Grounds Maintenance Worker

Position Description

The City of Tacoma is 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.

If the below list of personal traits sounds like you, then you are just the type of person we are looking for to join our team as a Grounds Maintenance Worker.

• Excellent attendance
• Enjoy working both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather conditions
• Great customer service
• Enjoy working as part of a team
• Enjoys physically demanding and variety of job tasks

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.

This is an open recruitment to establish an eligibility list. The eligibility list will be used to fill vacancies including both temporary and permanent positions. There are currently open vacant positions.

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.

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

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

To be considered for this career opportunity:
Interested individuals must apply online and meet the minimum qualifications to progress in the examination process.
Candidates who are eligible for Veteran's Preference scoring criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4, (proof of military discharge form) at time of application , to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points, with redacted birth date and social security numbers.

Examination Process:
This is a competitive selection process. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the Supplemental Questions #9-15 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. 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. DO NOT respond with see resume in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score.


Applicants who pass the test will be placed on an Eligible List for potential interview and hiring consideration. The Eligible List established for this position will be used to fill vacancies and provide set-ups for one year.

Per City of Tacoma Personnel Management Policy #170, the City of Tacoma is a drug-free work environment. Appointment is subject to passing a pre-employment background check, references check, a pre-employment medical exam, drug and alcohol screen and may include a physical ability test.

This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Teamsters Local 117.
New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

Our City:
With a population over 200,000, Tacoma is the second largest city in the Puget Sound region, gracing the shores of Commencement Bay. We are a diverse, progressive, international city that serves as a gateway to the Pacific Rim and the rest of the world. Named one of the most livable areas in the country by Livability.com, Tacoma and the surrounding area is a playground for outdoor and maritime enthusiasts. Our businesses are vibrant, our parks are beautiful, and our schools are exceptional.
WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:
Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environmentMedical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefitsDental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS CodePersonal time offPaid holidaysA great pension plan When you work for the City of Tacoma, you'll have an opportunity to enjoy a healthy work/life balance, the potential for flexible schedules (with some job classifications), continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/ and http://www.traveltacoma.com/ .

The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must 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.

The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, or questions regarding this job announcement, please call Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 before 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement.

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 age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 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.

Closing Date/Time: 2/3/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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