Parks Foreman

Application deadline is February 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. Applicants will not be contacted until after this date. Internal applicants will be considered before external applicants.

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

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person