Department:

Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in keeping parks and facilities looking their best, and like hands-on work, consider joining Sarasota County's Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources team as a Trades Worker!

In this role, you'll help maintain parks, campgrounds, buildings, and public spaces by performing grounds maintenance, custodial duties, and minor repairs that create safe, clean, and welcoming environments for our community. You'll also use County technology to manage work orders, schedules, and daily tasks while working both independently and as part of a team.

The ideal candidate has a background in grounds, landscape, park, campground, or facility maintenance and is comfortable operating commercial landscaping equipment and hand and power tools. Knowledge of safe work practices, equipment maintenance, and basic facility repairs is a plus - but not required. Starting pay is $18.21/hour (Step 1), with potential for a higher starting step based on years of related experience. Apply today!

About the Position

In this role, you will...

• Operate commercial mowing equipment, landscaping tractors, and other grounds maintenance tools safely and efficiently.

• Maintain park and campground grounds by mowing, trimming, edging, mulching, planting, pressure washing, tree trimming, and removing litter.

• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs to park facilities, including fencing, picnic tables, signs, painting, and staining.

• Clean and maintain restrooms, campsites, parking areas, pools, and other public spaces to ensure a safe, welcoming environment.

• Inspect and maintain equipment, assist with transporting tools and supplies, and support maintenance needs at other County locations as needed.

• Deliver friendly customer service to park visitors and coworkers while assisting with other duties as assigned.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

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

• Typical Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 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.

• Background in grounds, landscape, park, campground, or facility maintenance.

• Ability to safely operate commercial zero-turn mowers (such as Toro), landscaping tractors, utility vehicles, and similar grounds maintenance equipment.

• Familiarity with landscaping tools and equipment, including string trimmers, edgers, backpack blowers, chainsaws, pole saws, and other hand and power tools.

• Knowledge of general groundskeeping practices, equipment maintenance, safety inspections, and safe work procedures.

• Ability to perform routine maintenance and minor repairs to park facilities, equipment, and fixtures.

• Basic knowledge of facility systems, including shut-off valves, circuit breakers, and emergency safety procedures.

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 up to 50 lbs.

Fingerprint Screening Requirement: This position requires a fingerprint-based background check, as required by law. The screening reviews criminal history and other legally permitted information. Applicants who do not meet the screening requirements will not be eligible for employment. Learn more: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

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.