JOB POSTING: Field Maintenance Specialist

Principal Function:
The Field Maintenance Specialist is responsible for the day to day maintenance of the city’s athletic fields, disc golf course, ice rink, splash pads, bike paths, common areas, and related buildings, while ensuring a quality user experience for all customers within the Parks and Recreation Department, and within the City of Hammond, and all other duties as assigned. Evening and weekend hours may be required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assists the Field Maintenance Manager by opening and closing the assigned recreational fields, disc golf course, ice rink, splash pads, bike paths, common areas, and related buildings during seasons of use, and maintains the same facilities to preserve their long-term availability for the public.
• Performs general maintenance and cleaning of the assigned athletic fields, disc golf course, ice rink, splash pads, bike paths, common areas, and related buildings to include: the baseball, football, rugby, and soccer fields.
• Performs, as assigned, mowing, edging, weed, leaf, tree/shrub branch, and limb removal tasks on the athletic fields, disc golf course, splash pads, bike paths, common areas, and around buildings.
• Removes snow and trash at the athletic fields, disc golf course, ice rink, splash pads, bike paths, common areas, and related buildings, as needed.
• Coordinates with the Field Maintenance Manager the maintenance and repair of all tools used in the department to include: lawnmowers, weedwhackers, leaf blowers, edgers, etc.
• Assists the Field Maintenance Manager with the opening at the beginning of the season and with the closing at the end of the season of the concession stands.
• Hauls, sets-up, and tears down equipment used for special events, ceremonies, parades, etc., as needed.
• Develops, initiates, and follows the correct procedure during emergency situations to include: weather, medical, etc.
• Assists the Field Maintenance Manager by working with the College Bound program and students in the Parks and Recreation Department, as needed.
• Communicates with and between all city offices/departments, and the Field Maintenance Manager, as needed.
• Attends all meetings, conferences, training sessions, etc., as required by the City of Hammond and the department.

Competencies:
To perform this job successfully, all employees at the City of Hammond should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
  Public Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping one’s emotions under control; Solicits feedback to improve service.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views and is willing to try new things; Gives and welcomes feedback from team members; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Builds morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Oral and Written Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions verbally and in a written format; Writes clearly and informatively and edits work for spelling and grammar; Reads and interprets written information; Presents numerical data effectively, as required by the job.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes the essential duties and responsibilities of the job correctly and on time; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments, as required; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity; Participates in meetings; Supports the municipality’s goals and values; Represents the municipality in a positive manner when engaged in outside activities.

Job-related Competencies
To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous general labor and repair/maintenance work experience is required. Previous general labor experience in a municipal or government-related job is desired. The ability to be bonded, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification, and basic First Aid training are required.

Other Skills and Abilities:
The following skills and abilities are either required or desired.

• A working knowledge of the geography of the City of Hammond is required.
• A working knowledge of mowing, edging, weed, leaf, tree/shrub branch, and limb removal
  is required.
• A basic knowledge of general maintenance tasks related to athletic fields, disc golf course, ice rink, and related buildings is required.
• The ability to use mowers, power equipment, and hand tools is required.
• The knowledge of basic mathematical skills is required.
• A basic knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules and regulations with regards to material safety data sheets (MSDSs), bloodborne safety, lock-out tag-out, proper lifting, the proper use of tools and machinery, etc. and the safety of employees in the department is required.
• A basic knowledge of all municipal operations within the City of Hammond is required.
• A basic understanding of City of Hammond policies and procedures as they relate to the Parks and Recreation Department is required.
• A basic knowledge of Parks and Recreation Department policies, procedures, standards, internal controls, and work methods is required.
• Familiarity with government agencies, consultants, contractors, and vendors associated with the Parks and Recreation Department is desired.
• The ability to maintain and cultivate positive relationship with the public, vendors and other city offices/departments is required.
• The ability to make sound and rational decisions including exercising independent judgment within established protocols and guidelines is required.
• The ability to multi-task and work in a fast paced environment while providing exceptional customer service is required.
• The ability to speak, read and write in English is required. Spanish is desired

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. In addition, the employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to move up to 50 pounds and may use a cart, dolly, or other assistive device.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to working near mechanical parts and electrical shock when working with office equipment and power tools and equipment and outdoor weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, fumes or airborne particles, and work in high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to very loud.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required on a job site may include: safety harness, gloves, rubber steel-toed boots, safety glasses/goggles, hearing protection, hard hat, hair covering, protective coat, safety vest, and various respirators to include: dust mask, chemical cartridge, and/or supplied air, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The department will provide all PPE as required by the job.

The Parks and Recreation Department Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, this job requires work beyond these hours, as needed. The job also requires that the employee be on-call and then called-in to work, as needed. The employee will be required to drive City of Hammond vehicles or equipment. Thus, a valid driver’s license is required and the employee must be able to be insured by the city.