Public Works Operations and Parks Supervisor

Public Works Operations and Parks Supervisor

Salary

$73,153.60 - $102,523.20 Annually

Location

Public Works, 19505 Stoltzman Rd., Mankato, MN

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2026-00059

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

06/30/2026

Closing Date

7/21/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Assistant Public Works Director, the Public Works Operations & Parks Supervisor provides leadership and oversight for county park operations, park infrastructure, public works maintenance activities, and related programs. The position is responsible for supervising staff, managing resources, coordinating projects and daily operations, administering budgets and contracts, supporting environmental stewardship initiatives, and ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective delivery of park and public works services. The Park Supervisor serves as a key resource for operational planning, infrastructure improvements, workforce management, and community engagement while supporting broader Public Works operations and emergency response activities.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leads and develops a high-performing team by fostering a positive, inclusive, and accountable work environment. Provides clear direction, sets performance expectations, and supports employees through ongoing feedback, coaching, and opportunities. Exercises independent judgment in operational and personnel decisions, proactively resolving issues and promoting effective problem-solving. Oversees daily operations by assigning work, managing schedules, approving timecards, and ensuring adequate staffing to meet service needs. Participates in staffing decisions and takes primary responsibility for guiding employee performance and conduct, including addressing concerns and implementing appropriate corrective actions. Promotes open communication and transparency as part of employee engagement. Ensures compliance with the Employee Handbook and procedures and interprets labor agreements. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including other departments, community members, professional organizations, and regulatory agencies, to achieve organizational goals. Models a customer-focused, safety-conscious, and results-oriented approach to high-quality service delivery.
• Directs and coordinates daily operations, maintenance activities, workforce scheduling, and resource allocation to support park facilities, infrastructure, public works operations and projects, and departmental objectives. Interprets and ensures compliance with Park Rules.
• Plans, prioritizes, and oversees the maintenance, rehabilitation, and improvement of park facilities, buildings, utilities, trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, grounds, and other public assets. Provides oversight of capital improvement and infrastructure projects from planning through completion.
• Administers operational and capital budgets; manages expenditures; oversees procurement activities; and coordinates contracts, vendors, service providers, and park caretaker agreements to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
• Coordinates and administers park caretaker agreements, including facilitating contractor selection processes, establishing service expectations, monitoring agreement compliance, and maintaining effective working relationships to support park operations and customer service objectives.
• Identifies, pursues, and administers grant funding and other external funding opportunities that support park improvements, recreation initiatives, conservation efforts, maintenance activities, and infrastructure investments.
• Supports environmental stewardship, conservation, and natural resource management efforts, including habitat restoration, invasive species management, regulatory compliance, and implementation of county conservation initiatives.
• Serves as a liaison with the public, governmental agencies, community organizations, contractors, and other stakeholders. Responds to concerns, provides information, and promotes positive community relationships.
• Provides operational support for snow and ice control, emergency response activities, and other Public Works operations as needed. Assists with workforce deployment, equipment coordination, and situational response during adverse weather and emergency events.
• Contributes to departmental planning, policy development, continuous improvement initiatives, and long-range operational and capital planning efforts.
• May assume temporary duties of the Assistant Public Works Director and/or Road Supervisors in their absence.
• Promotes a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
• Engages positively with both internal and external customers. Communicates and interacts effectively and respectfully with colleagues, supervisors, representatives from other organizations, and the public.
• Performs the physical and mental demands of the position.
• Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours as necessary. Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors, and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains required licenses, certifications, and professional credentials.
• Maintains effective working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies to support compliance and operational effectiveness. (as appropriate)
• Participates in professional staff development. Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency. Attends and participates in professional organizations. Associates with employees and departments from other counties and states for collaboration.
• Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree forestry, park management, horticulture, natural resource management, park and recreation, or directly related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible leadership, supervisory, and/or administration experience in park operations or related field; or
• An equivalent combination of education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in public relations
• Experience in park operations and management, including landscape architecture
• Possession of a valid Minnesota Pesticide and Herbicide Applicator License
• Proficient in understanding and speaking languages other than English, such as Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Sudanese, and Arabic, among others.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must successfully pass a background check and drug test.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class A CDL drivers license and be able to drive in the State of Minnesota within six (6) months of the date of hire.
• Must be registered, or register, in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and satisfactorily complete the Clearinghouse Query.
• Must comply with all federal and state laws and organizational and departmental policies and regulations.
• Must be certified as a construction installer for erosion and stormwater control and hazardous waste compliance training or secure certifications within one (1) year of employment.
• Must obtain and maintain a Class A and Class B Underground Storage Tank certification and MnDOT ADA Construction Certification, within one (1) year of employment.
• Must maintain a primary residence within thirty (30) minutes' drive to the primary shop driving under normal conditions and posted speed limits within one (1) year of employment.
• Must adhere to data practices policies and standards regarding non-public data. Access to non-public data must be limited to what is necessary to perform job duties. Employees must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access and ensure secure storage of data in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

