Nature of Work

Discover your opportunity to shape the green heart of our city as a Park Specialist–Urban Parks. If you’re energized by leading crews, elevating horticultural landscapes, and ensuring our parks thrive for the community, this role invites you to make a lasting impact. Join the City of Bellingham's Parks and Recreation Department in cultivating vibrant, sustainable urban spaces for everyone to enjoy!

The Park Specialist - Urban Forestry plans, schedules, establishes performance standards, monitors and implements all work activities in the Urban Parks program. This includes maintaining inventories in developed parks of all ornamental horticulture including turf/irrigation, shrubs, trees, ground covers, annuals and perennials and their needs. Provides technical direction and training to staff, provides input on budgetary requirements, recommends new construction and renovation, and develops and implements an integrated pest management program for area of responsibility. Also responsible for the selection, care, operation and replacement of all equipment for the program area. Oversees all staff assigned to program area and provides input on performance evaluations. Participates in hiring seasonal employees, subject to supervisor approval. Tracks and orders materials, equipment and supplies for program area, including price and product evaluation as well as bid packet creation and evaluation.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

Salary Information And Benefits

This position will start at Step 1 ($37.75/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $37.75 - $49.24. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon. 08/03/2026 8:30 AM Pacific Time

Essential Functions Of The Job

1.Develops and implements work programs, and schedules for all aspects of Urban Parks program including but not limited to mowing, trimming, mulching, weeding, turf cultural work, wetland mitigation, irrigation repair and maintenance, and pruning shrubs and trees.
Serves as lead worker to lower classified staff in the Urban Parks program area; provides training, technical guidance and day-to-day direction. Participates in hiring of all seasonal staff, subject to supervisor approval. Makes recommendations regarding hiring of permanent staff and disciplinary action of all employees in Urban Parks program area. Provides information regarding employee performance to supervisor.
Inspects, documents, and updates all horticulture and irrigation inventories and grounds maintenance requirements.
Oversees all equipment within the Urban Parks program area including maintenance coordination, inventory and repair history, and replacement.
Designs, plans, and develops scope of work, materials, time and cost projections and implements renovation and construction projects for the Urban Parks program.
Acts as technical resource for expertise in the Urban Parks program. Provides technical information to assist Parks Department, other agencies and community interests to aid in decision about best management practices and specification for work within the horticulture and irrigation areas.
Assists in the development of Urban Parks program area budget including maintenance and project costing and tracking, costing and purchase of equipment, and materials and supplies including bid package formation, submittal and review.
Oversees all irrigation controllers including the operation of a computerized central irrigation control system.
Responds to citizen concerns. Investigates Urban Parks program area complaints and concerns.
Plans and implements an integrated pest management program using a system of guidelines for best management practices.
Performs the work of the class below as needed or assigned.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed primarily outdoors in developed and undeveloped areas with frequent exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Work is occasionally performed in an office setting at a desk or computer workstation. Frequent exposure to difficult terrain and loud noises. Some hazardous conditions exist when handling and applying herbicides or pesticides. Moderate risk is involved while working with mechanical tools and equipment and site conditions.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:

Occasionally operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse and phone;
Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others;
Frequently operate hand tools and power equipment safely;
Frequently move throughout City facilities and worksite locations;
Hear and see sufficiently to respond quickly in a noisy, fast-paced environment while meeting mandated safety standards;
Stand, stoop, bend, dig, reach, kneel, squat, ascend and descend terrain and equipment;
Frequently operate mechanical and electrical equipment of varying lengths and width, including small hand tools;
Frequently lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs., and occasionally transport objects weighing up to 100 lbs.

Experience and Training

Three years recent work experience in turf, irrigation, and horticultural maintenance of a large facility required.
- One year of vocational school or related coursework in horticulture/grounds/turf care may substitute for one year of required experience.
Knowledge of all facets of outdoor horticulture grounds care for the local ecology.
One year lead worker experience preferred.

Necessary Special Requirements

Employment contingent upon passing criminal convictions check and child and adult abuse records check (See fair hiring practices)
Valid Washington State driver’s license and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire.
Ability to secure and maintain a Washington State Pesticide License within 12 months of hire.
Ability to secure and maintain a valid First Aid and CPR certification within six months of hire.
Ability to secure and maintain Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors credential (CLIA) within 12 months of hire.
Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process

Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 3, 2026.
Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 17, 2027.
The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for September 2, 2026. Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following Experience and Training Rating (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%).

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Parks - Grounds. This position is represented by a union.

If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not discriminate or make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

Civil Service Information

This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.

Veteran's Scoring Criteria

Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

01

If you are requesting Veteran's Preference points, a completed Veterans Scoring Criteria Status Declaration is required along with a copy of your DD214. The required form is in the Selections Process section of the Job Posting. Check "YES" here if you are attaching a Veteran's Declaration form and DD214.

02

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

03

Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Washington State drivers license and provide a 3-year driving history prior to hire?

04

Are you willing and able to secure and maintain the following? - Washington State Pesticide License within 12 months of hire. - First Aid and CPR certification within six months of hire. - Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors credential (CLIA) within 12 months of hire.

05

Do you have knowledge of all facets of outdoor horticulture grounds care for the local ecology?

06

Do you have three years recent work experience in turf, irrigation, and horticultural maintenance of a large facility? How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

07

If you answered no to the question above, but you have at least one year of vocational school or related coursework in horticulture/grounds/turf care, please describe in detail below.

08

Do you have one year lead worker experience? (Note: This is preferred, not required) How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

09

Please describe your three years recent work experience in turf, irrigation, and horticultural maintenance of a large facility. Experience must be reflected in your Work History within your application. How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

10

Please describe your knowledge of all facets of outdoor horticulture grounds care for the local ecology. For example, plant identification, irrigation, soil sciences and equipment use.

11

Please describe your one year lead worker experience (Note: This is preferred, not required). Experience must be reflected in your Work History within your application. How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

12

Lead roles require guiding peers—often fellow union members—while supporting the supervisor’s direction. Briefly describe how you would lead in this situation and maintain strong working relationships with your coworkers and your supervisor.

Required Question

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