State of Maryland

A Park Technician Trainee is the entry level of maintenance work in state parks and forests. Employees in this classification have responsibility for the oversight and maintenance of grounds, facilities and equipment within a park, forest or recreation area, provide assistance on new facilities and perform maintenance work.  Employees in this classification may lead or provide advice and guidance to unskilled or semi-skilled laborers, including permanent employees, long-term contractual employees, seasonal employees and volunteers, to include scheduling employees’ work assignments, providing assistance on new facilities as well as performing maintenance work. Employees in this classification have as their primary function responsibility for the maintenance of park, forest or wildlife grounds but may occasionally be assigned other operational functions.  Employees in this classification may be trained and commissioned as forest wardens under the provisions of Natural Resources Article 5-206, Annotated Code of Maryland.  Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Park Technician Supervisor, a Park Maintenance Program Supervisor or other designated official depending upon the size of the park operation.  Considerable time is spent out-of-doors under varying conditions, often in isolated areas requiring arduous physical activity. It is also frequently necessary to travel extensively to remote areas of the State and work unusually long hours to accomplish seasonal requirements. The work will normally be performed within an assigned private or public land management project, State wildlife, forest or park lands.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Park Technician Trainee, Park Technician I and Park Technician II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Park Technician Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Park Technician I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Park Technician II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to construct hiking, jogging, hunting and horseback riding trails through park property;

Learns to mix and pour concrete to create pads which are used to prevent erosion, foster cleanliness and control weed growth under picnic tables;

Learns to prepare and/or review drawings and specifications for new facilities or major park renovations;

Learns to provide maintenance and budgetary information to park supervisors;

Learns to purchase supplies and materials used in building and repairs;

Learns to meet with and advise private contractors;

Learns to operate and supervise the operation of heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, back-hoes, payloaders and tractors to cut grass, remove snow, remove dead trees, haul debris, and dig trenches;

Learns to inspect park rental properties, sewage ejector pits, water systems, buildings, and dams in order to perform maintenance and repairs;

Learns to apply herbicides and pesticides where needed to eliminate and retard the spread of unwanted foliage and pests;

May be involved in planning new recreational facilities, planning major renovations of existing facilities, planning the rehabilitation of over-used recreational areas, and developing guidelines for the maximum use of areas;

May perform park operations such as coordinating and assisting with opening and closing facilities including gates, contact stations, visitor centers, concessions and restrooms; checking buildings including restrooms to ensure that electrical and plumbing systems are working properly or repaired as needed; collecting user fees; preparing specifications for small construction projects; completing maintenance projects including plumbing, masonry, chain saw work, trail construction and other construction projects; assisting with marking timber for sale on State forest lands; identifying and posting boundaries of park system lands; responding to issues or complaints raised by park system neighbors such as hazardous trees, deer and other wildlife problems; monitoring of court appointed alternative sentence workers assigned to park system lands; and providing assistance to and answering questions of visitors to the park system;

May respond to a variety of events in the park including visitor and natural emergencies and those dealing with the maintenance and use of park facilities;

May provide guidance and direction to semi-skilled workers and/or seasonal employees;

Performs other related duties.

Learns grounds maintenance including tree and lawn care;

Learns construction skills including carpentry, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work;

Learns the State laws, rules, and regulations that govern the use and protection of properties maintained, of hand and power tools, lawn mowers, tractors, heavy equipment and specialized equipment such as welders, chain saws, chlorine testers, and insecticide spraying equipment;

Learns established construction codes and standards;

Learns the practical application of electronics, hydraulics and mechanics as used in maintenance work;

Learns methods and techniques related to the operation of State forests and parks and their systems;

Learns the State procurement procedures;

Learns State personnel management regulations, practices, and procedures;

Learns the care and storage of equipment and supplies;

Learns inventory practices;

Skill, at the introductory level, in preparing and reviewing reports;

Ability to develop and prioritize work schedules and provide guidance to labor crews;

Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time in all kinds of weather;

Ability to assign, review and approve the work of park employees;

Ability to train park employees;

Ability to communicate complicated concepts to visitors and groups;

Ability to understand and interpret blueprints, plans, schematics and specifications;

Ability to assume responsibility in carrying out natural resources studies;

Ability to perform field assignments and related office work with other employees;

Ability to assist in special research projects and investigations;

Ability to use hand and power tools;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.            

Experience: None.

Note: Candidates may substitute experience in the skilled maintenance or construction trades, e.g. Electrician, Plumber or experience in the maintenance of a park, forest or wildlife facility at the rate of one year experience for one year of education up to a maximum of four years of the required education.

1. Some positions in this classification are assigned duties which may require the candidates to be examined by a Physician. After an offer of employment, candidates for such positions will be given a medical examination to certify the        ability to perform the essential job functions.

2. Upon permanent appointment, employees in this classification may be required to reside in the county, region, or park to which they are assigned.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require a valid operator license for heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, back-hoes, payloaders or tractors.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in on a 24-hour a day basis and will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number listed in the agency’s telephone directory or on file with Forest, Park and Wildlife Communication Centers in case of emergencies.

5. Employees in this classification may be required to attend training and be certified as a water plant operator.

6. Employees in this classification may be required to lift objects weighing up to 40 or more pounds.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit A, Labor and Trades classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential   employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature  of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.