Located on 7 acres in the heart of Cary, Downtown Cary Park offers an artistic landscape surrounding beautifully distinguished structures and spaces available for reserving to host a variety of gatherings. The Groundskeeper performs responsible, skilled work in the maintenance of Downtown Cary Park Grounds and Downtown Parking Deck, performing groundskeeping and general service work to include Special Projects and Special Event programming support. An employee in this class is generally assigned to the landscape maintenance section; however, the employee may be subject to working in any area under the jurisdiction within the park if needed. An employee in this class will be responsible for general care and maintenance of DCP landscapes, open space, walkways, and other areas as assigned by Park Management staff. Work may be performed independently or within a team with general supervision from the Groundskeeper Coordinator. The work of a Groundskeeper may require occasional and sometimes heavy rotational weekend work to support special events and/or inclement weather response. Typical Tasks Assists in performing minor repairs to irrigation systems. Maintains walkways. Works with and occasionally leads the work of community volunteers. Installs and maintains planting beds through coordination with the horticulturist. Operates landscape equipment including tractors and backhoes for loading and minor grading. Participates in maintenance of hard structures and/or landscape features. Assists with special events setup, takedown, and post event cleanup. Applies herbicides and fertilizers under direction of the horticulturist. Participates in assessment of flower beds, naturalized areas, or related landscapes to determine condition of plants or needs for care and maintenance. Monitors plants during extreme temperatures for signs of stress or damage; waters plants according to specific needs of plant species. Performs general turf management, landscaping and horticulture. Participates in the pruning of ornamental trees and shrubbery to maintain proper shape and design and to ensure adequate ventilation and light to the plant’s interior; uses loppers, shears, bow saws, and hand pruners to clear walkways of vegetative obstructions. Prepares planting beds to ensure that soil mixture is of correct texture, permeability, density and contains appropriate amounts of soil nutrients. Assists with preparing landscaped areas, flower beds, and specialized planting areas. Assists other work divisions as needed. Participates in inclement weather response. Performs all other job-related tasks as required. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to be an effective part of a general services work team. Maintains a positive work environment. Basic knowledge of plant growth characteristics and proper techniques for pruning and shaping. Some knowledge of the species of flowers, trees, and shrubs indigenous to central North Carolina. Ability to understand and effectively communicate special event set ups and specific event requirements. Considerable knowledge and awareness of the appropriate safety precautions of the work. Ability to work effectively in a team environment. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the general public. Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions. Basic technological skills to assist with data collection. Ability to work a flexible schedule with occasional and sometimes heavy rotational weekend work to support special events and/or inclement weather response Minimum and Preferred Qualifications Education and Experience. Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to a High School diploma/ G.E.D. Requires some experience in landscape or turf maintenance. National Incident Management System (NIMS) ICS 100 and ICS 700 training/certification or the ability to obtain within 6 months with supplied training is required. Requires possession of a current Pesticide License, or the ability to obtain within 6 months. Physical Requirements: Work in this class is medium to heavy work and may require exposure to various environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and rain. An employee must have the physical agility to move about freely including climbing stairs and ladders, walking for long periods and the endurance necessary to operate equipment. Moderate to heavy lifting is required in performing the work. Visual acuity is necessary to perform paperwork, read gauges, and make repairs. An employee must also be able to hear, talk, and smell. Conditions of Employment: Requires possession of a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.