The Irrigation and Turf Specialist is a field-based specialist position with an emphasis on landscape irrigation systems, athletic fields, agricultural irrigation systems, horticultural areas, and various types of turf management and maintenance.  The Specialist will be responsible for the coordination of associated operational, maintenance, stewardship, and improvement programs and assigned staff and contractors.  This position also serves as a member of the Operations Team supporting general field operations and maintenance of County open spaces, parks and trails as assigned by supervisor.

Duties

• Maintains park, open space, and agricultural site irrigation systems to include installing new systems / parts, irrigation start up and winterization, routine inspections and maintenance, and minor and major repairs/renovations.
• Troubleshoots and diagnoses plumbing, electrical, pump and controller issues related to irrigation systems to ensure efficient system operations. Must be able to operate an irrigation central control system and manage associated clocks and monitoring equipment.
• Performs routine maintenance on irrigation systems including water clocks, spray heads, lateral/main lines, booster pumps, backflows, agricultural irrigation pivot system to optimize equipment functionality and efficiency. 
• Performs landscape and grounds maintenance duties on Arapahoe County parks, turf, irrigation systems, traditional/synthetic sports fields, landscape beds, and other related facilities. 
• Develops and implements irrigation operational plans, turf management plans, and water conservation programs for divisional properties. Draft associated reports and maintains databases to support program management.
• Reads construction landscape and irrigation plans to understand system components, system design and operations. Provide input to construction plans for new irrigation systems, landscape, and turf areas in partnership with planning staff.
• Performs installation, maintenance, repairs and maintenance on wells, pumps, and their associated electrical systems not requiring a licensed electrician. Maintain irrigation ponds including but not limited to maintaining water levels, removing vegetation/debris and other issues affecting irrigation ponds.
• Operates and maintains parks, horticulture, forestry and trail maintenance equipment including but not limited to County vehicles, seeders, mowers, spray equipment, chainsaws, plows, power tools, tractors, UTVs, dump trucks, trailers, skid steers, front-end loaders, bucket trucks, and mini excavators.
• Assesses conditions of turf and schedules appropriate maintenance to support turf health and resiliency such as fertilization, pesticide treatment, aeration, overseeding and top-dressing.
• Coordinates with administrative staff to keep well permits with the State of Colorado up to date. Responsible for staying within permitted water right volumes. Position reports water meter readings to various water authorities on established timeframes. 
• Participates in public outreach, citizen, adjacent landowner, park user groups, and volunteer education/engagement efforts and programs to provide information on divisional park management, turf management, irrigation management, and other operational activities.    
• Understands and adheres to safe work practices and procedures. Monitor parks, open spaces, trailheads, and trails for safety issues and compliance with County standards and polices.
• Maintains assorted records and reports utilizing County software applications to track work reporting/monitoring, develop work orders, and ensure efficient use of staff time and irrigation water.
• Supports the removal of debris and snow from open spaces, parks, trailheads, trails, and sidewalks using sweeping and snow removal equipment. Supports County level snow removal and emergency management operations when necessary.
• Supports the operations and logistics associated with special events occurring at the 17 Mile House Farm Park, the Fairgrounds Event Center or through Departmental partnerships.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques of turf and irrigation (including central controller management, start-up, and system winterization) management, maintenance, and repair.
• Extensive knowledge and skills in the use of materials, tools, and equipment used in turf, irrigation, and park maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques of parks, open space, trail and landscape management and maintenance.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices. Ability to train and educate field staff on these practices.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Best Management Practices in turf management and irrigation system installation, operation, and maintenance.
• General knowledge of horticulture to include annuals, perennials, plant identification and basic landscape design and installation.
• Knowledge in the use and application of GPS devices, geographic information systems, and other technologies to collect field data, monitor, and manage irrigation systems and associated assets.
• Use of maintenance management and work order software to track time and effort required to manage irrigation, turf and horticultural programs and activities.   
• Ability to work independently on a regular basis and occasionally lead a team of field staff.
• Ability to apply pesticides/herbicides as part of an integrated pest and turf management program.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions which includes communicating in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing. Ability to produce field reports and provide data summaries.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, general public, internal and external customers.

Education and Experience:   

• High school diploma or GED 
• Four (4) or more years of turf, irrigation, parks, horticulture, grounds maintenance experience 
• Two (2) or more years of experience coordinating a work crew and/or volunteer groups 
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job may be sufficient as determined by the hiring supervisor.