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

Tacoma Public Utilities

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