Park Specialist – Urban Parks

City of Bellingham • City of Bellingham, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Discover your opportunity to shape the green heart of our city as a Park Specialist–Urban Parks. If you’re energized by leading crews, elevating horticultural landscapes, and ensuring our parks thrive for the community, this role invites you to make a lasting impact. Join the City of Bellingham's Parks and Recreation Department in cultivating vibrant, sustainable urban spaces for everyone to enjoy! The Park Specialist - Urban Forestry plans, schedules, establishes performance standards, monitors and implements all work activities in the Urban Parks program. This includes maintaining inventories in developed parks of all ornamental horticulture including turf/irrigation, shrubs, trees, ground covers, annuals and perennials and their needs. Provides technical direction and training to staff, provides input on budgetary requirements, recommends new construction and renovation, and develops and implements an integrated pest management program for area of responsibility. Also responsible for the selection, care, operation and replacement of all equipment for the program area. Oversees all staff assigned to program area and provides input on performance evaluations. Participates in hiring seasonal employees, subject to supervisor approval. Tracks and orders materials, equipment and supplies for program area, including price and product evaluation as well as bid packet creation and evaluation.

Requirements

• Three years recent work experience in turf, irrigation, and horticultural maintenance of a large facility required.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and good driving record.
• A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire.
• Ability to secure and maintain a Washington State Pesticide License within 12 months of hire.
• Ability to secure and maintain a valid First Aid and CPR certification within six months of hire.
• Ability to secure and maintain Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors credential (CLIA) within 12 months of hire.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including: Occasionally operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse and phone; Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others; Frequently operate hand tools and power equipment safely; Frequently move throughout City facilities and worksite locations; Hear and see sufficiently to respond quickly in a noisy, fast-paced environment while meeting mandated safety standards; Stand, stoop, bend, dig, reach, kneel, squat, ascend and descend terrain and equipment; Frequently operate mechanical and electrical equipment of varying lengths and width, including small hand tools; Frequently lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs., and occasionally transport objects weighing up to 100 lbs.

Nice To Haves

• One year of vocational school or related coursework in horticulture/grounds/turf care may substitute for one year of required experience.
• Knowledge of all facets of outdoor horticulture grounds care for the local ecology.
• One year lead worker experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements work programs, and schedules for all aspects of Urban Parks program including but not limited to mowing, trimming, mulching, weeding, turf cultural work, wetland mitigation, irrigation repair and maintenance, and pruning shrubs and trees.
• Serves as lead worker to lower classified staff in the Urban Parks program area; provides training, technical guidance and day-to-day direction.
• Participates in hiring of all seasonal staff, subject to supervisor approval.
• Makes recommendations regarding hiring of permanent staff and disciplinary action of all employees in Urban Parks program area.
• Provides information regarding employee performance to supervisor.
• Inspects, documents, and updates all horticulture and irrigation inventories and grounds maintenance requirements.
• Oversees all equipment within the Urban Parks program area including maintenance coordination, inventory and repair history, and replacement.
• Designs, plans, and develops scope of work, materials, time and cost projections and implements renovation and construction projects for the Urban Parks program.
• Acts as technical resource for expertise in the Urban Parks program.
• Provides technical information to assist Parks Department, other agencies and community interests to aid in decision about best management practices and specification for work within the horticulture and irrigation areas.
• Assists in the development of Urban Parks program area budget including maintenance and project costing and tracking, costing and purchase of equipment, and materials and supplies including bid package formation, submittal and review.
• Oversees all irrigation controllers including the operation of a computerized central irrigation control system.
• Responds to citizen concerns.
• Investigates Urban Parks program area complaints and concerns.
• Plans and implements an integrated pest management program using a system of guidelines for best management practices.
• Performs the work of the class below as needed or assigned.

Benefits

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed