What are the responsibilities and job description for the Parks Services Technician position at Goochland County?
The Parks Services Technician performs a wide variety of manual, operational, and technical tasks to ensure that county parks, athletic complexes, green spaces, and recreational facilities are clean, safe, fully functional, and visually appealing. This hands-on role is responsible for daily grounds maintenance, athletic field preparation, turf management, facility waste collection, general facility upkeep, and seasonal emergency response operations.
SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY:
Standard working hours are established, but this position requires flexibility to work non-standard hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, to support special events, high-volume seasonal operations, emergency response, or community meetings inherent to parks and recreation services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Grounds & Turf Maintenance
- Operate commercial riding mowers, tractors, string trimmers, edgers, blowers, and hedge trimmers and other necessary equipment to maintain parks, trails, sport fields, and rights-of-way.
- Perform turf care practices including seeding, aerating, fertilizing, and weed control.
- Maintain clean planting beds through weeding, mulching, planting, and pruning of shrubs and trees.
- Athletic Field Preparation
- Prepare and maintain rectangular fields (soccer, football, lacrosse) and ball diamonds (baseball, softball) to high playability standards.
- Mow athletic turf at designated sport heights, apply field marking paint/chalk, drag infields, and maintain base paths and home plate areas.
- Inspect and maintain sports infrastructure, including goalposts, fencing, dugouts, and batting cages.
- Sanitation & Facility Upkeep
- Perform routine trash and recycling collection across parks, playgrounds, pavilions, and parking lots; empty and line trash receptacles regularly.
- Clean, sanitize, restock public restrooms and park shelters on a daily or scheduled basis.
- Perform minor routine repairs on park amenities such as picnic tables, benches, trash cans, signs, and playground equipment.
- Special Events & Community Operations
- Assist with county and department sponsored community events, tournaments, and facility rentals, including event setup (tents, tables, barricades), day-of operational support, and post-event breakdown and cleanup.
- Emergency Response & Winter Weather Operations
- Participate in departmental and county-wide winter weather response operations, including shoveling, snowplowing, and salting/brining sidewalks, walkways, building entrances, parking lots, and parking facilities during winter storms.
- Assist with clearing downed trees, branches, and storm debris from trails, roadways, and county properties following severe weather events.
- Safety, Operations & Equipment Care
- Conduct routine safety inspections of public areas, playgrounds, and trails, immediately reporting or mitigating hazards, vandalism, or safety concerns.
- Perform routine pre- and post-operation checks, cleaning, fueling, and basic minor maintenance on assigned tools, mowers, and vehicles.
- Safely load and secure equipment, materials, and debris onto trailers and trucks.
- Perform other related duties and special project support assigned by department leadership.
- Strictly adhere to all county safety policies, standard operating procedures, and OSHA regulations.
- Correctly wear and maintain all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including but not limited to safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility vests, steel-toed boots, gloves, and dust masks while performing tasks.
- Operational Standards, Emergency Response & Departmental Support
- Embody the department’s core value of operational excellence by taking pride in the details, delivering exceptional customer service, treating residents and visitors like family, maintaining clean and welcoming spaces, following up promptly on communications, and ensuring tools and equipment are properly maintained.
- Actively support departmental flagship events, co-sponsored community events, and joint initiatives with other county departments as assigned, assisting with setup, operational support, customer service, or breakdown.
- Participate in county-wide and departmental emergencies, disaster, and severe weather response operations at the level of training received. Duties may include assisting with emergency shelter operations, debris clearing, snow/ice operations, and public safety support during emergency declarations.
- Working knowledge of the safe operation and basic maintenance of small engines, commercial mowers, power tools, and light utility vehicles.
- Understanding of basic athletic field maintenance practices and turf management principles preferred.
- Ability to perform manual labor in various outdoor weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow).
- Strong customer service mindset, representing the department professionally when interacting with the public, sports leagues, and park visitors.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and work effectively independently or as part of a team.
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED) is required.
- Minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, athletic field maintenance, general construction, trades, or municipal public works, or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Valid State of Virginia Driver’s License with a driving record that meets HR Policy requirements.
- CDL and registration as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator is preferred.
- Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid certification and relevant pesticide/chemical application licenses within a specified probationary period, if required by the department.
Other Necessary Requirements
SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY:
Standard working hours are established, but this position requires flexibility to work non-standard hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, to support special events, high-volume seasonal operations, emergency response, or community meetings inherent to parks and recreation services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work is heavy work, which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Tasks may require the ability to walk or stand for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, the following physical abilities may be required: climbing, bending, stooping, reaching, handling, and grasping.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is primarily performed outdoors where exposure to various weather conditions, dust, dirt, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, temperature and noise extremes, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, or rude/hostile citizens may be encountered during performance of regular duties.
Salary : $37,529 - $42,000