Parks Maintenance Specialist- Rec and Parks, Parks & Program Services​/Horticulture & Land Management

Overview

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 85 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards.

NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for? We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you’ll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you’ll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

Performs skilled grounds maintenance and construction tasks as assigned. Also serves as crew leader on projects involving lower level workers.

$24.36 - $26.22; $50,668 - $54,546

This is specialized park maintenance which typically involves skilled manual work at the crew leader level in the maintenance of park lands, government properties and related facilities and structures, however, some positions may be assigned to park security. Work involves operating equipment and vehicles and the use of a variety of tools and the application of regulated horticultural and landscaping practices.

Work includes performing skilled grounds maintenance tasks and directing subordinate crew members or outside contractors as assigned by the supervisor. Operates dump trucks, tractors with attachments, small motor grader and other medium duty construction equipment in the completion of parks and grounds maintenance.

Work is performed with general supervision from a technical superior. Assignments are stable in nature and are carried out in accordance with accepted laboring and equipment operation standards and applicable regulations. An employee in this class provides park security services or operates equipment and oversees others to accomplish an assigned part of park or grounds operations in grounds maintenance, sports field preparation, construction or park-site management.

Work may include considerable public contact.

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Works and cooperates with co-workers and supervisors at all levels.
• Learns and performs all essential job functions accurately.
• Operates a variety of equipment to include but not limited to:
  Large 16-foot and zero turn mowing units, trucks with trailer, front loaders, backhoes, skid loaders as well as tractors with miscellaneous attachments including flail mowers, aerators, seeders, spreaders, line trimmers/brush cutters, chain saws, blowers, edgers, chippers, leaf vacs, various power hand tools, etc. Operates in heights of 70 feet in bucket trucks. Operates Class A vehicles in performing the required tasks.
  
  May operate motor vehicles with trailers that exceed 10,000 pounds GVWR, or with combination GVWR exceeding 26,000 pounds.
• Operate a chainsaw properly and safely according to ANSI safety and industry standards.
• Performs preventative maintenance and repairs on assigned equipment and vehicles and completes repair…