Turf Specialist, Park Operations
Forsyth County Government, Cumming, GA, United States
Salary: $55,839.00 - $72,592.00 Annually
Location: Cumming, GA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 03495
Department: Parks & Recreation-Park Operations
Opening Date: 04/16/2026
Closing Date: 5/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Position Information
Oversees maintenance and improvement of all county-owned turf areas, including athletic fields and public spaces. Manages natural and synthetic turf health, irrigation systems, pest control, equipment upkeep, and staff supervision. Ensures budget compliance and safety standards.
Develops and executes comprehensive maintenance plans for sports fields and grounds, applying best practices in turfgrass nutrition, pest management, irrigation, and synthetic turf care. Establishes standards for sports surfaces and coordinates contractors and vendors on turf-related projects.
Responsibilities
Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; processes employee concerns, directs work, counsels, disciplines, and completes performance appraisals; conducts interviews and makes hiring recommendations.
Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status, inspects completed work; conducts staff meetings; confers with staff and provides technical expertise.
Monitors staff compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; enforces safety procedures and monitors work environment.
Provides training on the use and maintenance of athletic fields; evaluates and maintains inventory of all athletic fields within the county’s park system.
Directs best practices for use and maintenance of county sports facilities and grounds; develops and implements turf management programs to insure healthy, high‑quality turf conditions.
Oversees mowing, fertilization, aeration, irrigation, pest and weed control, and soil testing; implements sustainable landscaping practices to minimize environmental impact.
Works alongside Park Supervisors and other staff in field construction/repairs, irrigation management, and preventative maintenance; makes recommendations to the Parks Operations Manager and Athletic Manager on future needs and budgetary items.
Plans, organizes, schedules, and oversees maintenance/repair projects for parks and recreation facilities; receives and prioritizes work orders and assigns repair projects to appropriate staff.
Inspects and monitors athletic fields, and park amenities to identify problems or needed repairs; coordinates daily, monthly, and annual GIS inspections.
Performs administrative tasks; prepares daily and weekend work schedules, provides budgetary input, assists in monitoring expenditures, reviews employee timecards and submits for payment.
Maintains inventory of division equipment, tools, chemicals, and supplies; initiates orders for new or replacement materials as needed.
Supervises staff in maintaining park grounds, athletic fields, and related facilities; performs mowing, edging, drag, grooming, marking, painting, and repairs.
Assists with synthetic turf management: cleans, runs inspections, conducts concussion testing, repairs, and monitors drainage systems.
Assists with setup of special events and other park/recreational activities.
Oversees operation of machinery, equipment, and tools; maintains general/preventive maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
Transports, lifts, loads, and unloads equipment and materials for projects.
Prepares and processes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, budget documents, purchase requisitions, inspection forms, performance appraisals, invoices, and receipts.
Communicates with supervisors, employees, vendors, the public, and other departments to coordinate work activities and resolve problems.
Maintains knowledge of applicable regulations, policies, procedures, and new trends; attends workshops and training sessions.
Additional Functions
This classification is designated as a safety sensitive position which is subject to random drug and alcohol testing and any other drug testing methods as stated in policies adopted by Forsyth County concerning drug and alcohol.
Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in turfgrass management or closely related field; supplemented by three (3) years previous experience and/or training that includes landscape management, turf management, field restoration, irrigation system operations, equipment operation, and basic supervision.
Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
Possession of Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s license or obtain license within the first 6 months.
Benefits Provided By Forsyth County To Full‑time Employees
Personal Leave Accrual
0 - 4 Years: 20 days per year – 6.16 hours per pay period
5 - 14 Years: 25 days per year – 7.70 hours per pay period
15+ Years: 30 days per year – 9.24 hours per pay period
Observed Holidays
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).
Medical Insurance
Aetna Choice POS II – $2000 Individual Deductible (Basic Plan)
Aetna Choice POS II – $1000 Individual Deductible (Plus Plan)
Kaiser Permanente HMO – $0 Individual Deductible
Dental Insurance
Base $1,000 Plan
Buy‑Up $1,500 Plan
Vision Insurance
The vision plan offered by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is administered by Aetna and will offer office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.
Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners provides term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full‑time employee.
Disability Insurance – Short Term and Long Term
100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire.
Short Term Disability
– 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks.
Long Term Disability
– 60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).
Additional Life Insurance And AD&D
Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.
Retirement Plan (401K)
Fully vested at five years of employment – 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire.
For Six Months through One Year of County Service: Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay.
For Years One through Five: Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay.
For Years 5 through 10: The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%.