HOURS OF WORK

The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Seasonal summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Night, weekend, holiday, and additional hours may be necessary to meet departmental needs, special projects, and service needs and demands of the community served. Employee must also participate in a 24-hour on-call rotation for adverse weather events and park emergencies.

Benefits Overview

Non-Union

The County of Blue Earth provides a comprehensive, balanced, competitive total compensation package. The Countys benefit programs address both the immediate needs that you and your family may have, such as medical coverage or dependent care assistance, and your long-term needs, such as retirement savings. Benefits begin upon date of hire.

The following outlines County offered total compensation benefits. This document provides an overview and does not offer all provisions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a contradiction between this and the official plan documents and/or collective bargaining agreements, the plan documents will prevail.

Regular, Full-Time Employee

Wage/Salary Scale

Blue Earth County features a 12-Step Pay Plan. Our advertised salary ranges include all 12 Steps. A selected candidate will typically be offered Step 1 of the salary range. Additional salary considerations are subject to negotiation and dependent on skills and experience directly related to the position.

Vacation Leave

Vacation accruals, utilization, and payouts are detailed in the collective bargaining agreement and/or the employee handbook.

Blue Earth County Years of Service Bi-Weekly Accrual Rate

0 - 5 years - 3.85 hours

6 - 9 years - 4.77 hours

10 - 13 years - 5.69 hours

14 - 18 years - 6.62 hours

19 - 24 years - 7.54 hours

25 + years - 8.46 hours

Sick Leave

Employees accrue sick leave at a rate of eight (8) hours for each full month of service.

Paid Holidays

Blue Earth County recognizes 11 (88 hours) paid holidays.

Health Insurance

Employees may choose from 3-health insurance plans and either single or family coverage. Insurance Rates (Monthly) - Effective: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

Plan 1: CMM $0 Deductible

Employee: Single - $137.19 / Family - $1,209.49

Employer: Single - $1,234.66 / Family - $2,822.16

Total Cost: Single - $1,371.85 / Family - $4,031.65

Plan 2: CMM $300 Deductible

Employee: Single - $1.04 / Family - $809.38

Employer: Single - $1,234.66/ Family - $2,882.16

Total Cost: Single - $1,235.70/ Family - $3,631.54

Plan 3: HDHP with HSA

Employee: Single - $0.00 / Family - $425.39

Employer: Single - $965.00/ Family - $2,410.57

Total Cost: Single - $965.00 / Family - $2,835.96

Blue Earth County contributes to a health savings account (HSA) when the employee elects the HDHP. Single coverage HSA contributions equal $1,650, and family coverage HSA contributions equal $3,300.

Dental Insurance

Blue Earth County provides an employer contribution covering the dental premium for employee-only dental coverage. You may upgrade and select Employee & Spouse, Employee & Child(ren), or Employee & Family plans at the employee's cost for all costs exceeding the employee-only premium.

