Position Description

The City Of Tacoma And Tacoma Public Utilities Are Looking For a Ground Maintenance Worker. This Posting Is Used To Fill Multiple Positions Throughout The City Of Tacoma And Tacoma Public Utilities. Vacancies May Occur Within The Following Teams

City of Tacoma Environment & Public Works
Tacoma Power

We are seeking highly motivated people devoted to public service to join our team in providing exceptional service to the citizens and rate payers of Tacoma. Grounds Maintenance Workers are primarily responsible for the cultivation and care for lawns, flowers, plants, trees, and ornamental shrubbery.

Examples Of Job Duties

Landscape construction and right of way maintenance
Operate and maintain a variety of tools, equipment and vehicles
Properly use and dispose of pesticides
Graffiti removal within the right of way

Grounds Maintenance Workers may also perform street maintenance duties including but not limited to crack pouring, flagging, pothole patching and related duties. Positions may be located at Tacoma Power, Environmental Services, or Public Works.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

Heavy manual labor may include lifting up to 50 lbs. without assistance and/or over 75 lbs. with assistance, digging, climbing and walking long distances with equipment or tools.
Outdoor environment; subject to adverse weather conditions.
Exposed to noise, chemicals and dangers of working in the vicinity of energized objects such as high voltage lines, transformers and generators.
May be required to operate grounds maintenance equipment over steep and rugged banks, in canyons and in the vicinity of heavily traveled roads.
May work a variety of shifts including graveyard, swing, weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

An equivalent combination of two (2) years of education, training or experience, which provides the background required to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the essential duties of the classification in the care of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, lawns, including the care and maintenance of gardening tools, equipment and facilities.

Licenses, Certificates And Other Requirements

Possess a valid Washington State Driver's License at the time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.
A valid Washington State Commercial Driver’s License, Class A with Tanker endorsement and air brake restrictions removed, must be obtained prior to the completion of probation with maintenance thereafter (this does not apply to employees in this classification prior to 1/1/2010).
Required to obtain and maintain a Public Pesticide Operator License before the completion of the probationary period with maintenance thereafter.
Traffic Control Flagging, CPR and first-aid certificates will be required prior to the completion of the probationary period with maintenance thereafter.

Knowledge & Skills

Grounds maintenance, gardening and landscaping techniques
Proper handling and disposal of chemicals as required by the Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) program
Standard practices, materials, methods and tools utilized in caring for plants, flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns
Symptoms and methods of control of plant disease and insect pests
Installation and maintenance of lawn sprinkling systems and other facilities pertinent to grounds maintenance
Plant species and planting techniques
Maintain routine records and prepare routine reports
Operate vehicles and equipment while performing grounds and street maintenance duties
Calibrate and operate spray equipment safely
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
Meet schedules and timelines

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Application Process

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

Veterans and or qualifying spouses/domestic partners wishing to be considered for veteran's preference must attach a copy of DD214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge form) at the time of application to be considered for veteran's preference.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Supplemental Questions

This is a competitive selection process. Applicants will be required to respond to written questions outlining their experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to Supplemental Questions #9 to #15 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. These questions will be scored based on the information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities. DO NOT respond with ‘see resume’ in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score. Providing false information will result in disqualification.

Accommodations: We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during this process, please contact Human Resources at (253) 591-5400.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details

Hourly Rate: $32.00 - $37.05

Annual Salary: $66,560.00 - $77,064.00

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

01

The Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination process; accordingly, it should be completed carefully. It must be submitted with your application. Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. Do not indicate "see resume" or copy unrelated content from your resume when answering these questions. Answer all information requested in each question. Failure to do so may result in rejection of your application. I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

02

Do you have an equivalent combination of two (2) years of education, training or experience, which provides the background required to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the essential duties of the classification in the care of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, lawns, including the care and maintenance of gardening tools, equipment and facilities?

03

If you answered yes to question #2, please describe your work experience. Be sure to include where the experience was gained, the specific work performed, and the time period during which the work was performed. Please limit responses to 250 words.

04

This position requires the successful candidate to have a valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment, with maintenance afterwards.

Do you, or will you, have a valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment if you are selected for this job?

05

The successful candidate for this position will need to be able to obtain a Commercial Driver's License by the end of the nine-month probationary period. The City of Tacoma will pay for the training.

Requirements

Please follow the link to view the requirements to obtain a Commercial Driver's License as listed in RCW 46.25.090 RCW 46.25.090:

Will any of the reasons listed in RCW 46.25.090 prevent you from obtaining a Commercial Driver's License after appointment if you are selected for this job?

I currently have a Commercial Driver's License
I am able to obtain a Commercial Driver's License
I would be prevented from being able to obtain a Commercial Driver's License

06

Do you currently possess valid forms of the items listed? Check all that apply. Please note, a response of "None of the above" does not disqualify anyone from meeting the qualifications for this position. These items are not required to apply; however, they will be required prior to completion of the 9-month probationary period.

Valid Washington State Traffic Control Card
Public Pesticide Operator License
Valid First Aid Card
None of the above

07

Please check the boxes of as many different types of work you are willing to do.

Full-time dayshift
Full-time shift work
Full-time including weekends
Full-time Seasonal/Temporary employment
Temporary employment
On call to fill in whenever needed

08

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TEST: Questions 9-15 are the experience and training test that will be used to establish the eligibility list. These questions will be scored by subject matter experts who will not have access to any of your application materials, and will provide scores based solely upon your answers to these questions. Your answers must stand on their own merit.

DO NOT respond with SEE RESUME in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a score of 0 points. Raters will not have access to your resume or application at this step in the process.

Please indicate "Yes" that you have read and understand the instructions for questions 9-15.

09

IN DETAIL, describe your work experience and training related to grounds maintenance and landscape construction, to include cultivating and caring for lawns, flowers, plants, trees, and ornamental shrubbery; and maintaining and repairing grounds maintenance equipment, such as small motors and pumps. Please provide company name, position title, years of experience and duties performed. Please limit responses to 250 words.

10

Which of the following standard landscaping and maintenance hand tools do you have experience with? Please check all that apply. All related experience must be identified on your application.

Rakes
Hoes
Shovels
Shears
Pruners
Backpack Sprayer
None of the above

11

If you checked any of the boxes above, (other than "None of the above"), please describe your professional experience for each of the boxes checked. Please limit responses to 250 words.

12

Which of the following small power equipment and vehicles do you have experience operating? Check all that apply.

Line Trimmer
Blower
Push mower
Leaf Vacuum
Hedge Trimmer
Edger
Chainsaw
Utility vehicle
None of the above

13

If you checked any of the boxes above, (other than "None of the above"), please describe your professional experience for each of the boxes checked. Please limit responses to 250 words.

14

Which of the following vehicles and equipment do you have experience operating? Check all that apply.

Bobcat loader
Backhoe/loader
Hydro-seeder
Riding mower
Stump grinder
Wood Chipper
Gas powered chemical sprayer (>100 Gallon) or (>200 Gallon)
Bucket Truck
None of the above

15

If you checked any of the boxes above, (other than "None of the above"), please describe your professional experience for each of the boxes checked. Please limit responses to 250 words.

16

Please tell us how you learned about this job opportunity.

City of Tacoma website
Internet search
Tacoma job interest card notification
Union job board posting
Word of mouth
From a professional organization
From a community organization
Association of Washington Cities website
Other

17

If you replied, "professional organization," "community organization", or "other" to the previous question, please tell us exactly how you learned about this job posting. Thank you, your response will help us with recruitment for future job postings.

Required Question

City of Tacoma

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