MUNICIPAL PARKS SUPERINTENDENT

Code: 06775 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction, plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates activities involved in the maintenance and care of municipal parks; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans and supervises a variety of maintenance and repair programs for municipal parks and recreation facilities.
• Provides assignments and instruction to assigned employees.
• Prepares budget estimates for maintenance and repair operations.
• Attends conferences relevant to expediting various park maintenance activities.
• Supervises the work of subordinate supervisors and other employees engaged in maintaining, repairing, and/or installing roads, paths, walks, drainage equipment, lawns, play fields, and fences within municipal parks.
• Supervises and works with subordinate supervisors and other employees engaged in grading grass plots, sowing grass seed, weeding and mowing lawns, pruning and spraying trees, trimming shrubbery, planting and caring for flowers, cutting hedges, painting and making repairs to benches and other park and playground equipment, lining sport fields, caring for rest rooms, and sweeping and cleaning walks and paths.
• Ensures the proper use and care of equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Maintains essential records of personnel, equipment, materials, work done, and time spent.
• Supervises the work involved in the growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, and the like in gardens, orchards, and/or greenhouses.
• Uses techniques to help combat plant diseases.
• Plans and develops crops best suited for particular areas.
• Conducts experiments to develop new varieties of plants and to improve existing varieties.
• Studies effects of fertilizers, insect sprays, plant diseases, and plant care.
• Manages the marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other various plants.
• Inspects areas for conditions of trees, shrubbery, plantations, and flower and vegetable gardens for indications of insect infestations, plant diseases, or other physical disturbances or conditions, and determines course of corrective action.
• Gives talks before various groups.
• Orders, obtains, stores, safeguards, and distributes materials, tools, and supplies.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience in work involving the care and landscaping of large tracts of ground and/or the maintenance and repair of parks and playgrounds, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of methods and equipment used in cleaning and maintaining parks.
• Knowledge of procedures used in planting and caring for grass, trees, flowers, and shrubbery.
• Knowledge of methods used to allocate and maintain park equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Knowledge of problems involved in coordination of care and maintenance activities of a municipal park.
• Knowledge of varied uses of public parks and of rules and regulations governing operations of public parks.
• Knowledge of supervisory techniques.
• Knowledge of problems, solutions, and work involved in the propagation of plants and flowers.
• Ability to provide assignments and instructions to employees, provide them with advice and assistance, and to check their work.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates, citizens, and others using park facilities.
• Ability to plan and develop programs and methods for the care and maintenance of parks.
• Ability to prepare budget estimates.
• Ability to determine the type and amounts of equipment and materials needed to properly maintain and care for parks.
• Ability to supervise and work with forepersons and others in the maintenance and care of trees, shrubbery, and flowers.
• Ability to recognize symptoms of disease and insect infestations in trees, shrubbery, and plants, and to determine and implement a corrective course of action.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Satisfactory completion of thirty (30) semester hour credits in horticulture, forestry, landscape architecture, park planning, or park management from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of nonsupervisory work experience described above.