance supervisor to plan and coordinate turf care across city facilities. You will oversee crews, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with pesticide and equipment regulations.

Applicants should hold an associates degree in Turf Management with 3+ years of related experience, and be able to operate and troubleshoot irrigation systems, fertilization schedules, and common grounds machinery.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Turf Management with 3 years of related experience or an equivalent combination.
• Ability to supervise Parks Maintenance Workers and seasonal staff.

Responsibilities

• Plans turf maintenance programs including irrigation and fertilization.
• Reviews soil tests to diagnose turf problems and recommends remedies.
• Develops treatment plans for herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides with proper record keeping.
• Maintains operating budgets and ensures expenses stay within allocations.
• Writes specifications and assists in purchasing equipment and supplies.
• Ensures safe operation of pesticide use and backflow prevention compliance.
• Maintains thorough reports of turf activities and coordination with teams.
• Supervises staff and performs performance appraisals as required.
• Ensures compliance with laws and regulations related to grounds maintenance.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Safety compliance

Communication

Education

Associates degree in Turf Management

Tools

Tractors & mowers

Backflow testing equipment

Job description

SUMMARY

Under general supervision, plans and coordinates turf maintenance activities for the City’s grounds, parks, and recreational areas by performing the following duties:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting relationships, work assignments, work schedules may be subject to change in order to meet City needs or operational requirements. Attendance at work and the ability to get along with the public, supervisors, and co-workers are essential elements of this position. Other duties may be assigned.

Develops turf maintenance plans to include irrigation infrastructure installations, fertilization, and appropriate cultural requirement in order to maintain health and appearance.

Performs soil-based testing and analysis of park grounds and sports fields turf areas to diagnose problems such as disease, insects, weeds, soil compaction, and soil infertility.

Plans, prepares, and applies treatment plans and chemicals applications to include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other pre- and post-emergent solutions, and maintains respective record keeping.

Demonstrates the ability to distinguish the best practices for activities such as mowing, trimming, edging, seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, and aeration.

Maintains detailed reports and records of turf maintenance activities.

Monitors and administers an annual operating budget to ensure expenses remain within budget allocations.

Writes specifications and provides technical expertise in the purchase of equipment and supplies.

Demonstrates knowledge of the use and application of chemicals and compounds including fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and pesticides.

Demonstrates knowledge of insect pest, plant diseases, and nutrient deficiencies.

Demonstrates knowledge of irrigation system operation, troubleshooting and repair.

Demonstrates ability to establish and work in a safe environment and to participate and follow safety training topics

Demonstrates ability to understand and follow laws and regulations regarding pesticide use.

Demonstrates the ability to understand and abide by laws and regulations regarding the safe operation of backflow assemblies.

Demonstrates knowledge of techniques and practices for propagating, planting, and maintaining trees, shrubs, bedding plants, and ground covers.

Qualified in the use and safe operations of grounds maintenance equipment such as tractors, riding mowers, push mowers, trimmers, backhoes, skid steers, power tools and hand tools.

Demonstrates skill in oral and written communications.

Demonstrates skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.

Demonstrates skill in using computers and related software applications

Demonstrates the ability for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with city employees and the public.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises Parks Maintenance Workers and seasonal temporary workers assigned to turf maintenance activities. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees, planning, assigning, and directing work, addressing complaints and resolving problems. Assists Parks Maintenance Supervisor with performance appraisals as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Associates degree in Turf Management or in a field related to the job, plus (3) three years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Arkansas Driver’s License.
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid pesticide applicator’s license within six (6) months of employment.
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid backflow testing License within one (1) year of employment.

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 reach with hands and arms, and to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and 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 is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, high, precarious places, noxious fumes, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.