OPEN SPACE OPERATIONS SENIOR TECH

Columbia Association•Columbia, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the immediate direction of the Open Space Operations Foreman, the Open Space Operations Senior Technician will perform tasks and duties of a skilled nature in the performance of the routine or special maintenance of the Columbia Association’s Open Space property. He/she will function as a crew leader, if assigned to do so in the absence of his/her immediate Open Space Operations Forman. They should be able to perform most if not all the duties for short periods of time. He/she is responsible for scheduling, participating with, assigning and supervising the performance of team members and contractors in the course of implementing the Annual Open Space Maintenance Program. This includes the maintenance and assurance of safety of playgrounds, pathways, bridges, plaza areas, parking lots, lakes, ponds, streams and snow removal. He/She will also be required to assist with generating ideas, suggestions and overseeing programs and projects that protect and enhances the Columbia Association amenities. He/she respond to and resolve various concerns and requests submitted by Columbia residents, contractors, Columbia Association internal Departments, county, state, and local agencies. The Senior Technician duties includes interaction with Columbia’s diverse community. Therefore, it is essential for him/her to be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Requirements

Must be 18 years of age or older.
Four years of technical and/or leadership experience with the Columbia Association Open Space Management or equivalent work experience at a similar agency.
Must achieve and maintain OSHA 10 hour certification.
Must pass the Department of Transportation Physical Fitness Certification Examination (DOT).
Must obtain Defensive driving certification.
Must have a basic knowledge of proper horticulture practices.
Must be able to properly and safely operate equipment used in park maintenance, including backhoes, track loaders, and Bobcats.
Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED diploma).
Ability to stand for entire shift.
Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and climb without any difficulty.
Ability to effectively work at different heights.
Lifting up to 80 pounds.
Must be able to work in all kinds of outside weather conditions (extreme cold / extreme heat, rain, snow, etc.).
Ability to work in wet and humid environments.
Exposure to chemicals, odors, waste, and dust.
Must follow all safety procedures.
Able to lift up to 80 pounds unassisted.
Must be able to work with and around wildlife.
Must have good eye-hand coordination.
Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods of time.
Ability to work under unfavorable conditions.
Ability to follow directions from team leaders and management in verbal and or written form.
Ability to work independently on assigned or special tasks/projects.
Ability to work on multiple tasks and complete assignments within specified deadlines.
Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to Team Members/Leaders and other organizations as directed by your Team Leader.
Must be able to properly fell and limb trees once trained.
Must be able to deal with conflicts.

Nice To Haves

Pesticide Applicators Certification preferred.
May be required to obtain a Maryland Boaters Safety Education Certification.
Fertilizer applicators license preferred.
NRPA Playground Maintenance Management certification required within first year.

Responsibilities

Perform tasks and duties of a skilled nature in the performance of the routine or special maintenance of the Columbia Association’s Open Space property.
Function as a crew leader in the absence of the Open Space Operations Foreman.
Schedule, participate with, assign, and supervise the performance of team members and contractors in implementing the Annual Open Space Maintenance Program.
Maintain and ensure the safety of playgrounds, pathways, bridges, plaza areas, parking lots, lakes, ponds, streams, and perform snow removal.
Assist with generating ideas, suggestions, and overseeing programs and projects that protect and enhance Columbia Association amenities.
Respond to and resolve concerns and requests from Columbia residents, contractors, Columbia Association internal Departments, county, state, and local agencies.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with Columbia’s diverse community.
Visually inspect conditions of grounds and facilities.
Follow all safety procedures.
Use required power equipment and hand tools efficiently and safely.
Recognize and appropriately report on possible defects and hazards in their area and amenities.
Suggest corrective actions to ensure public safety.
Contribute information on team members' performance to assist supervisors in completing annual reviews.
Work overtime and weekends as required.
Trim and rake lawn areas, rake leaves, cut weeds, and collect trash.
Report on evidence of diseases or pests, damages, or other unsafe conditions on the open space.
Operate small power equipment and a variety of hand tools.
Perform all work in a safe and professional manner.
Properly and safely operate all vehicles, larger mower equipment, and a wide variety of hand and power tools and light equipment used in the maintenance of the open space.
Routinely serve as a Team Leader for a small to medium number of Team Members of equal or lower grade when necessary.
Periodically perform administrative duties in compliance with Columbia Association policies and procedures, including Workers Compensation reports, Accident Reports, Graffiti/Vandalism reports, Daily Task Timesheets, Personnel Injury Reports, and Inventory Lists.
Perform other tasks as assigned by manager or department head.
Share responsibility with the Team Leader for training of Team Members in the operation of all equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner.
Assist the Team Leader in preventive and daily maintenance of light and heavy equipment.
Perform light to semi-skilled basic carpentry and masonry tasks to repair and ensure the safety of existing structures and amenities.
Apply lime, fertilizer, and seed as directed and ensure the proper rate of application is applied and the proper forms to document this application are filled out and turned in to the appropriate Supervisor.
Participate in the inventorying of all open space land, amenities, equipment, and properly report any losses and/or damages to their team leader.
Perform and comply with required safety checks and safety maintenance procedures.
Assist in the training of other Team Members in the proper and safe operation of equipment and operating procedures.
Provide authorized support to community events sponsored by Villages, Neighborhoods, the Columbia Association's various Departments and Divisions, as well as outside organizations, once trained and instructed.
Assist the Team Leader with locating and reporting gang-related activity/graffiti and assisting with the removal and documentation and reporting of these types of incidences.
Respond to resident/public/business questions about the maintenance program in the Team Leader's absence in a professional manner.
Answer routine questions and refer complex questions to the Team Leader.
Convey information to the requestor in a professional and polite manner.
Read and understand property plans to determine property line locations.
Properly fell and limb trees once trained.
Monitor and make basic repairs to landscape fountains and aeration systems under limited direction of the Team Leader.
Perform basic startup and shutdowns of landscape fountains and aeration systems.
Understand and make basic repairs to and operate various types of irrigation systems under limited direction of the Team Leader.
Deal with conflicts.