Athletic Facility Specialist (Official Job Title:  Skilled Trades Worker I - Parks):  Serves as a member of the athletics team performing light to heavy physical labor.  Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of athletic fields and adjunct facilities.   Performs skilled and advanced maintenance duties in the following areas:  chemical spray application, pest identification, turf management, irrigation, and/or equipment operation.  Provides customer service to patrons of facilities.  

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 in any class for a period of five years.

Duties:

Skilled and/or certified to perform advanced duties in 1 or more of the following areas.  May serve as a crew leader or lead worker.           

• Executes the Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM).   Troubleshoots chemical deficiencies and applies proper corrective solution of chemicals according to set standards.  When dealing with continuous or predictable pests, takes appropriate preventative measures to control plant damage.                                                         
• Oversee and participate in the preparation and application of a variety of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and other pest and disease eradication and control chemicals as necessary.                     
• Manages the handling, storage, and application of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides.
• Perform proper calibration on chemical sprayers and granular spreaders.
• Assist with planning and implementing annual renovation projects.
• Performs field maintenance duties including aerating, mowing, vertical cutting, weed abatement, top dressing and other duties as required.                                                                
• Operates special equipment in the maintenance, repair and renovation of athletic facilities including but not limited to:  Versa Vacs, Top Dressers, Drum Rollers, Sod Cutters, Aerators, etc.
• Exercises a high degree of expertise, initiative and independent decision making to ensure customer satisfaction. Conducts parks patrols and general inspections of athletic facilities to ensure the safety of the public.  Reports potential safety hazards or maintenance issues to supervisor for follow up as necessary.
• Performs maintenance, repairs, programming and adjustments in irrigation systems.                                                   
• Performs periodic scheduled irrigation system operations.
• Maintain automatic irrigation systems in correct adjustments for time of year and rainfall amounts.                              
• Disassemble, clean spray head and rotor head nozzles, adjust nozzles for proper head to head spray coverage.                           

Daily general maintenance and upkeep of athletic fields and adjunct facilities.

• Provides polite, friendly and accurate customer service.
• Performs proper maintenance techniques to ensure safe playable surface including maintaining infield skin, infield lips, baselines, warning tracks, pitching mounds and home plate areas. Includes regular dragging, screen dragging, watering, mowing, edging and trimming.   
• Performs skilled and specialized tasks in the maintenance and upkeep of athletic fields and adjunct facilities.
• Paints and marks fields, sets bases and pitching mounds under applicable rules and specified dimensions. Provides set-up and clean-up of facilities for practices, games, tournaments and events.  Performs general ground’s maintenance, repair and janitorial duties of fields, fencing, common areas, amenities, parking lots and other areas.

Performs all other related duties or special projects as assigned or directed. 

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Minimum Qualifications:  A High School Diploma or equivalent education and two (2) years of increasingly responsible athletic field experience or four (4) years parks and recreation maintenance operation experience.  Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  Ability to obtain an Ornamental and Turf Applicators License, Florida GI-BMP License and a Class "A" Commercial Driver's License (CDL) within the first six (6) months of employment.  

Preferred Qualifications:  Specialized training and/or certification in irrigation, herbicide and pesticide application and or turf management.

Job Competencies:

• Considerable knowledge of the methods, materials, equipment, and tools used in park, landscape, athletic field, irrigation, chemical spray, and construction activities.
• Operates special equipment in the maintenance, repair and renovation of athletic facilities including but not limited to:  Versa Vac, Top Dresser, Drum Roller, Sod Cutter, Aerator, Boom Sprayer, Tractor, etc.
• Ability to deal with customers in a courteous, efficient, and tactful manner. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials and the general public.
• Ability to read chemical labels.  Ability to read material safety data sheets (SDS).
• Ability to perform semi-skilled carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing and landscaping tasks.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods, often under hot and humid conditions.

Sarasota County Government is committed to wellness and successful applicants must be tobacco free for twelve months preceding date of application.

Drug Free Work Environment             EOE/AA/ADA