Park Keeper I

Park Keeper I

Salary

$46,720.00 - $73,000.00 Annually

Location

Various Throughout Dakota County, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

81100.26.001

Department

Facilities Management

Opening Date

10/12/2026

Closing Date

10/23/2026 4:30 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open competitive

DEPARTMENT: Facilities Management

HOURS: Full-time

HIRING RANGE: $46,720 - 73,000/year

FULL SALARY RANGE: $46,720 - 58,400/year (104 grade)

LOCATION: Lebanon Hills Park, Eagan

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026

The Dakota County Parks system is a growing, thriving natural resource-based park system with over 2.8 million visitors annually. Our park system includes 6 parks, 5,500 acres of premiere park land and 66 miles of scenic regional greenways.

The Park Keeper I position is responsible for custodial work, routine and skilled maintenance, repair and construction of park buildings, grounds and facilities. Park Keepers may serve as the first point contact for park visitors needing assistance. Park Keeper I staff will clean and maintain the parks year-round; in the winter months they are also responsible for snow removal and summer months for turf maintenance. Park Keeper I staff are required to work every other weekend and may be required to work nights and holidays as needed to cover shifts or special events in the Parks.

Who We Are

Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. Our motto is "Be More" and we strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent, AND
• One year work experience in one or more of the following fields; natural resources, landscaping, custodial, grounds or building maintenance.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience in natural resources, landscaping, custodial, grounds or building maintenance.

AND

• A valid drivers license and ability to obtain a Class A commercial drivers license within the first year of employment.

Preferred Education/Experience Beyond Minimum Qualifications:

• Completed training and/or degree focused on facility operations and maintenance, landscape design and maintenance, tree care and maintenance.
• Knowledge and ability to work on a computer to complete basic work tasks such as: create & send emails, open & modify word or excel documents, and perform basic internet searches. Basic to intermediate knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word and the internet is helpful.
• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy and Procedures this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the positions management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Maintain park buildings and structures performing work including: daily custodial duties, general upkeep, and miscellaneous repairs.

2. Maintain park grounds and facilities including work such as: custodial, mowing, fertilizing, over seeding, aerating, and hauling trash.

3. Perform snow removal on walkways, trails, and parking lots.

4. Proficiently and safely operate vehicles and equipment including; tractors, mowers, dump truck, truck trailer combination, skid steer loader, chainsaws, brush chipper, stump grinder, and UTVs.

5. Performs routine daily maintenance on vehicles, chain saws and light equipment.

6. Performs heavy manual labor.

7. May serve as a lead person over employees at the same job classification and/or temporary employees.

8. Assists with landscape projects performing work that includes seeding, planting, grading, restoration, building retaining walls and steps.

9. Assists with maintenance of trees by trimming, removing and transplanting.

10. Assist other departments with emergencies as assigned.

11. Assist park visitors and other County staff as needed or requested.

12. Perform other maintenance tasks as apparent, necessary or assigned.

Essential Functions: 1-10

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment

• Knowledge of practices, functions and procedures of grounds maintenance and construction activities.
• Ability and skill to operate vehicles and equipment of the department in a safe efficient manner.
• Ability and skill to make routine repairs and maintenance to park structures, vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor tasks requiring strength and coordination.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, set priorities, and organize multiple work tasks.
• Ability to work in a team environment and take direction from team leaders.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge and ability to work on a computer to complete basic work tasks such as: create & send emails, open & modify word or excel documents, and perform basic internet searches.
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word and the internet is desired.

Work Environment

Work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions and calls on the ability to perform strenuous physical tasks on a daily basis. The posture and movement requirement for this position are: sitting, walking, bending/stooping, twisting on a frequent basis and reaching forward and push/pulling of objects on a continuous basis. Position requires repetitive/constant bending of the arm and frequent grasping of hands. Work tasks require frequent lifting and carrying up to 24 pounds and occasional lifting up to 74 pounds. Driving is required for this position and staff must have the ability to use a variety of mowers, tractors, pickup trucks, UTVs, and boats.

Exposures may include, but are not limited to changing weather conditions, uneven and/or slippery surfaces, dust, dirt, oil, grease, solvents, fumes, noise and all hazards associated with an equipment repair shop. Position requires sensory demands of hearing, speech, near & far vision, tactile, and spatial perception. Equipment used but not limited to include: hand and power tools, shovels, sledgehammer, post hole diggers, weed whips, ladders, wheelbarrows, personal computer, personal safety equipment and any of a large list of light and heavy equipment.

