Parks Worker - Open Space

Job description

JOB LOCATION 5800 S Powhaton Rd Aurora, Colorado 80016-4284 Cit y of Aurora , Colorado It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity , Respect, Professionalism , and Customer Service , and we welcome all who share these values to apply. Why Work for Aurora? Make a difference in the lives of real people every day Diverse community Competitive total compensation package Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan Light rail station minutes away On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement Access to innovation workspaces PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The city of Aurora's Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Department's mission is to encourage active lifestyles and create healthy environments for people, nature and community. The award-winning operation consists of seven divisions (Golf, Open Space and Natural Resources, Parks Operations, Planning, Design and Construction, Recreation, Business Services and Communications) that collectively manage more than 8,000 acres of open space, 100+ parks, 180+ athletic fields, over 100 miles of trails, three nature centers, two reservoirs, five recreation centers, five golf courses, indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and one of Colorado's largest municipal urban forestry programs. Aurora PROS is committed to delivering exceptional public service while being responsible stewards of its diverse system of parks, programs, natural resources and amenities that enhance the daily quality of life for Aurora residents. The hiring rate for this role is $21.07/hour. The deadline to submit applications is September 20, 2026. Please note that the City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first-come, first-served basis; as soon as we determine that we have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice. Position overview Are you passionate about the outdoors and dedicated to keeping our natural communities thriving? Join the City of Aurora's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department as a Parks Worker, where you'll play a vital role in maintaining, restoring, and preserving our local open spaces and public grounds. Step into a dynamic, hands-on opportunity where your work directly shapes the beauty, safety, and outdoor experience of our city for years to come. The Parks Worker performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled duties in the operation and maintenance of municipal park assets including parks, grounds, open space, right of ways, athletic fields, and commercial facilities including all associated facility structures and buildings. PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Performs unskilled or semi-skilled maintenance and/or operational activities in parks or in assigned areas of responsibility. Maintains grounds and facilities Performs parks and sports field maintenance including mowing, trimming, edging, fertilization, spraying, field preparation, landscaping, agronomic practices, and irrigation repair Performs routine custodial maintenance Assists the crew in maintaining safe parks, playgrounds, and playing surfaces Operates any minor repair of equipment infrastructure, tools, and/or related items Assists with landscape and maintenance duties including string trimming, edging, mowing, weeding beds, trash removal, planting of trees and shrubs, and pruning trees Assists with agronomic practices including aerating turf, fertilizing, spraying, mowing, and topdressing of turf Operates motorized vehicles and equipment Assists in field preparation including chalking lines, packing clay, washing infield lips, dragging fields, painting foul lines, and synthetic field maintenance Learns from and assists skilled workers in performing required activities. Assists work crews in the installation, repair, and maintenance of parks, irrigation lines, parks facilities, and other City facilities and structures Assists the Streets and Parks Department with snow removal. Performs other related duties as assigned. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. Education: High School Diploma or GED Experience: 12 months of manual labor experience Preferred Qualifications: Experience in landscape maintenance, park maintenance, irrigation, sports turf maintenance or ballfield maintenance Experience operating commercial equipment including tractors, mowers, seeders, aerators, and/or any other equipment for park maintenance Knowledge: Knowledge of laws and safety related to vehicle operation. Knowledge of park, open space, forestry, or horticulture maintenance safety procedures Knowledge of materials and equipment used in park, open space, forestry, or horticulture maintenance, including tractors, mowing equipment, edgers, string trimmers, backpack blowers, chippers, pesticide applicators, backhoes, dump trucks, loaders, power drills and saws, aerators, hand tools, and snow removal equipment. Skills: Skill in the safe and lawful operation of all equipment required for the job. Skill in performing horticultural functions, including maintaining and repairing turf, plants, shrubs, flowers, and trees. Abilities: Ability to use standard office equipment, personal computer, and job-related computer applications including electronic mail. Ability to comprehend and follow verbal and written instructions. Ability to operate and receive training on various types of equipment. Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees and the general public. Licenses and Certifications Required: Driver's License with a good driving record Commercial Driver's License class B with tanker endorsement or must be able to obtain within the first 6 months of hire. Parks employees must complete the internal Training Academy within the first 6 months of hire. WORKING CONDITIONS Essential Personnel: When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel. Physical Demands: Heavy physical work requiring the ability to lift a maximum of 50 pounds with or without assistance. Ability to perform manual labor for extended periods of time. Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Considerable walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, climbing. Regular pushing, pulling, and bending. Hand/eye and foot/eye coordination to operate mowing and other motorized equipment. Hearing and listening for receiving and interpreting information and warning signals. Vision to read operating manuals and instructions to read operating manuals and instructions. Work Environment: Works both indoors and outdoors with exposure to all weather conditions; regular exposure to dust, noise, and chemicals Able to work in confined space. Equipment Used: Hand and power tools Commercial mowers and tractors common to parks maintenance Heavy equipment common to construction and maintenance Backpack sprayers, string trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, and any other hand tools associated with landscape and park maintenance Pickup trucks for transportation including the ability to hook up, load, and pull a trailer carrying equipment Operates vehicles such as dump trucks, tractors and/or forklifts. Operates hand tools and equipment common to custodial work. The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24. For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application. The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission. Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired. Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others. Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.