Parks Director Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $59,716.80 - $71,073.60 Annually
Location : Parks Division, 724 Thiesse Dr, Brainerd, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 20260729
Department: Public Services
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 4:30 PM Central
General Definition of Work
Perform semi-skilled work maintaining and repairing parks, equipment, ball fields, playgrounds, and buildings and facilities. The Parks Maintenance shall report to the Parks Maintenance Foreman.
Please note:
2026 Hiring Range: $28.71 to $31.97 per hour depending on qualifications.
2026 Pay Range: $28.71 to $34.17 per hour.
*2026 Performance based pay opportunity: Up to $38.26 per hour.
*The City of Brainerd utilizes a performance-based pay system as noted above. Our system provides an opportunity for additional pay steps based on merit. Contact the HR Department if you would like to learn more about our system.
Essential Functions

• Perform grounds keeping and maintenance activities in park areas.
• Prepare and maintain athletic fields, playgrounds, and outdoor ice rinks for recreation activities.
• Plant, trim and remove shade trees in parks and on other city property.
• Clean park facilities including removing trash, sanitizing bathrooms, and perform minor plumbing maintenance.
• Maintain playground equipment, tennis courts, pavilions and facilities.
• Perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs on division equipment.
• Inspect parks, facilities, playground equipment, and machinery to ensure items are hazard free and operate safely to comply with OSHA safety standards and report issues to the Parks Maintenance Foreman.
• Perform general maintenance with minor construction and some electrical, plumbing, welding, painting, and repair duties on City buildings, facilities, fixtures, and equipment.
• Perform snow removal, hauls material and equipment as needed.
• Operate heavy and light equipment including a skid steer, pickup with plow, riding and hand mowers, weed whip, blowers, chainsaw and other maintenance equipment.
• Receive and respond to inquiries from the public in a prompt and professional manner regarding questions, concerns, and problems that arise and refers individuals to appropriate staff as needed.
• May be assigned to and/or assist Street Division as needed and directed.
• Direct and oversee seasonal workers.
• May periodically operate dump trucks to haul materials, plow snow, and sand streets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Competencies
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• General knowledge of the principles, practices, equipment, tools and materials used in Parks facilities and grounds maintenance.
• Working knowledge of the principles, repair, and maintenance of a variety of tools, equipment, small engines, and related safety procedures.
• General knowledge of playground structure safety.
• General knowledge of forestry, turf management, landscaping, and horticulture as applied to parks and grounds areas.
• General knowledge of hazards and necessary safety precautions involved in construction work.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work independently to complete daily activities according to work schedule.
• Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and the general public.

Education, Experience and Special Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid MN driver's license.
• MN Class "B" Commercial Driver's License or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
• Complete and maintain OSHA-required training.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience operating equipment in a park maintenance operation.
• Training and/or experience in horticulture.

Other Requirements and Supplemental Information
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions, frequently requires speaking or hearing, climbing or balancing and stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and occasionally requires sitting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm's length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions, frequently requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to vibration and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working in high, precarious places, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).
Compensation
Compensation rates are governed by the City's Salary Administration Plan and/or applicable labor contract. Information regarding the City's pay program is available in the Human Resources Department.
Holidays
The ten calendar holidays that are observed are as follows: New Year's Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Veteran's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Employees also receive two additional "floating" holidays of their choice.
Vacation
Vacation is earned at a rate of 6.67 hours per month (2 weeks per year) for the first five years of employment. After the first five years, monthly accrual rate is increased annually per the union contract. Maximum vacation balance is 240 hours. Vacation is accrued, but generally not available for use, for the first six months of employment.
Sick Leave/ESST
Sick leave/ESST is earned at a rate of 8 hours per month with a maximum sick balance of 960 hours. Payout of 100% of the unused sick leave allowed as severance pay with a maximum of 960 hours, upon retirement, or if they become disabled so they must terminate their employment, with written proof by a physician.
Health Insurance
Employees are eligible for coverage from the IUOE Local No. 49 Health & Welfare Fund. Coverage takes effective the 1st of the month following the date of hire. It is a composite rate plan (same premium amount for single or family coverage). Per the Union contract, the premium cost is fully paid by the City for 2026.
Dental/Optical Insurance
For dental insurance, the Fund has contracted with Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota to offer their Delta USA Provider Network. For Optical Insurance, the Fund has contracted with the EyeMed Network. Dental and optical insurance benefits are embedded in the IUOE Local No. 49 Health & Welfare plan.
Life Insurance
A $35,000 life insurance and long-term disability insurance policy is 100% provided by the employer following successful completion of the employee's first six-months of employment.
Retirement and Pension Plans
Retirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA). The 2026 EMPLOYEE contribution rate is 6.5%, and the EMPLOYER contribution rate is 7.5%. Pension benefits are provided Central Pension Fund (CPF). Employees of IUOE Local No. 49 will contribute to the CPF each payroll, at a rate of $2.40 per hour worked.
01
Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a High School Diploma or general education degree (GED)?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have a valid MN Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you currently possess a valid MN Class "B" Commercial Driver's License or do you have the ability to obtain a valid MN Class "B" Commercial Driver's License within six months of hire?

• Yes
• No

05
If you answered yes to question #4 and already possess a CDL, please list which Class and any endorsements below. Please type "N/A" if this does not apply to you.
06
Are you able to complete and maintain OSHA-required training?

• Yes
• No

07
How would you rate your training and/or experience in horticulture?

• None
• Limited
• Moderate
• Extensive

08
How would you describe your vocational or technical college education related to this position?

• Completed a 1-year vocational/technical program related to this position
• Completed a 2-year vocational/technical program related to this position
• Attended a vocational/technical program related to this position, but did not complete
• Have not attended a vocational/technical program related to this position

09
If you completed a 1 or 2 year program, please list the school, program, year graduated, and if it was a 1 or 2 year program.
10
Do you have training and/or job experience in a park maintenance operation such as installing irrigation systems, athletic field maintenance or landscaping?

• Yes
• No

11
If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please list the training and/or name of the employer, title you held, the dates you were employed at said employer, and a brief description of your duties there. Please type "N/A" if this does not apply to you.
12
Do you have job experience in a skilled trade industry such as welding, plumbing, carpentry or electrical?

• Yes
• No

13
If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please list the name of the employer, the title you held, the dates you were employed at said employer, and a brief description of your duties there. Please type "N/A" if this does not apply to you.
14
Do you have any small engine repair experience?

• Yes
• No

15
If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please list the name of the employer, the title you held, the dates you were employed at said employer, and a brief description of your duties there. Please type "N/A" if this does not apply to you.
16
Please indicate which equipment you have experience operating. Select all that apply:

• Chainsaw
• Skid Steer
• Riding Mower
• Snow Blower
• Chipper
• Truck/Trailer
• Pickup with plow
• Weed Whip
• Dump Truck

17
How would you rate your experience providing customer service?

• Rarely
• Occasionally
• Weekly
• Daily

18
Why are you interested in working as Parks Maintenance for the City of Brainerd?
Required Question