Since this is a safety sensitive position, the candidate must successfully pass a DOT drug test and DOT exam if offered the position. "Safety-sensitive position" means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes. Contact the Human Resources Office (651-438-4435) if you are in need of a full report of physical and occupational demands of the Park Keeper position.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• Excellent work-life balance
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
• Eleven paid holidays each year
• Pension with a generous employer contribution

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring

Visit our Benefits site for more information.

01

• Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions. Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.

02

Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.

03

Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a DOT drug & cannabis test and DOT physical will be conducted upon acceptance of a position.

04

Please select the highest level of education completed or Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment)

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalent
• Technical Certificate/Diploma
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor Degree or higher
• None of the above

05

Identify your TOTAL years of full-time experience working in the following fields; natural resources, landscaping, custodial, grounds or building maintenance.

• No experience
• Less than 1
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4+ years

06

Do you have a valid drivers license? If so, identify the license that you currently possess.

• I have a Class A Commercial license
• I have a Class B Commercial license
• I have a Class D license but ELIGIBLE to obtain a Class A Commercial license within 1 year.
• I have a Class D license but NOT ELIGIBLE to obtain a Class A Commercial license within 1 year.
• I dont have a valid drivers license

07

Identify your years of full-time related work experience as a custodian or housekeeper. You must only count the years completed. This experience must be listed on your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4+ years

08

Identify your years of full-time related work experience in grounds and trail maintenance (E.g. turf management or grooming/plowing trails). You must only count the years completed. This experience must be listed on your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4+ years

09

Identify your years of full-time related work experience in landscaping and tree care (E.g. Tree planting, planter beds, mulching, pruning, stump grinding, or tree removals). You must only count the years completed. This experience must be listed on your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4+ years

10

Identify your years of full-time related work experience in snow removal (E.g. plowing of parking lots, trails, or sidewalks). You must only count the years completed. This experience must be listed on your application.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4+ years

11

Identify the equipment you have WORK EXPERIENCE using. (Check all that apply).

• Commercial lawn mowers and gas powered trimmers
• Powered custodial equipment, such as carpet extractor
• Ability to pull and back up a trailer
• Tractor with attachment
• Snow removal equipment
• Skid Steer
• Chainsaw
• None of the above

12

Do you have previous Park Maintenance work experience in a city, county, or state park organization? (Check all that apply)

• Yes, at a Dakota County Park
• Yes, at a City/Metro Area Park organization in the State of Minnesota
• Yes, at a County Park organization in the State of Minnesota
• Yes, at a State Park organization in the State of Minnesota
• Yes, at a City, County or State Park organization outside of Minnesota
• No, I have not worked at a park organization

13

Identify your experience with trail systems? (Check all that apply)

• Clearing land for the development of new trails
• Maintaining trails such as applying new gravel, trimming branches, and upkeep of markers/signs, etc...
• Plowing bituminous trails and grooming cross country trails
• No work experience with trails

14

Do you possess basic computer skills, such as: keyboarding, emailing, word processing, spreadsheet, searching the internet, etc...?

• Yes
• No

15

Are you available to work every other weekend?

• Yes
• No

16

Are you available to work nights and holidays for special events or coverage as needed?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

17

The full salary range for this position is $46,720 - $73,000 and preferred hiring range is $46,720 - $58,400 annually. The amount that is offered is depended on the candidates overall skills, education, experience and internal equity. The offer would also include the Countys benefits package.

Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary youd accept if selected for the position?

18

Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.

• Facebook
• Friend, Family or Colleague
• InDeed
• Job Fair or Dakota County Event
• Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
• JobsInMinneapolis/StPaul
• League of Minnesota Cities
• LinkedIn
• Minneapolis Diversity.com
• Minnesota Diversity.com
• Minnesota Works Website
• Minnesota Jobs Network.com
• Minnesota Association of Counties
• Monster
• Professional Association Website
• Referred by a Dakota County Employee
• St Paul Diversity.com
• College Website, Instructor, Career Services
• Dakota County Website
• Other

19

If you selected Other, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.

Required Question

Employer Dakota County

Address Administration Center

1590 Highway 55

Hastings, Minnesota, 55033-2372

Phone 651.438.4435

Website http://dakotacountymn.gov