After 10 Years of Service: You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. The automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location: Cumming, GA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 03495
Department: Parks & Recreation-Park Operations
Opening Date: 04/16/2026
Closing Date: 5/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Position Information
Oversees maintenance and improvement of all county-owned turf areas, including athletic fields and public spaces. Manages natural and synthetic turf health, irrigation systems, pest control, equipment upkeep, and staff supervision. Ensures budget compliance and safety standards.
Develops and executes comprehensive maintenance plans for sports fields and grounds, applying best practices in turfgrass nutrition, pest management, irrigation, and synthetic turf care. Establishes standards for sports surfaces and coordinates contractors and vendors on turf-related projects.
Responsibilities
Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; processes employee concerns, directs work, counsels, disciplines, and completes performance appraisals; conducts interviews and makes hiring recommendations.
Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status, inspects completed work; conducts staff meetings; confers with staff and provides technical expertise.
Monitors staff compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; enforces safety procedures and monitors work environment.
Provides training on the use and maintenance of athletic fields; evaluates and maintains inventory of all athletic fields within the county’s park system.
Directs best practices for use and maintenance of county sports facilities and grounds; develops and implements turf management programs to insure healthy, high‑quality turf conditions.
Oversees mowing, fertilization, aeration, irrigation, pest and weed control, and soil testing; implements sustainable landscaping practices to minimize environmental impact.
Works alongside Park Supervisors and other staff in field construction/repairs, irrigation management, and preventative maintenance; makes recommendations to the Parks Operations Manager and Athletic Manager on future needs and budgetary items.
Plans, organizes, schedules, and oversees maintenance/repair projects for parks and recreation facilities; receives and prioritizes work orders and assigns repair projects to appropriate staff.
Inspects and monitors athletic fields, and park amenities to identify problems or needed repairs; coordinates daily, monthly, and annual GIS inspections.
Performs administrative tasks; prepares daily and weekend work schedules, provides budgetary input, assists in monitoring expenditures, reviews employee timecards and submits for payment.
Maintains inventory of division equipment, tools, chemicals, and supplies; initiates orders for new or replacement materials as needed.
Supervises staff in maintaining park grounds, athletic fields, and related facilities; performs mowing, edging, drag, grooming, marking, painting, and repairs.
Assists with synthetic turf management: cleans, runs inspections, conducts concussion testing, repairs, and monitors drainage systems.
Assists with setup of special events and other park/recreational activities.
Oversees operation of machinery, equipment, and tools; maintains general/preventive maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
Transports, lifts, loads, and unloads equipment and materials for projects.
Prepares and processes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, budget documents, purchase requisitions, inspection forms, performance appraisals, invoices, and receipts.
Communicates with supervisors, employees, vendors, the public, and other departments to coordinate work activities and resolve problems.
Maintains knowledge of applicable regulations, policies, procedures, and new trends; attends workshops and training sessions.
Additional Functions
This classification is designated as a safety sensitive position which is subject to random drug and alcohol testing and any other drug testing methods as stated in policies adopted by Forsyth County concerning drug and alcohol.
Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in turfgrass management or closely related field; supplemented by three (3) years previous experience and/or training that includes landscape management, turf management, field restoration, irrigation system operations, equipment operation, and basic supervision.
Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
Possession of Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s license or obtain license within the first 6 months.
Benefits Provided By Forsyth County To Full‑time Employees
Personal Leave Accrual
0 - 4 Years: 20 days per year – 6.16 hours per pay period
5 - 14 Years: 25 days per year – 7.70 hours per pay period
15+ Years: 30 days per year – 9.24 hours per pay period
Observed Holidays
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).
Medical Insurance
Aetna Choice POS II – $2000 Individual Deductible (Basic Plan)
Aetna Choice POS II – $1000 Individual Deductible (Plus Plan)
Kaiser Permanente HMO – $0 Individual Deductible
Dental Insurance
Base $1,000 Plan
Buy‑Up $1,500 Plan
Vision Insurance
The vision plan offered by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is administered by Aetna and will offer office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.
Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners provides term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full‑time employee.
Disability Insurance – Short Term and Long Term
100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire.
Short Term Disability
– 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks.
Long Term Disability
– 60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).
Additional Life Insurance And AD&D
Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.
Retirement Plan (401K)
Fully vested at five years of employment – 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire.
For Six Months through One Year of County Service: Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay.
For Years One through Five: Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay.
For Years 5 through 10: The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%.
After 10 Years of Service: You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. The automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.
#J-18808-Ljbffr