Parks Crew Leader - Baldwin County Commission

Position Description

Under direction, provides supervision to assigned work crews. Plans, schedules, and supervises the work of crews engaged in the maintenance of County-owned areas including turf, irrigation, ground cover and shrubs, and tree maintenance. Coordinates, monitors, and inspects the work of Landscape Technician I and Landscape Technician II engaged in the construction and maintenance of County-owned landscaped areas, and performs related duties as assigned. Operates various types of heavy equipment and demonstrates unique skills in the performance of complex and difficult constructions and maintenance activities. This position is distinguished from other positions within the Parks Department by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned, including providing lead supervision to assigned work crews. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to the assigned area of responsibility and carry a CDL (Class B) to operate machinery.

This position requires driving as an essential function of the position. For Baldwin County driving requirements, please see the following link: Driver Qualifications. Successful applicants must be at least 20 years old, insurable by the County’s insurance carrier, pass a criminal and motor vehicle background check and will be subject to a pre-employment drug test and physical.

Essential Job Functions

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all 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, organizes, schedules, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the work of crews engaged in construction, maintenance, and repair of gardens, street medians, trees, and other County-owned landscaped areas.
• Provides technical assistance to staff as necessary.
• Provides for staff training and development; trains assigned employees in their areas of work including landscape maintenance methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Supervises the use, care, and operation of landscape equipment; assist in maintaining equipment and vehicles for proper working order.
• Verifies the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
• Ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
• Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the section; research new operational techniques, methods, and equipment and recommends their application.
• Participates in long-term planning to assess future needs.
• Coordinates, monitors, and inspects the landscape maintenance and construction work being performed through contracts with private parties; ensures work is performed in accordance with contractual agreements and County standards; inspects completed landscape construction projects to ensure work has been performed in accordance with plans, specifications, and contracts.
• Assists in the development of plans, specifications, and contracts for landscape maintenance and construction problems.
• Inspects work in progress and upon completion; detects and corrects inefficient utilization of workers and equipment; ensures that work conforms to specifications and is in accordance with County policies and operating procedures and practices.
• Supervises and participates in the work of crews engaged in the installation, repair, and maintenance of all work assigned.
• Performs after-hours emergency work and on-call duties on a rotating basis.
• Performs assigned duties as required.

Education and Experience

• Have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the County’s insurance standards.
• Obtain Class “A” CDL with air brakes and passenger endorsement for passengers, required.
• Four (4) years’ experience as Landscape Technician II or equivalent experience, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a Parks Department maintenance program.
• Knowledge of principles of lead supervision and training including work evaluation.
• Knowledge of advanced methods and techniques of planting, transplanting, cultivating, pruning and maintaining a variety of lawns, ground covers, plants, shrubs, hedges and trees.
• Knowledge of advanced installation, maintenance, and repair of irrigation systems.
• Knowledge of principles, methods and equipment used in landscape cultivation and maintenance.
• Knowledge of turf management methods, practices and techniques, codes, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to trees.
• Knowledge of office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Ability to plan, organize, supervise, assign, inspect and evaluate the work of others.
• Ability to motivate and evaluate staff and provide for their training and development.
• Ability to analyze complex landscaping problems, evaluate alternatives and recommend or adopt effective courses of action.
• Ability to recognize common plants, plant diseases and insect pests.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, blueprints, specifications, and manuals.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative within established guidelines.
• Ability to operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
• Ability to maintain records.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to respond and perform assigned duties in the event of a County declared emergency.

Tools and Equipment Used

Pick up truck; lawn and landscaping equipment including tractors, mowers, airifier, chainsaw, edgers, weed trimmers, electric motors, pumps, sprinklers, and irrigation systems; miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, and cement finishing work; janitorial equipment including floor buffers, steam cleaner, carpet cleaners, washers, vacuums, mops, and dusting equipment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear, and type on computers. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud in this field.

Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, disability, citizenship or veteran status in employment. It is the intent of the Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to guarantee equal opportunity to allow disabled employees a bias-free work environment. Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation in compliance with the ADA. Recruitment and selection processes will grant equal opportunity for employment to qualified applicants and will not discriminate on the basis of disability. Reasonable accommodation will be provided upon request during the application, testing, and interview process.