Playground Equipment Safety Specialist (14318, Grade 16)

The Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission is an award-winning organization with over 5,000 employees that administers over 52,000 acres of stream valley parks, large regional parks, neighborhood parks, and park-school recreation areas throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. In Prince George’s County, we are also responsible for developing the County’s public recreation programs.

The Department of Parks & Recreation has the overall responsibility for planning, supervising, and coordinating all park/recreation facilities and services throughout Prince George’s County. The Northern Region Parks Division (NRPD) is one of three maintenance Divisions within this Department and is composed of eight major work programs: Fleet Management/Trades, Building Maintenance, Area Maintenance, Playgrounds, Trails, Athletic Field/Turf Management, Trash/Recycling/Waste Management, Program Support, and the administrative section. The mission of NRPD is to provide professional, high-quality maintenance and maintenance support services for all parks and recreation facilities and to support the diverse work programs of the Parks & Recreation Department in Prince George’s County and its customers.

Work Hours are 5:45 am – 2:30 pm

• Plans and conducts routine preventive maintenance programs for play equipment. Performs safety inspections to discover structural problems and defects, determines needed repairs, and implements corrective action. Makes minor repairs and replacements (e.g., swings, S-hooks, chains, etc.). Disable or remove defective equipment as required. Makes recommendations on closing and removing major equipment. 
• Prepares records of inspections and completed repairs. Estimates materials and supplies needed and selects and purchases all repair and replacement parts. Submits annual budget requests. Receives shipments of supplies and keeps stock inventory. 
• Provides technical advice to park designers and inspectors on selecting, installing, and maintaining play structures and on required compliance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines and manufacturer's specifications. Provides regional representation and input at pre- and post-construction meetings and during installation. Provides significant information into scheduling play equipment renovation in the Capital Improvement Program. 
• Provides leadership and coordination for staff involved in the repair, maintenance, installation, and design alteration of play equipment. Ensure that work projects are performed completely and correctly. Conducts site inspections as required. 
• Informs manufacturers about problems and recommends design alterations of play equipment. Makes arrangements with factory representatives for the inspection of design flaws. 
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools. Performs routine welding, masonry, carpentry, and mechanical work. 
• Provides training for Commission employees and other groups in the various safety considerations in play equipment selection, installation, and maintenance as needed. Designs, prepares, and presents play equipment safety workshops as required. Reviews specialized literature to keep up with current design trends.
• Attends on-site meetings with citizens to respond to their concerns, discuss installations, and explain the safety program.

Class/Specification: Playground Equipment Safety Specialist

Works in the field and office. Considerable driving. Exposed to varying weather conditions, dirt, and welding torch and fumes. 

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.