Department:

Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Do you have expertise in lawn treatment, a passion for sports, and a commitment to exceptional customer service? Join Sarasota County’s Parks team as an Athletic Grounds Specialist and help create the fields where our community comes together to play, compete, and celebrate. In this hands-on role, you will perform maintenance and care of athletic fields and facilities at 17th Street Park, operating a variety of equipment and tools to ensure safe, high-quality playing surfaces.

The pay starts at $20.10 (Step 1), benefits begin within 60 days of hire, and there are opportunities for advancement. Apply today!

About the Position

In this role, you will perform skilled and advanced maintenance duties in the following areas: chemical spray application, pest identification, turf management, irrigation, and/or equipment operation. For more information, see below...

• Performance of skilled routine maintenance and repairs of athletic fields, surfaces and grounds utilizing commercial-grade mowers and other specialized equipment
• Work will be performed primarily with diesel- or gas-powered commercial-grade landscape mowers such as Toro Outcross with Tow Behind Field Mower, Toro 4000D, 4500D, Reel Mower, and Toro 72 “Z” mower
• Perform proper maintenance techniques to ensure safe playable surface including maintaining infield skin, infield lips, baselines, warning tracks, pitching mounds and home plate areas
• Perform regular dragging, screen dragging, watering, mowing, edging, and trimming
• Regularly use all types of hand tools, rakes, shovels, mound tamps, etc.  
• Routine Park maintenance includes hand weeding, mulching, digging, turf trimming, tree trimming, hand collection and disposal of litter, removal and installation of plant materials and trees, and driving on roads and vegetated maintenance areas
• Assist with cultural practices and renovations of athletic fields in coordination with the renovations team

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Operating Days: Sunday - Saturday
• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Work schedule may require occasional evenings and/or weekends, depending upon special events

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or its equivalent AND two (2) years of related athletic field experience
• Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficient in the operation of heavy landscape and field maintenance equipment
• Proficient in the use of hand tools, power tools, materials and equipment applicable to the position
• Ability to endure long periods of standing and to work in areas around heavy equipment

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 five years

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 lbs. Employees can use handling devices (dolly, cart, etc.) or work with another team member to lift and/or move excessive poundage of 50-plus pounds

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Rate: $20.10 (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.