Summary: Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Park Grounds is responsible for managing all aspects of the grounds department including turfgrass management, horticulture, athletic fields, sanitation and natural resources. The candidate should have a strong stewardship ethic, and the importance of creating a thriving and sustainable urban landscape. The position oversees the following teams: grounds, sanitation, athletic fields, and horticulture. A Natural Resources team will be developed and will report to the Director.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned
• Provide for the administration, planning, and implementation and coordination of a comprehensive program of grounds maintenance within City Park.
• Work with consultants and oversee the conversion of non-native areas to native landscapes including establishment and ongoing maintenance.
• Direct ground crews engaged in maintaining the physical appearance of the Park, landscape beds, waterways, native areas, turfgrass, sanitation and other projects.
• Direct Natural Resources crew in managing the overall health of the natural landscapes, wooded areas, wetlands, and lagoon system. This may include site monitoring, record keeping, invasive species removal and control, brush clearing, canopy clearing, and composting of organic materials.
• Direct forest planning strategies in conformance to forest compliance (NEPA) and forest restoration projects.
• Direct waterways and wetlands management strategies and guide the development of conservation strategies.
• Support a robust volunteer program that leverages the resources of the grounds and other departments.
• Responsible for financial management of the department regarding accounting records and transactions, budget preparation, fiscal monitoring, procurement, inventory and reporting of equipment and supplies.
• Recommend annual department budget, forecasting funding for personnel, equipment, material, and capital improvement plans. Monitors budget throughout the year.
• Assist in preparation of grant applications; oversees grant implementation and ensures applicable reporting for Parish, State and Federal agencies.
• Ensure necessary safety training and maintenance of equipment/inventory logs.
• Develop, implement, and enforce Parks tree, water and turf protection policies.
• Develop and implement Integrated Pest Management program, seeking to significantly reduce use of chemical applications.
• Assist with enforcement of all Park rules, regulations and ordinances; assists in developing and revising such.
• Establish priorities and schedules for grounds maintenance equipment, repair, or replacement within approved operating budgets.
• Manage contractors, assist with Requests for Proposals, review bids and select vendors to procure necessary equipment and supplies, and oversee inventory control.
• Work with other departments, agencies and consultants in the area of park operations and development.
• Provides information to the Chief Planning Officer (CPO) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on operations and services as needed.
• Participate in the Master Plan capital projects or design projects decisions, providing input and guidance that may impact the overall park maintenance and operations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Responsible for creating a culture of safety, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and developing excellent technical skills among staff.
• Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the department.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include recruitment and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
• Must have a strong stewardship ethic and an understanding of sustainable best land management practices, and a willingness to innovate beyond traditional land management frameworks.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Park Management, Natural Resource Management, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Studies, or related field preferred; exceptions made for candidates with more than 10 years of directly related experience.
• Minimum of seven years related experience in parks, recreation and land management
• Must have knowledge of turfgrass management including, but not limited to, soil science, athletic fields, and nutrient management programs.
• Should have knowledge of proper care of equipment including, but not limited to, mowing and heavy equipment, as well as other small engine equipment..
• Should have horticultural knowledge including, but not limited to, arboriculture, fertilization, integrated pest management, and best management practices.
• Should have natural resources management knowledge including establishment techniques and invasive species management.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to constantly move from one worksite to another, communicate with others to exchange information, use repetitive motions with the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, and operate motor vehicles.

The employee will be required to remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods, and assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned. The employee may also be required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, grasp, talk, or hear.

Specific vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus to operate motor vehicles and heavy equipment. The visual acuity required to perform work at or within an arm’s reach in performing mechanical or technical trade tasks. The employee must perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound. The employee will express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word, and they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The physical demands will require the employee to regularly lift, adjust, or move objects up to 10 lbs., frequently lift, adjust, or move objects up to 25 lbs., and occasionally lift, adjust, or move objects up to 50 lbs. or more.

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 functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; explosives and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Applicants must include two examples of past experience with implementing new capital projects or overseeing landscape conversions. Applicants should also include a statement outlining their experience with and commitment to sustainable land management practices.