<p>This Parks Specialist position is a skilled position involving equipment operation, construction and mechanical work in turf management operations. Work involves responsibility for participating in the performance of a variety of turf management techniques on athletic fields and parks, as well as maintenance of facilities. Position also requires athletic field preparation; chemical and fertilizer application; working with sub-contractors and non-profit youth organizations; repair and construction of city parks and other public facilities; trash removal; mowing; restroom maintenance; snow removal; on-call, weekend, and after hour schedules; and light construction and other related duties as assigned by supervisory staff. Key responsibilities include leading regular and seasonal employees in work related to turf maintenance operations. Position requires leading and setting examples for other employees and using initiative to ensure efficient accomplishment of assigned work. Work is performed under the direction of a Foreperson to ensure adherence to prescribed work standards and quality performance.</p> <p>The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee's level of proficiency and usage.</p> <p>For more information about the city and what it is like working for the city of Westminster, please visit: Employment | Westminster, CO</p> <p>This position will be based out of the Park Operations Center (10495 Sheridan Blvd) The person selected for this opportunity may work some weekends, evening, and holidays based on operational needs. </p> <p>Opportunity Timeline: </p> <ul> <li>Posting closes: Monday, April 20, 2026 at 8:30AM MST  </li><li>Screening Interview: April 27, 2026 </li><li>Panel Interview: May 13, 2026 </li><li>Conditional Job Offer and Backgrounds: May </li><li>Start Date: Tentatively Early June </li></ul> <p>The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service - People - Integrity - Respect - Innovation - Teamwork).</p> <p>This position supports the goals of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, which enhances the quality of life for all Westminster citizens by providing diverse leisure, recreational, and informational services and resources; and acquiring, developing, and maintaining first-class parks, facilities, open space, and trails. This position works towards the accomplishment of the Department's mission: Together we create exceptional opportunities for a vibrant community with a commitment to nature, wellness and literacy.</p> <p>Every employee is accountable to:</p> <ul> <li>Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority </li><li>Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback </li><li>Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision </li><li>Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner </li><li>Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior </li><li>Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner </li><li>Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate </li><li>Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization </li><li>Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered </li><li>Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives </li><li>Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences </li></ul> <p> </p> <p>GENERAL COMPETENCIES</p> <p>Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:</p> <ul> <li>Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments </li><li>Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development </li><li>Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks </li><li>Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions  </li><li>Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently </li><li>Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications </li><li>Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance </li><li>Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product </li></ul> <p>Job Specific - Every employee in this position must be able to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Demonstrate and apply considerable knowledge, education, training, and experience in all phases of turf management and athletic field maintenance, including herbicide/pesticide application and fertilization</p> </li><li> <p>Lead and set the example for subordinate non-exempt employees and seasonal workers in the accomplishment of a defined task</p> </li><li> <p>Demonstrate considerable skill in the safe and efficient operation of mechanical hand tools and various types of equipment used in turf management, open space, right-of-way management, and train other employees in the safe operation of this equipment</p> </li><li> <p>Utilize knowledge of applicable work safety rules, procedures, and standards</p> </li><li> <p>Follow oral and written instructions</p> </li><li> <p>Utilize detailed record-keeping, maintenance schedules, and report writing</p> </li><li> <p>Be flexible in all work assignments</p> </li><li> <p>Carry out work efficiently with minimal supervision</p> </li><li> <p>Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees</p> </li><li> <p>Deal effectively with the general public, consultants, and vendors</p> </li><li> <p>Read and interpret blueprints</p> </li><li> <p>Demonstrate considerable knowledge of:</p> </li><li> <p>The general practices applied in the care and safe operation of a wide variety of light and heavy construction and maintenance equipment</p> </li><li> <p>Pesticide application, plant disease diagnosis, and fertilization procedures are mandatory  </p> </li><li> <p>Laws and regulations pertaining to operation of equipment upon highways, work safety rules and procedures</p> </li><li> <p>State and Federal regulations and industry BMP's for handling, storing, mixing and applying pesticides and fertilizers</p> </li><li> <p>Read and understand construction documents</p> </li><li> <p>Continue educational classes in turf maintenance, forestry, horticulture, open space, or landscape construction</p> </li></ul> <p>Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks</p> <ul> <li> <p>Agronomic and turf-management specific duties, to include:</p> </li><li> <p>Effectively communicating with district teams, ensuring staff are executing a cultural program that meets or exceed Division standards for maintenance</p> </li><li> <p>Lead assigned crews in turf management procedures and maintenance of facilities and athletic fields, trash removal and restroom maintenance</p> </li><li> <p>Employing effective irrigation techniques as required</p> </li><li> <p>Regular monitoring of City parks and facilities for plant health, quality control and aesthetics through variety of means; soil testing, scheduling inspections and site walks with District supervisors</p> </li><li> <p>With the Natural Resource Specialists, act as Division lead on all fertilizer, pesticide agronomic and IPM related matters to include:</p> </li><li> <p>Ensuring