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Parks Foreman
- County of Northampton (Easton, PA)
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Parks Foreman
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Parks Foreman
Salary
$48,295.00 Annually
Location
Easton, PA
Job Type
Full time
Job Number
2026-00010E
Department
Public Works
Division
Parks and Recreation
Opening Date
01/20/2026
Closing Date
2/2/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
+ Description
+ Benefits
+ Questions
Application Requirements
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration.The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.
Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.
For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at [email protected] or 610-829-6382.
Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.
Job Description
GENERAL PURPOSE
The Parks Foreman is responsible for the supervision and training of the Parks & Recreation division staff in the operation and maintenance of light and heavy power equipment, related facilities and equipment, staff and job scheduling, reviewing construction documents and permits, and leading training and educational opportunities. This position is subject to call-out during inclement weather and other emergencies twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. Work is performed at county parks, county facilities and other sites, as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Public Works Director.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position provides supervision and oversight of full-time maintenance staff, temporary/seasonal staff, volunteers and others, as assigned.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Plans and schedules work assignments for staff through management software and coordination through reservation system. Approves leave requests.
Maintains records of action taken, incidents, and breakdowns through asset management and fleet vehicular software.
Assists in maintaining personnel, pesticide, and equipment records.
Conducts training involving the use, maintenance and operation of equipment and facilities.
Promotes best management policies for maintenance in accordance with the Division’s goals.
Assigns work to subordinates and reviews performance. Resolves problems and takes disciplinary action, or refers to higher level personnel.
Solicits quotes for contracted work and assists with requisitions, procurement requests, and purchase orders.
Prepares rough sketches or diagrams for projects. Determines project requirements in terms of staff resources, equipment, and materials. Prepares cost estimates.
Maintains a current knowledge of all park programs, special events, park policies, and park amenities to provide key information to staff, county partners, and park patrons.
Maintains an active purchasing card for equipment, maintenance, travel and training purchases, as well as supplies and equipment for staff. Monitors supply inventory and makes purchases as necessary.
Maintains positive and effective working relationships with other County employees.
Participates in the planning, design, and construction oversight of capital projects as needed.
Operates and services all departmental equipment including, hand power tools, riding and/or rotary mowers, snow removal equipment, excavators, front end loaders, trucks, and any other equipment.
Maintains clean grounds, waterways, facilities, trails, and walkways throughout the year, in all types of weather. Ensures all areas, equipment, and facilities are safe, clean, and in good appearance. Removes trash, garbage and other debris, cleans and maintains facilities, including restrooms, heating systems, electrical systems, septic systems, well pumps, and equipment associated with assigned area, such as tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, etc.
Performs repair work in facilities such as unstopping sinks and basins, winterizing restrooms, mending broken fencing, doors, windows or partitions, and/or painting signs, exterior and interior building painting, recreational facility markings. Builds and repairs bird houses, duck blinds and similar items.
Performs land management and maintenance such as tilling, aerating, and preparing land. Applies fertilizer, pesticide, and other chemical solutions with spray rigs to grass, shrubs, trees, and other plantings to prevent and/or control weeds, disease and pests, or to stimulate growth. Repairs concrete and macadam sealing. Waters, fertilizes, cultivates, and trims lawns, shrubs, flowers, trees and other plantings. Plants trees, shrubs, and flowers. May perform hand mulching and hand weeding.
Responsible for winter maintenance on County-owned properties, including the removal of snow, ice, and other hazards. Operates, maintains, and fixes snow removal and de-icing equipment. Responsible for contacting staff for winter maintenance duties. Coordinates directly with Superintendent, Public Works Director and/or designee.
Assists staff with the creation of promotional content and materials to effectively highlight the division’s news, information and events to the public. This may include print materials, photos, video, graphics, flyers, posters, signs, questionnaires, mailers, etc.
Performs park safety and dam inspections.
Traps and disposes of wildlife posing threats to parks and facilities.
Assists in the creation of the annual report utilizing graphs, charts, and photos.
*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE- Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent; AND
At least three (3) years of full time experience in grounds maintenance work, which has included involvement in troubleshooting jobs and/or overseeing other workers, as well as heavy construction and transportation equipment; AND
Employees assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license with an acceptable driving record; AND
Possession of certification to administer pesticides as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be obtained within two (2) months of hire/transfer.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Superior public relation skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors and managers, other agencies, and the general public.