Life Insurance

Employees are provided with Term-Life Insurance at no cost to them:

• Non-Union Supervisory: $35,000 term-life/$35,000 accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Department Directors/Elected Officials $50,000 term-life/$50,000 accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)

Retirement

The County and the employee contribute to the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) based on a percentage of the employee wage:

General/Coordinated Plan

Employee: 6.5%

Employer:7.5%

Correctional Plan

Employee: 6.83%

Employer: 10.25%

Police & Fire Plan

Employee:11.8%

Employer:17.7%

Voluntary Benefits Available

• AFLAC
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Nice Healthcare
• Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Voluntary Life (Employee, Spouse, and Child(ren))
• Deferred Compensation (457b)
• Roth IRA
• 529 Educational Roth
• Minnesota Benefits Association (MBA)
• Savi Student Loan Benefit

01

The following supplemental information may be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Be certain that the choices you make correspond to the information you have provided in your application. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is true and accurate. Any information provided may be reviewed by the hiring manager. Any misstatements or falsification of information will eliminate you from consideration or may result in dismissal. Do you understand and agree with this statement?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a bachelor's degree in forestry, park management, horticulture, natural resource management, park and recreation, or directly related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible leadership, supervisory, and/or administration experience in park operations or related field ?

• Yes
• 2 - No, but I have equivalent combination of education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• No

03

If you selected response #2 above, please describe your equivalent education and experience.

04

Which of the following best describes the degree that you completed?

• Forestry
• Park Management
• Horticulture
• Natural Resources Management
• Parks and Recreation
• My degree is in an area NOT listed above
• N/A - I have not completed a degree

05

Which of the following best describes your years of progressively responsible leadership, supervisory, and/or administrative experience?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 6
• More than 6 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years, but less than 8
• More than 8 years, but less than 9
• More than 9 years, but less than 10
• 10 or more years

06

Which of the following best describes your years of employment experience working in public relations, public engagement, or community outreach?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 6
• More than 6 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years, but less than 8
• More than 8 years, but less than 9
• More than 9 years, but less than 10
• 10 or more years

07

Please select any of the following areas listed below in which you have work experience. Please select all that apply.

• Park Operations
• Maintenance Operations
• Project Management
• Landscape Architecture
• Supervisory
• Building Construction

08

Please select any of the following endorsements, certifications, or licenses you currently possess. Please select all that apply.

• Class A
• Construction Installer (erosion and stormwater control)
• Hazardous Materials (hazardous waste compliance)
• Pesticide and Herbicide Applicator
• ADA Certification
• None of the above

09

Which of the following best describes your experience managing budgets, contracts, and providing fiscal oversight?

• Limited - I have rarely completed the tasks listed.
• Moderate - I have completed the tasks listed on an occasional basis over the course of a year.
• Extensive - I have completed the tasks listed on a regular basis over the course of a year.
• N/A - I do not have experience in this area

10

Which of the following describes your experience administering contracts, managing vendors, coordinating contractors, or overseeing service agreements.

• Limited - I have rarely completed the tasks listed.
• Moderate - I have completed the tasks listed on an occasional basis over the course of a year.
• Extensive - I have completed the tasks listed on a regular basis over the course of a year.
• N/A - I do not have experience in this area.

11

Which of the following best describes how frequently you interact with customers in your current role or previous position?

• Multiple times a day
• Once a day
• Multiple times a week
• Once a week
• None of the above

12

Why do you want this position at Blue Earth County?

13

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: Describe any other special training youve completed or skills and experience you currently possess that you feel would make you the best-qualified person for this position.

14

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected as a finalist, are you willing to undergo a background investigation which may include, but not limited to: verification of employment and education records, identification verification, drivers license record and a criminal history, and pre-employment drug testing?

• Yes
• No

15

Questions 15 through 18 indicate your willingness to accept the working conditions for this position. If you answer "NO" to any of these questions, you may want to reconsider applying for this position. If hired for this position, are you willing to work evening, weekend, holiday hours as necessary?

• Yes
• No

16

Are you willing to be available for inquires 24-hour on-call availability during adverse weather conditions and park emergencies?

• Yes
• No

17

Are you registered, or are you able to register, in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and satisfactorily complete the Clearinghouse Query?

• Yes
• No

18

Are you able to maintain a primary residence within thirty (30) minutes drive to the primary shop driving under normal conditions and posted speed limits within one year of employment?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Blue Earth County

Address PO Box 168

204 South Fifth Street

Mankato, Minnesota, 56001

Phone 507-304-4374

507-304-4061

Website http://www.blueearthcountymn.gov