Turf and Landscape Specialist- Regional Parks and Specialty Use Facilities- Parks & Recreation Dept.

The City of Port St. Lucie is an equal opportunity employer.

This position requires the applicant to successfully pass a drug screening. 

Please note that this is an external job posting intended for non-city employees. If you are a current city employee applying through this posting, your application will not be reviewed with other internal candidates. In order to be considered with internal candidates, please apply on the internal posting by clicking HERE.

Performs pesticide/fertilizer applications on Parks and City properties. Responsible for reading, understanding, and keeping current with chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). This position is also responsible for compiling preliminary reports of pesticide usage and is required to perform skilled manual work in turf, groundkeeping operations, and equipment maintenance. Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the City.

This position is considered an "Essential Position" for the purpose of Emergency Management.  Emergency duties will be assigned as needed.   This position requires 24 hours a day, 7 days per week availability during City of Port St Lucie emergencies, as determined by City Administrators, Emergency Manager or City Officials. 

The following duties are illustrative of this position.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.  

• Keeps the mission, vision, and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintaining high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Performs routine safety inspections on all spraying equipment.
• Maintains chemical storage and mixing areas in compliance with county, state, and federal regulations, and is responsible for the safety and direction of chemical handlers and/or helpers.
• Tracks chemical inventory.
• Assist in ensuring safe and effective working order and maintenance of turf and related equipment.
• Maintains records and ensures accuracy of all fertilization and pesticide application files.
• Maintains up-to-date records of all SDS for all Parks and Turf-related products.
• Implements fertilization and pesticide programs, as directed.
• Calculate/calibrate fertilizer and pesticide application rates, identify fungal turf and landscape related problems, Insect control measures and identify weed populations to include control measures. 
• Ensures safe mechanical operation and calibration of the following types of equipment: Mechanically pressurized spray equipment, hand-operated spray equipment, hand-operated rotary spreaders, hand-operated drop spreaders, and Utility tractors.
• Assists in planning and coordinating turf maintenance and repair programs and projects.
• Assists in identifying areas requiring chemical treatment so that the Supervisor can schedule the daily operations by maintenance/mowing staff.
• Performs ground/turf maintenance tasks as directed.
• Assist with requisitions for maintenance equipment parts/service and prepare cost estimates.
• Assist with all general maintenance, projects, irrigation, and landscape design/installation and drainage systems. 
• Operates trucks, trailers, and tractors, and performs maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

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

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma is required. Four (4) years of experience in turf and landscaping fertilizer and chemical application methods, as well as equipment maintenance required. Golf Course experience is highly preferred. 

A comparable amount of training, education, or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS

• Possession of a valid driver’s license and maintenance of a clean driving record are required, with the ability to obtain a valid Florida driver’s license within 30 days from the date of hire. 
• Possession of a valid Florida Class “A” commercial driver’s license with Tanker Endorsement required or the ability to be obtained within twelve (12) months from the date of hire.
• Florida Pesticide Turf and Ornamental certification is required or the ability to be obtained within twelve (12) months from the date of hire.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Turf and Ornamental and Limited Lawn applicators license is required, or the ability to obtain one within twelve (12) months from the date of hire.
• Possession of the Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMP’s) certification for the State of Florida is highly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to stay centered when challenged.
• Ability to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the department and the public.
• Knowledge of landscape and turf maintenance, installation, and related equipment.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to complete daily worksheets and keep records.
• Skill in landscape and turf maintenance and installation techniques.
• Skill, operation, and preventative maintenance of the tools and equipment related to the position.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to focus on the positive in every situation.
• Ability to model respect for individuals, teams, and the organization.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow through with assigned tasks.

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 sit, talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/move up to 50 pounds and occasionally move and/or lift up to 80 pounds. Specific vision abilities by this job include vision, distance vision, color vision 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 is regularly exposed to adverse and extreme outside weather conditions (heat, humidity, cold, rain, etc.). The employee is frequently exposed to noise, dust, fumes, chemicals, airborne particles, uneven surfaces, heights, and stressful situations. The employee works with hazardous power tools and is exposed to heights up to 30 feet. The employee will work with moving objects and equipment.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Documentation Requirements

Please Read Carefully
  
Applicants, including City of Port St Lucie employees, must upload and submit attached copies of their education credentials with the employment application. Please be sure to attach all required documents to your employment application each time you apply. Uploaded documents remain in your online profile, but they will not attach automatically, and you will be deemed ineligible without the proper documentation.
  
ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED MUST BE CLEAR, LEGIBLE, AND IN PROPER FORMAT. 
  
  THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT(S) ARE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION AND ARE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF:

1. Proof of education in the form of a diploma, degree, or transcripts. Foreign diplomas/degrees must be submitted with a credential evaluation report from an approved credential evaluation agency*. Translations of diplomas/degrees are not accepted. Audit/Academic reports are not accepted as substitutions for college transcripts.
2. Driver's License:  A Valid Driver's License from any state (Equivalent to a State of Florida Class E) may be utilized upon application; however, within thirty (30) days from the date of hire, a State of Florida Driver's License (Class E or higher) must be presented.

*Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies: 
  
  Credential evaluation reports showing the United States equivalency for academic credentials earned in other countries may be provided by:

• An accredited four-year college or university in the United States, OR
• A current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), OR
• A current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), OR
• A recognized Professional Organization

For an additional list of approved credential evaluation agencies, visit the Florida Department of Education
  
It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents submitted with the employment application are in an acceptable, clear, and legible format to avoid disqualification. 
  
  Applicants, including City of Port St. Lucie employees, must fully detail their work experience on the employment application or risk disqualification. Resumes will not be reviewed in place of the employment application.
  
  It is the applicant's responsibility to update their online profile with personal data, work experience, education, and certifications when submitting application(s); failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Salary : $41,267