PARKS AND OPEN SPACE SUPERVISOR

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, assists in the administration of contractual landscape maintenance including supervising and reviewing the work of contractors responsible for landscape maintenance of City owned properties; ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; reviews landscape and irrigation designs; performs landscape and irrigation design for in-house projects as necessary; assists with the administration of the City’s Integrated Pest Management and Playground Safety programs; and assists supervisor in Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) administration.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of contractors responsible for maintenance and repair of parks, landscapes, medians and related areas.
• Plans, coordinates, staffs, and monitors contractors performing landscape and parks maintenance to ensure quality of work, compliance with City specifications, and conformance with department plans and programs.
• Establishes schedules and methods for providing landscape maintenance services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly.
• Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of the assigned program budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
• Identifies and responds to landscape and parks maintenance problems or alerts contractors to service needs; inspects the work of contractors or crews while in progress.
• Reviews landscape and irrigation designs proposed for Capital Improvement Projects and large development projects within the City; ensures that projects are constructed using the guidelines, materials, and procedures that are consistent with the City’s requirements and preferences.
• Performs the less complex landscape and irrigation design for in-house projects as necessary.
• Assists in the administration of the City’s Integrated Pest Management program including writing pest control recommendations for pesticide use on City property; serves as liaison with regulatory agencies involved with pesticides.
• Assists in the administration of the City’s Playground Safety program including performing safety audits on City playgrounds; supervises the safety inspection and maintenance of City play areas; assists in the development of new playgrounds and the replacement of existing play areas.
• Assists supervisor in the administration of Landscape Maintenance District’s (LMD) including assisting in preparing and monitoring the budgets for the zones and preparing and presenting the LMD annual report for City Council approval.
• Ensures landscape maintenance activities are carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
• Maintains records concerning operations and programs; prepares reports on operations and activities.
• Coordinates assigned activities with those of other units, divisions, and outside agencies and organizations; assists in resolving sensitive and controversial issues.
• Responds to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provides information within the area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a landscape maintenance program.
• Principles, practices, and methods of landscape maintenance administration.
• Principles of supervision.
• Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and procedures of contract administration.
• Advanced principles of landscape and irrigation maintenance.
• Advanced principles and practices of landscape and irrigation maintenance design.
• Advanced principles of Integrated Pest Management.
• Advanced principles of playground safety.
• Current methods, terminology, equipment, tools, and materials utilized in landscape maintenance.
• Types and level of construction, maintenance and repair activities generally performed in a landscape and open spaces program.
• Operational characteristics of tools and equipment used in landscape and parks maintenance and operation.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and report preparation.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Customer service principles and practices.
• Methods and techniques of public relations.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct landscape maintenance programs.
• Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in landscape maintenance programs.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing landscape maintenance operations and activities.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Generate and monitor Professional Services Agreement (PSA) contracts.
• Ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
• Compile data, maintain records and files, and participate in the preparation of clear and concise reports.
• Oversee and participate in the provision of a high level of customer service to internal and external customers.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Read and interpret maps, plans, sketches, schematics, diagrams, and blueprints.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Two years of college with major course work in parks administration, landscape architecture, or related field.

Experience: Four years of responsible experience in landscape, parks or open space maintenance and operations including one year of lead supervisory responsibility.

License or Certificate - Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license. Possession of a Pest Control Advisor License. Possession of a Qualified Applicator certificate. Possession of a Playground Safety Inspector certificate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

Environment: Office and field setting with travel from site to site. Exposure to noise, dust, fumes, noxious odors, gases, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office and field setting and operate assigned equipment. FREQUENT walking, standing, sitting, fine-finger dexterity to manipulate computer, operate and calibrate equipment. OCCASIONAL bending and stooping, squatting, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, upward and downward flexion of neck, side-to-side turning of neck; lifting objects weighing up to 10 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 200 yards; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from below waist to waist level and transporting distances up to 200 yards with or without assistance; grasp and grip to lift and carry equipment; hand and arm strength and foot dexterity to operate automobile or light pickup. INFREQUENT crawling, climbing, reaching at and above shoulder height, kneeling, balancing above ground; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from chest level to above shoulders, with or without assistance.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: January 2007
Johnson & Associates