Wheat Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GENERAL PURPOSE:

This position performs a variety of tasks for our Parks, Forestry, and Open Space (PFOS) team.  Each team member will be assigned to a designated area such as parks, natural resources, or forestry and horticulture. At times, team members will assist with other areas. They will assist in maintenance tasks in order to provide attractive and safe athletic fields, landscaped beds, trees and related facilities located at sites under City obligation including city-managed properties including parks, open space areas, right-of-ways and streetscapes.

Candidates should be 17 years of age or older with a current valid driver license have some experience and have the ability to learn and use and operate safely a variety of hand tools, power tools, light and medium duty vehicles, chain saws, lawn mowers, weed trimmers and blowers. 

Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting. 
 

CORE VALUES: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!: 

• Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community 

• Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities. 

• Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with each person contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals. 

• Integrity: Employees uphold the highest ethical standards, recognize the importance of public and customer trust and adhere to the values of the organization. 

• Opportunity: Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance the City. 

• NOW!: Employees are proactive, timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Workers in the Parks, Forestry and Open Space could expect to be responsible for the following tasks related to:  

  • Turf maintenance 

  • Mowing and edging 

  • Tree watering  

  • Tree maintenance  

  • Garden and horticulture maintenance 

• Assist in maintenance of irrigation systems including troubleshooting and making minor repairs.   

• Maintain structures such as facilities, athletic fields, fences, gates, bridges, underpasses, drainage grates, parking lots, trails, and signs. 

• Duties may also include inspections and general maintenance on equipment and/or facilities as assigned. This may consist of painting, minor plumbing repair, stocking supplies, and graffiti removal from city facilities.  

• Maintain accurate records/reports as directed. 

• Perform a variety of miscellaneous maintenance duties including trash pickup, restroom cleaning and maintenance, maintenance and repair of park and open space facilities including the general grounds keeping, responsible for site cleanliness and trash pickup, and following safe practices. 

• Watering, weeding, mulching, chemical application, planting, general plant maintenance of various of annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses, tree and shrubs in various parks, landscaped beds planters and right of ways within the City of Wheat Ridge.  

• For all sections, may help with the set-up, clean up and assisting with operations during special events and if working during a snow event, snow removal duties would be assigned. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Candidate must be 16 years of age or older. 

• Must posses current valid driver license, and pass a background and MVR screen. 

• If moving from a different state, Colorado license must be obtained within (30) days of hire. Employees must be 17 years or older to operate city vehicles.  

• Experience safely operating a variety of hand tools, power tools, light and medium duty vehicles, chain saws, lawn mowers, weed trimmers and blowers is preferred. 

• Basic knowledge of safety practices and procedures. 

• Able to maintain, repair, clean, and use tools, instruments, and devices and operate a variety of light hand and power tools along with ground maintenance vehicles.  

• Customer service skills and ability to effectively communicate with fellow staff as well as members of the public.  

• Basic knowledge of how to use computer systems.  

• Basic knowledge of multiplication, division, subtraction and addition skills to determine quantities and reporting requirements and data collection. 

• Must have ability to organize, prioritize, and record tasks and ability to adapt to changing job priorities and conditions. 

• Must be able to concentrate on a task and be able to recall and retain information regarding tasks and procedures. 

HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., typically May – August but may vary depending on park maintenance needs. Work is primarily outdoors, performed in cold, hot, or inclement weather. Involves frequent exposure to noise levels that may cause distractions. May be exposed to confined work areas and to chemicals, fumes, cold, heat, dirt, dust, noise, wetness, solvents, oils, gases, and occasionally to electrical energy, humidity, and pesticides.  May work near traffic and occasionally will work around water and electricity. Must have ability to climb, bend, crouch, stoop, reach with both hands, carry, pull, push, or lift object weighing in excess of 50 pounds; intermittently sitting, standing and walking. 

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.