Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

The City of Waukesha is an award winning, growing community located along the shores of the Fox River, 15 miles west of Milwaukee. The City is the 7th largest in the state with a population of close to 72,000 people and was included in Money Magazine's 100 Best places to live in 2019.

This supervisory position includes highly responsible administrative and managerial work involving oversight of the daily operations of the Grounds Maintenance crews in the care, maintenance, and improvement of the City's parks, athletic fields and courts, gardens and other City properties and amenities. The position also assists with the planning and implementation of approved capital improvement (CIP) projects.

Schedule: M-F, 7am-330pm, Required occasional nights and weekends for emergencies and business needs

Starting salary: Depending on qualifications, $71,670-84,212

Initial interviews: TBD for those selected to move forward in the process

Tentative start date: TBD

Explore the City's benefits here: City of Waukesha Benefit Guide

It is not typical for someone to be hired at or near the top of the salary range.  The specific compensation offered to a candidate is reviewed and based off a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, certifications, and internal equity. Essential Duties:

Essential Job Functions The job functions listed herein are neither exclusive nor exhaustive but are intended to be illustrative of the types of tasks the employee will most likely be expected to perform on a regular basis. The employee may be asked to perform different or additional tasks than the ones listed here, as the needs of the employer and/or the requirements of the position change.

• Recruits, hires, supervises and evaluates all personnel within the Grounds Division. Directs the orientation, training and instruction of employees in safety and operational procedures and practices.

• Schedules staff (full time, part time and seasonal) for first and second shifts and weekend operations as needed to cover all Grounds duties.

• Inspects Park system facilities and equipment and ensures that they are properly maintained and in good working order.

• Plans, assigns and supervises the work of all full time and seasonal employees performing grounds maintenance work including grass cutting, weeding, raking, fertilization, refuse disposal, snow and sidewalk cleaning operations; prioritizes work and establishes maintenance schedules.

• Regularly inspects and evaluates park system facilities and equipment and ensures that they are being properly operated and maintained; implements repairs and improvements as necessary.

• Researches and makes recommendations for improvements to existing policies and procedures related to the economic use of Department resources, including personnel, equipment and supplies.

• Attends Parks, Recreation & Forestry Board, Finance Committee, Common Council and other meetings as needed regarding construction projects, budgets, fleet purchases, etc.

• Recommends items for inclusion in the departmental operating, CIP and fleet budgets; assists in the identification of any grant funding and alternative revenue opportunities.

• Oversees departmental construction projects and works closely with City engineering and project contactors and consultants to assure efficient completion of work.

• Works closely with the Recreation Facilities Coordinator, Recreation Division staff and Buildings Maintenance Supervisor to best coordinate facility usage, rentals, programs, special events and related supervision, preparation and cleaning.

• Implements and/or coordinates park and facility identification, regulatory and wayfinding signage program.

• Develops or secures Requests for Proposals (RFPs), coordinates any related contractual arrangements, obtains price quotes and estimates, and develops requisite specifications in order to successfully implement a project, repair, improvement or service.

• Plans, designs, establishes and recommends maintenance priorities and maintenance schedules; works closely with City Facilities/Asset Manager and utilizes City Asset Management Program to effectively develop repair, replacement and improvement programs.

• Authority over snow removal operations.

• Administers and enforces department policies, work and safety rules, regulations and disciplinary action consistent with City policies; makes recommendations for changes to existing policies and procedures related to the efficient and economical use of labor, equipment and services.

• Plans, designs and recommends park landscape and layouts for new or renovated sites.

• Directs the construction, preparation and maintenance of City ice rinks and toboggan runs, including snow making.

• Prepares and maintains all applicable records and prepares reports as needed.

• Makes presentations to staff members, other departments, agencies, elected officials, organizations and the public as needed.

• Completes work orders to meet the recreational and rental division needs of the Department.

• Assists in the supervision of other Department divisions or crews as needed.

• Reviews and assists in park planning as related to grounds and facilities.

• Provides support staff for and assists in special event preparations and functions.

• Checks to ensure that mechanical repairs and maintenance work on all types of vehicles and equipment assigned to the Grounds Division is completed as assigned.

• Coordinates with the Public Works Department and PRF Buildings & Forestry Divisions regarding both park and non-park projects and operations.

• Provides education and training in safety and equipment practices in conjunction with other supervisors.

Typical Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and major coursework in horticulture, park management, landscape architecture or a related field and at least 4 years of experience in the care and maintenance of large tract of land, parks or athletic fields, including at least 3 years of supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, ability and skills:

Knowledge of

• Local, state and federal laws relevant to park services and maintenance, including pesticide application laws.

• The methods, techniques, materials and equipment used in caring for park and recreation areas.

• Occupational hazards and the safety methods used to avoid and prevent them.

• The use of standard office equipment including computers and peripheral equipment.

• Basic accounting and budgeting principles.

Ability to

• Plan, assign and supervise the work of others.

• Assist with capital improvement projects.

• Prepare specifications and cost estimates for construction projects and equipment.

• Understand and follow instructions.

• Multi-task, organize and prioritize workload.

• Use the materials, equipment and machinery necessary in grounds maintenance operations.

• Read and interpret plans and specifications and analyze data.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers and the general public.

• Establish and maintain safe working practices and procedures.

• Establish and maintain necessary work records.

• Perform light to heavy physical tasks under varying weather conditions.

Skill in

• Leadership and organization.

• Operating maintenance equipment, machinery and tools.

• Oral and written communications.

• Problem solving and responding to emergencies.

• Public relations.

• Plant identification, care and maintenance.

• Snow removal techniques.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Ability to pass drug and alcohol tests pre- and post- hire.

• Valid Wisconsin driver's license, CDL with B & C endorsements (A preferred) within one year of hire.

• Secure and maintain a Wisconsin Commercial Pesticide Applicator's license category 3 within one year of hire.

• Secure and maintain Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Certification within one year of hire.

• CPR/First Aid/AED Certification within one year of hire.*  

• Forklift Certification within 1 year of hire.*

• Actual completion is dependent on the timing of the annual group staff training cycles.  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed mostly outdoors; hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers, power tools and various types of equipment and machinery.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, prolonged visual concentration and the ability to adjust focus.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear; smell; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.

• Duties may include inspection of potentially unsafe structures and exposure to hazardous property conditions and require the ability to use good judgment and caution.

• The employee is frequently required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, crouch or kneel.

• The employee is frequently exposed to adverse weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, wetness and humidity; and to other unpleasant conditions such as dim or bright lighting, odors, heavy machinery, noise, vibrations, toxic agents, electrical currents, pollution, dust, chemicals, smoke and disease.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and sometimes though rarely, in excess of 50 pounds.

The City of Waukesha is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is not typical for someone to be hired at or near the top of the salary range.  The specific compensation offered to a candidate is reviewed and based off a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, certifications, and internal equity.

Internal City applicants: please review HR Policy F2 Salary Plan and Administration regarding promotions/transfers.