Transit Grounds Specialist

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*This position is open to all King County employees and the general public. *

King County Metro Transit’s Facilities Division has an exciting opportunity for a Transit Grounds Specialist. 

Transit Grounds Specialists are responsible for a variety of landscape activities including overall care and maintenance of lawns, gardens, and ornamental planting. They install, modify, and perform routine maintenance and repair of irrigation systems and related gardening equipment.

This recruitment may immediately fill up to one (1) Career Service vacancy, and may also be used to create an eligibility pool for future Career Service, as well as Term-Limited Temporary and/or Special Duty Assignment, vacancies valid up to 12 months or until exhausted and at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Interviews are anticipated to occur during the week of July 6 through July 10, 2026, but are subject to change.

WHO MAY APPLY:
This position is open to King County employees and the general public.

TO APPLY:

Required Application Materials:

1. An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.  
2. Completed supplemental questions.

Note: A cover letter/letter of interest and/or resume are highly encouraged, but not required. Any additional documentation will not be considered.

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?
We highly recommend visiting the King County Workforce Development website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective: King County Workforce Development.

Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Erica Minshull, Talent Advisor for King County Metro Transit

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices. As a Transit Grounds Specialist, you will also: 

To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) or more years of professional work experience performing duties within the groundskeeping, landscaping, and/or gardening field(s). 
• Knowledge of the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems and effective watering schedules.
• Knowledge of gardening and plant care principles, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques and materials needed for various jobs.
• Knowledge of proper pruning and trimming techniques.
• Knowledge of power tools, gas fired equipment such as lawn mowers, blowers, edgers, hedgers, chain saws, and line trimmers.
• Knowledge of basic hand tools, including proper use and safety requirements.
• Ability to read instructions for the application of fertilizer, pesticides, and insecticides.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Basic computer skills required to enter and extract information from automated systems and related software applications.

The most competitive applicants will possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Three (3) or more years of relevant experience, as described above.
• One (1) or more years of related training, education, and/or apprenticeship related to the groundskeeping, landscaping, and/or gardening field.
• Experience in irrigation system installation and/or maintenance.
• Experience using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
• Current valid Washington State Public Operator’s License, with endorsement in disease and ornamental plants. 

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE  

9210100 / 29

UNION MEMBERSHIP 

This position is represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 587.

SELECTION PROCESS
Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications, as well as for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks and internal record reviews, pre-employment physical, driving record checks, etc.

WORK LOCATION AND SCHEDULE
Employees report to one of two work locations, including our North Facilities Maintenance location (12525 Stone Ave N; Seattle, WA 98133) and our South Facilities Maintenance location (11911 E Marginal Way S; Seattle, WA 98168). Work occurs throughout the King County Metro Transit service area.

This position is full-time, scheduled for 40 hours a week. This position is not exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore overtime eligible, with prior supervisory approval. Employees must be available and willing to work any shift (day, swing, or graveyard), weekends, nights, holidays, and call-outs. This position is not eligible for telework/remote work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

These positions require physical skill which may involve bending, kneeling, standing, walking, reaching, climbing, stooping, squatting, pushing, pulling, twisting, and lifting/moving up to 50 pounds in order to perform assigned duties. This position may also require working at heights with use of appropriate fall protection and working near traffic. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when warranted (including respirators and hearing protection), and is provided by the employer.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

TO APPLY
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

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