Overview

The City of Kitchener is looking for a dedicated individual to join our team as a permanent full-time Parks Maintainer, Turf Specialist. In this role, you’ll be part of a collaborative Fields Maintenance team, handling all aspects of sports field maintenance. Your duties will include turf management, turf renovations, integrated pest management, irrigation repairs, troubleshooting, landscaping, grading, and related administrative tasks. Additionally, you’ll be responsible for winter maintenance duties. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and abilities, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Join us in making our parks and sports fields beautiful and safe for the community to enjoy!

Responsibilities

Daily Planning: Plan and organize materials, supplies, and equipment to carry out daily job assignments. Vegetation Control: Perform various vegetation control duties, cultural practices, and turf renovations in parks. Recommendations: Identify and provide recommendations to your supervisor for any additional work needed to maintain various turfgrass areas, such as turf renovation and irrigation. Turf Monitoring: Independently monitor and assess turf conditions, identifying maintenance needs based on your understanding of target turf composition, maintenance practices, biodiversity, irrigation systems, and integrated pest management (e.g., insects, disease, nutrient requirements, drainage, wear patterns). Record Keeping: Keep accurate records for field studies, project planning, and completed field work. Equipment Operation: Operate various types of vehicles and equipment, such as top dressers, overseeders, loader tractors, and mowers. Irrigation Systems: Repair and troubleshoot all irrigation systems and equipment. Complex Irrigation Maintenance: Maintain, operate, troubleshoot, read plans, and repair complex irrigation systems, including booster pumps, computer software, computer-controlled and manual field satellites, zone and control valves, electric sprinkler heads, in-ground piping, filtration systems, and multi-zone stations. Customer Service: Provide frontline customer service to the public and special interest groups. Winter Duties: Participate in the winter job pool process, which includes tasks like snow plowing and hand shoveling. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education

Minimum Grade 12 diploma or equivalent. Successful completion of a Turf Management diploma at an accredited post-secondary institution or equivalent.

Experience

Minimum of 1-year Turfgrass maintenance experience and with related equipment.

Additional Requirements

Valid MTO class “G” driver’s license in good standing and be capable of upgrading to a “DZ” license within a 6-month period. Valid Ministry of Environment Landscape Exterminators license or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Advanced computer skills. Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.