Park Maintenance Specialist-Recreation & Parks,/Bureau of Parks/Park Operations

Howard County Government · United States

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

*This position has been designated as " essential personnel ," meaning an employee is expected to report for regular work shift during inclement weather, emergency situations, County holidays and on an on-call basis.*

*Please note that this position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810.*

Park and Facility Maintenance:

• Performs grounds and turf maintenance, pavilion and picnic area cleaning, and repairs in assigned park regions.
• Performs trail construction and maintenance.
• Conducts minor plumbing, janitorial, painting, electrical, and carpentry work.
• Performs landscape and horticultural maintenance including pesticide application, trimming, edging, pruning, and mulching.
• Removes graffiti and repairs vandalism.
• Performs routine playground inspections and repairs.
• Performs specialized maintenance on unique park amenities (e.g., skills course, equestrian ring).
• Conducts routine inspection and maintenance of dams, including high-hazard dams depending on assignment location.
• Assists with sport field maintenance: aeration, seeding, fertilizing, grading, and sod installation.

Equipment Operation and Preventative Maintenance:

• Uses hand tools and power tools including trimmers, chain saws, blowers, and snow blowers.
• Operates complex vehicles and equipment such as mowers, tractors, loaders, large trucks, aerators, graders, turf shapers, and other bureau vehicles.
• Performs preventative maintenance on tractors, mowers, skid loaders, and other equipment.
• Demonstrates equipment methods, techniques, and operations to crew members.
• Sets up mobile stage.

Crew Leadership and Work Planning:

• Assigns work detail under the guidance of a supervisor.
• Directs crew in daily projects and ensures work meets quality and quantity standards.
• Plans daily activities and assigns appropriate tools and equipment.
• Maintains supplies and materials.
• Meets regularly with supervisor to determine work via written, verbal, or email communication.
• Serves on committees as assigned.

Administrative and Recordkeeping Duties:

• Handles administrative paperwork including incident reports, police reports, timesheets, department requisitions, inspection forms, chemical application cards, and vandalism journal entries.
• Estimates supplies and materials for maintenance tasks and develops requisitions for supervisor approval.
• Maintains inventory of tools, supplies, materials, and chemicals.
• Responsible for identifying and applying sustainability practices in all operations.

Public Interaction and Customer Service:

• Requires considerable public contact, including communication with tournament directors and staff, conflict resolution, and addressing disputes, questions, and comments.
• Communicates and coordinates with recreational staff, tournament personnel, and other county agencies.
• Assists recreational staff with program setup and teardown.
• Handles citizen complaints and inquiries.

Emergency and Inclement Weather Response:

• Performs snow removal duties and assists during inclement weather conditions, including supporting Public Works as needed.
• This position is considered essential and will be required to work emergency situations to include staff the Department's operations center.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Serves as crew leader in charge of full-time park maintenance workers and contingent positions, overseeing personnel and directing the project from start to finish.?
• Coordinates work site environment, safety issues, andensuresproper handling of materials.?
• Answers staff questions on department policies and procedures.?
• Makes recommendations on job performance.

• Possession of a Maryland Class ACDL License within one year of hire date.
• Obtain Maryland Professional Pesticide Applicator's Certificate within one year of hire date.
• CPR and First Aid Certification within one-year of hire date.

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 stand; walk; use hands to handle and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently 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.

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 wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.