Parks Maintenance Worker I

Why Tumwater?
Tumwater is more than just a city, it’s a vibrant community rooted in history and filled with opportunity. Located at the southern gateway to the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, Tumwater offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-picture vision.

Surrounded by the natural beauty of Puget Sound, prairie landscapes, rivers, and evergreen forests, we’re just over an hour from ocean beaches, the Olympic Peninsula, and Mount Rainier. Whether you’re into hiking, kayaking, brewery-hopping, or live music, you’ll find easy access to it all.

Here in Tumwater, we’re building a future that’s highly livable, connected, and inclusive. With safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a deep sense of civic pride, it’s not just a great place to live, it’s a great place to grow your career.

The Opportunity: 

Performs parks maintenance, irrigation, groundskeeping, landscaping, and facility support work in City parks, trails, athletic fields, open spaces, and recreational facilities. Performs routine maintenance activities to support the appearance, safety, and functionality of City-owned properties while learning specialized maintenance practices, equipment operation, and operational procedures.

Employees work under general supervision and progressively develop skills in landscape maintenance, irrigation systems, athletic field preparation, equipment operation, and park infrastructure maintenance. Assignments increase in complexity as experience, training, and proficiency are demonstrated.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Performs routine grounds maintenance, landscaping, facility support, and park operations activities.
• Learns and applies parks maintenance standards, equipment operation, irrigation practices, and safety procedures.
• Works under general supervision with guidance provided for complex assignments.

Essential Functions

Parks & Grounds Maintenance

• Mows, edges, trims, weeds, rakes, plants, waters, and performs routine landscape maintenance activities. 
• Maintains parks, trails, open spaces, playgrounds, picnic areas, athletic fields, and recreation facilities. 
• Removes litter, debris, leaves, vegetation, and other materials from park properties. 
• Assists with tree, shrub, flower bed, and turf maintenance activities. 

Facility & Park Support

• Cleans and maintains restrooms, shelters, playgrounds, and other public-use facilities. 
• Assists with event setup and teardown activities. 
• Performs routine inspections and reports maintenance needs, safety concerns, and equipment issues. 

Irrigation & Equipment Support

• Assists with irrigation inspections, repairs, and seasonal maintenance activities. 
• Operates and maintains grounds maintenance equipment, vehicles, power tools, and hand tools. 
• Performs routine equipment cleaning, fueling, and preventative maintenance. 

Customer Service & Teamwork

• Interacts professionally with park users and the public. 
• Supports departmental goals through teamwork, safe work practices, and reliable service. 
• Assists with special projects, department special events and seasonal work assignments.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Decision Rights & Problem Solving:

• Determines appropriate methods, equipment, and materials to complete assigned maintenance activities.
• Identifies maintenance, safety, irrigation, and operational issues and recommends corrective actions.
• Prioritizes daily work activities within established schedules and operational priorities.
• Refers significant operational, budgetary, or personnel issues to supervisory staff.

Supervision Received / Exercised

• Received: Works under general supervision of the Parks Maintenance Supervisor through assignment of work, operational priorities, and review of results.
• Exercised: May provide task-specific guidance, training, and work coordination to seasonal employees, temporary staff, volunteers, and community service workers. Does not exercise formal supervisory authority.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Parks & Recreation staff, Facilities staff, Public Works employees, supervisors, managers, seasonal employees, and volunteers.
• External: Park users, community groups, contractors, vendors, event organizers, and members of the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or GED. 
2. Two (2) years of experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, parks maintenance, construction, horticulture, recreation facilities maintenance, or a related field; or 
3. Any combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Special Requirements:

• Valid Washington State Driver License and acceptable driving record.
• Washington State Public Pesticide Operator License or ability to obtain within one (1) year.
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification or ability to obtain within one (1) year.
• CPR, First Aid, and AED certification or ability to obtain within one (1) year.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience operating landscape maintenance equipment.
• Experience working in parks, recreation, landscaping, horticulture, or grounds maintenance.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems and landscape maintenance practices.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of grounds maintenance, landscaping, irrigation systems, horticultural practices, turf management, and park maintenance techniques.
• Knowledge of landscape tools, maintenance equipment, irrigation components, and safe operating practices.
• Knowledge of integrated pest management practices and water conservation principles.
• Ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot irrigation systems and related equipment.
• Ability to communicate professionally and provide positive customer service.
• Ability to operate vehicles, mowers, tractors, power equipment, and hand tools safely and effectively.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to read and follow written and oral instructions and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, contractors, and the public.

Tools & Technology:

• Commercial mowers, tractors, utility vehicles, trailers, and grounds maintenance equipment
• Irrigation controllers, valves, piping systems, and diagnostic equipment
• Hand tools, power tools, chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, and landscape equipment
• Athletic field maintenance equipment
• Mobile communication devices and tablets
• Microsoft 365 applications
• Standard office equipment

Working Conditions & Physical Demands:
Work is performed in a combination of office, recreation facility, and outdoor park environments. Duties may include time spent at a computer, as well as active participation in or oversight of recreation programs, events, and activities.

The position requires regular movement including standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or moving equipment and program materials. Work may occur indoors or outdoors in varying weather conditions and may involve set-up and take-down of equipment for programs and events.

Employees may interact frequently with participants, community members, and partners in both structured and dynamic environments, requiring the ability to provide customer service and maintain professionalism in a variety of situations.

Work schedules regularly include evenings, weekends, and holidays based on program and event needs. Travel between facilities, parks, and event sites may be required. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.

Commitment to Equity, Safety, and Ethics:
Employees are expected to perform their duties in a manner that supports equity, safety, integrity, and professionalism. This includes following all safety policies and procedures, treating coworkers and the public with respect, and conducting work ethically and responsibly.Employees are expected to uphold public trust through fair, transparent, and lawful conduct and to contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment