Department:

Parks Recreation & Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Our Sports, Tourism, Facilities & Programs have a new and exciting opportunity as an Athletics Fields Maintenance Technician. Under general supervision, you will serve as a member of the sports tourism team performing light to heavy physical labor; responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of our athletic fields and adjunct facilities. The ideal candidate has exceptional customer service as you will be interacting and providing customer service to patrons of facilities.

The pay starts at $19.56 (Step 1), benefits begin within 60 days of hire, and there are opportunities for advancement. Apply today!

About the Position

In this role, you will perform skilled and advanced maintenance duties in the following areas: chemical spray application, pest identification, turf management, irrigation, and/or equipment operation. For more information, see below...

Skilled and/or certified to perform the following duties:                     

Execute the Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM). Troubleshoot chemical deficiencies and apply 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.                     Manage 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.Perform field maintenance duties including aerating, mowing, vertical cutting, weed abatement, top dressing, and other duties as required.Operate 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.Exercise a high degree of expertise, initiative and independent decision making to ensure customer satisfaction.Conduct parks patrols and general inspections of athletic facilities to ensure the safety of the public; report potential safety hazards or maintenance issues to supervisor for follow up, as necessary.Perform maintenance, repairs, programming, and adjustments in irrigation systems.Perform weekly sprinkler 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:

Provide polite, friendly, and accurate customer service.Perform proper maintenance techniques to ensure safe and playable surfaces including maintaining infield skin, infield lips, baselines, warning tracks, pitching mounds, and home plate areas. Include regular dragging, screen dragging, watering, mowing, edging, and trimming.Perform skilled and specialized tasks in the maintenance and upkeep of athletic fields and adjunct facilities.Paint and mark field sets, bases and pitching mounds under applicable rules and specified dimensions.Provide set-up and cleanup of facilities for practices, games, tournaments, and events. Perform general grounds maintenance, repair and janitorial duties of fields, fencing, common areas, amenities, parking lots and other areas.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

Full-Time, 40 hours per week. Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.May work overtime during the week and/or on weekends.

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of related athletic field experience.Ability to obtain Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) license, and a Class “A” CDL within six (6) months of employment. (We can help with this!)Ability to obtain an Ornamental and Turf Applicators License within nine (9) months of employment. (We can help with this, too!)Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

Four (4) years of parks and recreation maintenance operation experience.Specialized training and/or certification in irrigation, herbicide, and pesticide application and/or turf management.

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 for a period of five years.

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 lbs. Employees can use handling devices (dolly, cart, etc.) or work with another team member to lift and/or move excessive poundage of 50-plus pounds.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Rate: $19.56 (Step 1)

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)  

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.