Assistant Division Superintendent

 Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Job Summary

Under the supervision and direction of the Regional Superintendent and Division Superintendent, assists in the operations and maintenance of a geographical division of the District. Ensures that all grounds and facilities meet a high level of standards in providing a clean and safe environment for the general public. Assists in the supervision and coordination of field personnel and their scheduling Inspects, ensures and trains proper and safe usage and maintenance of District vehicles and equipment. Knowledge and ability to apply personnel policies and procedures of the District and the department, including disciplinary and grievance procedures. Maintains all necessary personnel and division-related documents and files. Prepares and submits accurate administrative reports in a timely manner. Represents and performs as liaison for the department in internal and external meetings or events when assigned. Assists the District when needed in providing support of firefighting and suppression.

Typical Duties

Assists the Division Superintendent in preparing work schedules and assigns work crews and office personnel to various duties.

Supervises field work, including, but not limited to, cleaning up and disposing refuse; picking up litter; cleaning of shelters, picnic areas, comfort stations and privies; mowing and trimming of picnic areas, athletic fields, roadsides and multi-use groves; tree pruning; trail maintenance; pothole repair; sign replacement and repair; fence repair and installation.

Supervise staff who drive vehicles that require a CDL and staff who operate heavy equipment.

Supervises and organizes snow removal, plowing, shoveling, sand and salt spreading within the Division.

Performs daily inspection of Division grounds and facilities to determine the need for improvements.

Performs inspections and inventory of the division's  fleet, equipment and supplies.

Performs inspections on division facilities and buildings for repairs.

Maintains good public relations in efforts to communicate with local and regional residents.

Prepares and submits on a timely basis work and attendance logs and other reports as requested to administration using Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Outlook.

Minimum Qualifications

Must possess a high school diploma, GED, or higher.

Must possess four (4) or more years of full-time professional work experience in the field of landscape maintenance operations or in a substantially similar area

Must possess one (1) or more years of full-time work experience in a supervisory capacity.

Must possess a current valid Class B or higher Commercial Driver's License with no Air Brakes restriction.

Preferred Qualifications
Possession of at least one season of work experience with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, OR at least one season of work experience as a Conservation Corp Crew member, OR at least one season of work experience on property of the Forest Preserves District of Cook County with partners such as the Chicago Zoological Society, Chicago Botanic Garden, Greencorps Chicago, OR at least one season of work experience with other partners such as, Friends of the Forest Preserves or the Student Conservation Association

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

Ability to plan, organize, supervise, direct and evaluate work of department employees.

Ability to foster employee development through coaching and feedback.

Knowledge and ability in the operations of the District.

Skill and ability to communicate with professionalism to diverse groups.

Ability to train personnel in the proper operation and execution of all maintenance equipment.

Ability to keep abreast of community trends and developments through personal observation and study.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics (Continued)

Knowledge and ability to communicate plans throughout the levels of rank and title.

Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather.

Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, evenings, and holidays. 

Ability to follow and ensure implementation of established safety rules and procedures.

Ability to follow instructions and relate well to others.

Ability to maintain written and computerized records as required, perform measurements or other routine computations.

Ability to operate Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism while supervising and interacting with employees and while interacting with the general public and other District personnel.

Ability to maintain confidentiality in management-related and personnel matters and information.

Ability to withstand various types of physical exertion including, but not limited to, climbing, lifting, pulling, pushing, and moving objects of up to 50 pounds.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work.  They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

Veteran's Preference

When applying for employment with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, preference is given in the application process to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for more than 180 consecutive days or during War Time.  To take advantage of this preference, a Veteran must:

Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

Identify themselves as a Veteran on their employment application by answering Yes to the question "Are you a military veteran?"

Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215, or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation) at the time of application by uploading it as part of your application.  If there are multiple DD 214s, DD 215s, or NGB 22s, the one with the most recent date should be submitted.  Coast Guard members must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (before 911) or the Department of Homeland Security (after 911).

Provide original applicable discharge papers at time of interview.

Benefits Package

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Basic Term Life Insurance

Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

You May Qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)  

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link:

http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

General District Employment Requirements

PROOF OF EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES WILL BE REQUIRED.

MUST BE A RESIDENT OF COOK COUNTY OR ESTABLISH RESIDENCY IN COOK COUNTY WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT AND REMAIN A RESIDENT AT ALL TIMES DURING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DISTRICT.

MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AT THE TIME OF HIRE OR SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WITHIN ONE (1) WEEK OF START DATE.

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person's race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. We value our employees and the different talents, expertise, and viewpoints that each brings to the table. We believe a robust exchange of ideas results in better decision-making and we commit to providing a constructive, safe, and positive work atmosphere that promotes mutual respect and empowers individuals to thrive in their jobs.