Data is as of 6/15/2025.
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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Turf Maintenance Specialist
FLSA: Standard/Non-Exempt EEO Category: (30) Technicians
Class Code: 18522 Salary Grade: CB9
Approved: December 04, 1997 Last Revised: March 18, 2025

Purpose:
 

Under general supervision, this position plans and coordinates turf maintenance and landscaping activities for the City’s parks and turf areas.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Develops turf maintenance plans to include irrigation infrastructure installations, fertilization, and landscaping in order to maintain health and appearance.
  2. Performs soil-based testing and analysis of park grounds and turf areas to diagnose problems such as disease, insects, weeds, soil compaction, and soil infertility.
  3. Plans, prepares and applies treatment plans and chemicals applications to include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other pre- and post-emergent solutions.
  4. Coordinates turf maintenance activities such as mowing, trimming, edging, sowing, fertilizing, and irrigation.
  5. Maintains detailed reports and records of turf maintenance activities.
  6. Monitors and administers an annual operating budget to ensure expenses remain within budget allocations.
  7. Writes specifications and provides technical expertise in the purchase of equipment and supplies.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
 
  • Provides assistance and information to the crew’s supervisor as required Coordinates the work of employees to ensure the crew’s assigned results are met. 
  • Fills in for Supervisor in his or her absence.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of the use and application of chemicals and compounds including fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and pesticides.
  • Knowledge of insect pest, plant diseases, and nutrient deficiencies.
  • Knowledge of techniques and practices for propagating, planting, and maintaining trees, shrubs, bedding plants, and ground covers.
  • Skills in the use and safe operations of grounds maintenance equipment such as tractors, riding mowers, push mowers, trimmers, back-hoes, power tools and hand tools.
  • Skill in oral and written communications.
  • Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  • Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  • Ability to establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City employees and the public.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Associates degree in Turf Management or in a field related to the job, plus (3) three years of related experience.
  • Experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of (2) two years
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 
  • Texas Class C Driver License.
  • Must obtain a valid Pesticide Applicator License within six (6) months of employment.
  • Must obtain a valid Landscape Irrigation License within six (6) months of employment.
 

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.