Department:

Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Join Sarasota County's Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources team as an Athletic Grounds Trades Worker and help maintain the high-quality athletic complexes that host local leagues, regional tournaments, and sports tourism events. In this hands-on role, you'll maintain athletic fields and surrounding facilities, prepare playing surfaces for practices and games, assist with event setup and cleanup, and help provide a safe, welcoming experience for athletes and visitors.

If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in maintaining first-class facilities, and thrive in a team environment, we'd love to hear from you.

To be considered, you must have a high school diploma or GED, at least 1 year of experience in park, landscape, athletic field, or grounds maintenance, and a valid Florida driver's license. Experience with athletic field maintenance, landscaping equipment, or a Class A or B CDL is preferred. Successful candidates are comfortable operating grounds maintenance equipment, providing excellent customer service, performing physically demanding work in Florida's outdoor conditions, and working a flexible schedule that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Apply today and help keep Sarasota County's premier athletic facilities game-ready!

About the Position

In this role, you will...

• Maintain athletic fields and sports facilities to provide safe, high-quality playing surfaces.

• Operate and maintain a variety of landscaping, athletic field, and grounds maintenance equipment and tools.

• Prepare fields for practices, games, tournaments, and special events, including field lining, base setup, and playing surface maintenance.

• Assist with event setup and breakdown while helping ensure facilities are clean, safe, and ready for visitors.

• Perform general grounds maintenance such as mowing, trimming, mulching, litter removal, fencing repairs, and basic landscaping.

• Inspect parks and athletic facilities, report maintenance or safety concerns, and help determine field playability based on weather and field conditions.

• Provide friendly customer service by assisting park visitors and promoting a safe, welcoming environment.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Full-time, 40(+) hours per week - overtime is available.

• Typical Schedule: 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Flexible schedule required, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must have the following:

• High School Diploma or GED and 1+ year of experience as a semi-skilled laborer in the care and maintenance of parks, landscape, athletic fields, or other similar grounds.

• Valid Florida driver's license.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.

• Class A or B Commercial Driver License (CDL) and/or experience maintaining athletic fields or landscaped grounds.

• Experience in safely operating and maintaining mowers, power equipment, and hand tools.

• Strong customer service and teamwork skills with the ability to communicate professionally.

• Basic computer skills and the ability to read chemical labels and safety information (MSDS/SDS).

• Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work and work a flexible schedule.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of 5 years.

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 lbs. i.e.: Fertilizer bags and other materials used in the maintenance of athletic fields at various points throughout the year.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $18.21 (Step 1); Potential higher pay (steps) for those with multiple years of experience.

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

• If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)  

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.