Ability to task switch and prioritize workload with frequent interruptions in order to meet deadlines and accomplish assigned responsibilities.
Ability to learn and retain detailed knowledge of policies, procedures, and practices of the Parks & Recreation Division.
Ability to use or learn to use content management systems for website content updates.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.
Ability to learn specialized software systems including the County’s financial system, reservations permit system, vehicle fleet and asset management system and recreation software.
Ability to use tact, initiative, and independent judgment in dealing with difficult citizen complaints, requests for assistance, information, or services to the public.
Knowledge of methods, techniques, materials, and equipment used in park, facility, waterway earth-moving equipment operation, and maintenance.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used in power equipment operation, forestry, agricultural, pesticide best practices.
Basic knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, electric, water pumps, and septic systems.
Skill in making maintenance repairs on tools, playground, and related structures and recreational equipment and facilities.
Ability to train, instruct, assist and oversee lower level personnel engaged in grounds maintenance work.
Ability to understand, follow and give oral and written instructions.
Ability to work outdoors in differing climatic conditions, for several hours at a time.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Personal computer (including word processing, spreadsheet and other specialized software), Telephone, calculator, label maker, fax machine, and copy machine and all other needed office supplies.
Pick-up truck, dump truck, back hoe, loader, forklift, snow blower, lawn and landscaping equipment, including tractors, mowers, airifier, chain saw, edgers, weed trimmers, electric motors, pumps, sprinklers, irrigation systems; miscellaneous hand and power tools for turf maintenance, carpentry, roofing, painting, plumbing, electrical, and cement finishing work, boiler, telephone or cell phone, mobile or portable radio.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, walk sit and talk or hear.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to eighty (80) pounds, and occasionally lift weight up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
There may be times where walking in wooded forests, dirt/gravel paths, biking, canoeing/kayaking are an option and/or requirement to participate in events, functions, and staff trainings.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy.
SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check, as well as job related tests, may be required.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: RU-22
UNION STATUS: AFSCME RESIDUAL NON-PROFESSIONAL UNIT
Updated May 2023
Full-time employees of the County of Northampton are afforded a package of benefitswhich includes the following:
Medical Insurance
Vision and Prescription
Dental
Life Insurance
Retirement
I. Medical Insurance
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plans varies by the coverage selection and number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage through the spouse's employer is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual $1,500.00 opt out payment.
II. Vision and Prescription
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member. Coverage under the vision plan varies and depends upon the employee's choice of doctor and frame selection.
III. Dental Coverage
Coverage begins for the employee the first of the month following full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Copayments may vary, subject to collective bargaining, if a union member.
IV. Life Insurance
A life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees beginning on the first day of employment, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement. $20,000 is afforded to all eligible employees.
V. Retirement
All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1000 hours per year qualify for County of Northampton retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and employees may choose to add additional voluntary contributions, not to exceed an additional 10%. Additionally, employees may participate in an optional deferred compensation plan [457(b)] which may provide present tax advantages and future retirement savings. Such arrangements are made directly with the providers and the County will administer payroll deductions only.
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the applicant screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. 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
Current Northampton County employees MUST detail ALL County work experience on their application. Failure to include correct work history and employment dates will result in the rejection of your application. If you need assistance with this information, please reach out to the Human Resources department for assistance BEFORE submitting your application. Please select "yes" to confirm your understanding of this requirement. If you are not a current County employee, please select "no".
+ Yes
+ No
03
The Parks Foreman position is part of the AFSCME Residual Union, and starting salary is dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The starting salary for this position is $23.22 per hour ($48,295 annually) and is non-negotiable. Please choose "yes" to indicate your understanding of the starting wage, and that this is non-negotiable.
+ Yes
+ No
04
Do you have at least three (3) years of full-time, professional work experience in grounds maintenance work, which has included involvement in troubleshooting jobs and/or overseeing other workers, as well as heavy construction and transportation equipment? If yes, your work experience section must reflect this experience to qualify.
+ Yes
+ No
05
This position requires that a certification to administer pesticides, issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is obtained within two (2) months of transfer/hire. Are you willing to obtain this certification within this time frame?
+ Yes
+ No
06
Do you possess a valid and current driver's license with an acceptable driving record?
+ Yes
+ No
Required Question
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