that the Parks, Golf, and Open Space Division is following all state mandates pursuant to the Colorado Weed Act, and supporting other divisions in meeting these mandates</p> </li><li> <p>Developing, updating and implementing a detailed cultural plan for all City managed property through coordination with Foreperson and Crewleaders</p> </li><li> <p>Make recommendations to the Foreperson and Superintendents on process improvements</p> </li><li> <p>Conducts and oversees the collection of data for asset management and digital workflow projects, including:</p> </li><li> <p>Coordinating with GIS staff to create, verify and maintain assigned datasets</p> </li><li> <p>Utilizing GPS technology to collect data points in the field and uses data to create maps with a variety of ArcGIS tools</p> </li><li> <p>Operate various types of heavy and light equipment including backhoes, dump trucks, trenchers, gang mowers, truck/trailer combinations, skid steer loader, forklift, trencher, farm tractor and attachments, power and hand tools, as well as agricultural equipment to plant trees, install sod, apply fertilizer, seed open space and park areas, and install other landscape improvements as needed</p> </li><li> <p>Perform, lead, and train regular and seasonal employees in:</p> </li><li> <p>The safe and efficient operation of heavy and light equipment, tools and vehicles</p> </li><li> <p>Sustainable maintenance, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), repair and construction of parks and related public facilities</p> </li><li> <p>Safe and effective mixing and application of pesticides and fertilizers</p> </li><li> <p>Turf renovation and preparation, cultural and agronomic practices</p> </li><li> <p>Work a flexible schedule as operations dictate such as Tuesday through Friday (ten (10) hour days); Monday through Friday (eight (8) hour days), or a flex schedule working a weekend day if operations dictate; available to work weekends leading groups of volunteers, special events; and able to work on-call duties as needed</p> </li><li> <p>Diagnose and solve routine problems including assisting in determining manpower and equipment allocation for specific construction and maintenance operations</p> </li><li> <p>Driver license requirements are:</p> </li><li> <p>Possess a valid driver's license, and operate a City motor vehicle in a safe and responsible manner, including driving in all-weather conditions</p> </li><li> <p>Possess or be able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver License within six (6) months of employment</p> </li><li> <p>Maintain regular and punctual attendance</p> </li></ul> <p>Other Duties and Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Perform snow removal at public facilities </li><li>Take on-call duty as necessary for snow removal, other weather-related events, or planned City events </li><li>Assist with the set-up and teardown of annual holiday displays </li></ul> <p>Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City's discretion.</p> <p>Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications</p> <p>Required:</p> <ul> <li>Graduation from high school or completion of GED </li><li>Minimum of two (2) years of experience in landscape or turf maintenance, or athletic field maintenance </li><li>Possession of a valid driver's license and maintain a safe driving record </li><li>Must possess or be able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver License within six (6) months of selection to the position; candidate hired for this position will be subject to federally mandated drug and alcohol testing and be required to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical every two (2) years </li><li>Must obtain Colorado Department of Agriculture Qualified Supervisor license within one (1) year of hire for turf, ornamental, and right-of-way </li></ul> <p>Preferred:</p> <ul> <li>Graduation from an accredited four-year college with major course work in landscape, turf maintenance, or athletic field management (may be substituted for one (1) year of the required three (3) years of experience) </li></ul> <p>Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.</p> <p>Physical Requirements</p> <p>Work is physical in nature, and requires sufficient physical strength and stamina to:</p> <ul> <li>Occasionally sit while driving to work assignments and performing office tasks; frequently stand and constantly walk on uneven terrain in all weather conditions to safely complete assigned tasks </li><li>Occasional squatting, twisting, climbing, and balancing to inspect assigned areas and perform snow removal </li><li>Frequent bending, kneeling, and reaching below shoulder to perform irrigation repair and park maintenance </li><li>Frequent light/firm grasp to properly use tools and equipment; occasional fine manipulation to perform office duties; constant handling to use safely use machinery and heavy equipment </li><li>Occasional step up/down to enter and exit vehicles and climb ladders; constant actuate mechanism to safely operate heavy equipment and vehicles </li><li>Standard near/far acuity and hearing </li><li>Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds from ground to waist to move material and supplies; constant carrying of up to 25 pounds at waist level to use weed clearing equipment; occasional carrying of up to 50 pounds to use a backpack sprayer; frequent pushing/pulling of up to 100 pounds to use a painter </li></ul> <p>WORKING CONDITIONS</p> <p>Work is constantly performed indoors and outdoors with constant exposure to extreme temperatures year-round. Position is responsible for the maintenance of all City parks, forestry, open space, and athletic fields throughout the year. Snow removal at City facilities, parks, and trails is completed when needed.</p> <p>Required Materials and Equipment</p> <p>Operates light equipment such as pick-up truck, small dump truck, tractors, horticultural hand tools, rototillers, sod cutters, pruners, shovels, self-propelled walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, snow blowers, 20-foot trailers, irrigation systems, and woodworking and welding tools, backpack sprayer, and other equipment as necessary. Heavy equipment operation may include front-end loaders, backhoes, trenchers, road graders, and truck and trailer combinations. Depending on the project, may also utilize small tools such as hammers, saws, measuring tape, levels, drills, and power tools to complete assigned responsibilities. Because of the use and exposure to loud machinery, constant noise levels, and pesticides and chemicals, safety glasses, earplugs, safety shoes, spray and dust masks, and chemical suits are used.</p> <p>PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS</p> <ul> <li>Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification </li><li>Drug screen </li><li>Physical </li><li>Must be legally entitled to work in the United States </li></ul>