Parks Maintenance Operator

Parks Maintenance Operator

Salary

$28.84 - $35.09 Hourly

Location

1457 23rd St SE Salem, OR

Job Type

Fulltime-Career

Job Number

26-0361-02

Department

Recreation Services

Org

Parks Operations & Maintenance

Opening Date

08/03/2026

Closing Date

8/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Job Summary:

The Parks Maintenance Operator (PMO) is a non-supervisory position who will work under the supervision of the Parks Supervisor. They perform a variety of skilled and semi-skilled duties related to the maintenance, repair, and cleaning of equipment and facilities in the parks and recreation areas throughout the public properties in the city of Salem.

Parks Maintenance Operators are often the first person that parks patrons encounter when they use a City park. Parks Maintenance Operators perform variety of tasks to ensure the safety of patrons, care for the plants such as planting pruning and irrigation, and maintain facilities such as playground equipment, picnic shelters, and restrooms. Parks Maintenance Operators direct the work of volunteers, inmate labor, or community service workers.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Maintain facilities such as playground equipment, picnic shelters, and restrooms.
• Ability to perform all maintenance of park lands and recreation areas including turf, trees, plants, shrubs, playgrounds, athletic areas, and restrooms.
• Operates large riding mowers and other gas-powered landscape equipment such as backpack blowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, edger's, and the like.
• Performs minor repairs and maintenance of parks & recreation equipment as well as building systems such as playground equipment, park benches, picnic tables, irrigation repairs, and other similar equipment.
• Performs manual labor which includes, but not limited to, the raking of leaves and trimming of grass, fertilizing, pruning, landscaping, striping of sports fields, graffiti removal, trash collections & disposal, snow removal, irrigation repairs, and other similar actions.
• Work with supplemental labor forces in the performance of your responsibilities.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Must have good interpersonal skills to work with the public.
• Proficiency in written, oral, and telephonic communication.
• Knowledge of basic landscaping and lawn care procedures and materials.
• Knowledge of basic trade maintenance procedures involving carpentry, painting, and plumbing.
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision.
• Ability to understand, remember, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to raise heavy objects (50lbs. and greater) and to work under adverse weather conditions.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver license and a driving record that meets the City of Salems driving standards
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen depending on area assignment.
• Two years of experience in parks maintenance, repair, construction, or landscaping, horticulture, turf, or sports field maintenance or experience tree trimming, or acting as a ground hand.
• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Qualifications (not required to apply):

Certifications and/or Licenses:

• CPR/AED Certification.
• Oregon Pesticide License.
• Forklift certification.
• Certified Pool/Spa Operator
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector
• Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide
• Oregon Commercial Driver's license (CDL). For CDL drivers, must pass a pre-employment drug screen (including marijuana).

About us:

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across two counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Parks Maintenance Operator.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to include how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification in your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards - sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

This announcement is not an implied contract and may be modified or revoked without notice.

For benefits information, please, go to:

https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/jobs/employment-information/afscme-general-service-employee-benefits

01

How many years of experience do you have with parks maintenance, repair, construction, or landscaping, horticulture, turf, or sports field maintenance or experience with tree trimming, or acting as a ground hand? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No Experience
• Less than 6 months
• 6-12 months
• 1-2 years
• More than 2 years

02

How many years of experience do you have with small equipment usage and operation? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No Experience
• Less than 6 months
• 6-12 months
• 1-2 years
• More than 2 years

03

What small equipment can you effectively operate? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Power Hand Tools
• Backpack Blower
• Push Edger
• String Trimmer
• Carpentry Tools
• Hedge Trimmer
• Chain Saw
• Post Hole Auger

04

What heavy equipment can you effectively operate? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Skid Steere
• Dump Trailer
• Tractors
• Backhoe / Trackhoe
• Mini Skid Steer
• Zero Turn Mower
• Riding Mowers
• Front Loaders

05

What is your level of experience in the following are: Maintenance Route We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• 5+ years
• 3-4 years
• 1-2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

06

What is your level of experience in the following area? Landscaping, Construction. We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• 5+ years
• 3-4 years
• 1-2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

07

Do you have any relevant licenses? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• ODA Pesticide (Oregon Department of Agriculture)
• CPSI (Certified Playground Safety Inspector)
• CDL (Commercial Drivers License)
• None

08

What is your level of experience in the following area? Similar trades/Profession: We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• 5+ Years
• 3-4 years
• 1-2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

09

What is your level of experience in the following area? Park reservations We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• 5+ years
• 3-4 years
• 1-2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

10

Do you possess a Class C Drivers License? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Salem

Address 295 Church St. Suite 210

Salem, Oregon, 97301

Phone 503-588-6102

hrrecruiting@cityofsalem.net

Website https://www.cityofsalem.net/jobs