Department:

Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources is looking for a Skilled Trades Worker I to help keep Sarasota County's parks and facilities safe, clean, and welcoming for the community. In this hands-on role, you'll perform a variety of maintenance tasks, including groundskeeping, mowing, landscaping, facility repairs, restroom cleaning, pressure washing, trash removal, and operating landscaping equipment.

If you enjoy working outdoors, staying active, and taking pride in maintaining public spaces, we'd love to hear from you! Starting pay is $20.10/hour (Step 1), with the opportunity for higher starting pay based on your experience.

While not required, we'd love to see candidates with a Pesticide Applicator License, pool operations experience, experience operating grounds maintenance equipment, basic mechanical and computer skills, and a strong commitment to customer service and workplace safety. If you're dependable, enjoy working independently and as part of a team, and are ready to make a difference in our community, apply today!

About the Position

In this role, you will...

• Maintain campground and park grounds through mowing, trimming, mulching, planting, weeding, tree care, pressure washing, and litter removal.
• Safely operate and perform basic maintenance on commercial equipment (i.e. zero-turn mowers, string trimmers, stick edgers, pole saws, backpack blowers, chainsaws, utility carts, and other hand and power tools).
• Apply and properly handle herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, and other landscape chemicals in accordance with safety guidelines.
• Perform minor facility maintenance, including basic carpentry, plumbing, painting, irrigation, and pool upkeep.
• Keep restrooms, laundry facilities, community/game rooms, pool areas, and storage areas clean, safe, and well-maintained.
• Inspect park facilities, identify maintenance needs, and submit work orders for repairs requiring specialized services.
• Transport equipment and materials between park locations using County pickup trucks and trailers as needed.
• Manage work orders, maintain equipment and supplies, monitor inventory, review campground reservations to anticipate maintenance needs, and provide excellent customer service while supporting other park locations as needed.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Typical Schedule: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Flexible schedule required, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must have the following:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 2+ years of related experience in landscaping, facility, or grounds maintenance.
• Valid Florida driver's license.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.

• Pesticide Applicator License and/or experience with pool operations.
• Experience operating grounds maintenance equipment, including mowers, power tools, pickup trucks, and small engines; basic mechanical repair skills are a plus.
• Basic computer skills, including email and other common software applications.
• Strong customer service and communication skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of workplace safety practices, including OSHA guidelines, and the ability to safely perform physically demanding outdoor work.

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 5 years.

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.

Fingerprint Screening Requirement: This position requires a fingerprint-based background check, as required by law. The screening reviews criminal history and other legally permitted information. Applicants who do not meet the screening requirements will not be eligible for employment. Learn more: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $21.51 (Step 1); Potential higher pay (steps) for those with multiple years of experience.

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.