Laborer

About Seattle Center — The Cultural Heart of the Pacific Northwest

Seattle Center is a 74-acre civic, arts, and cultural gathering place in the heart of Seattle and is home to more than 30 partner organizations, including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, SIFF, and many others.

Anchored by world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events centered around the iconic International Fountain, Seattle Center brings together arts, culture, sports, and community year-round.

As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts and Cultural District, Seattle Center serves residents from across the Puget Sound region alongside visitors from around the world.

In partnership with Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Center provides operations, maintenance, and public safety services for Waterfront Park, while Friends leads park experience, programming, and stewardship along Seattle’s downtown waterfront.

About this position:

We are seeking candidates for a Grounds Laborer position to perform routine manual labor and cleaning on Seattle Center grounds. This position reports to the Landscape Supervisor and works under the supervision of the Grounds Maintenance Lead Worker. 

We are recruiting for first shift – Thursdays through Mondays starting at 6:30 am. Days off will be Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Here’s more of what you’ll be doing:

• Perform routine manual labor in a variety of mostly outdoor work areas. 
• Work will include cleaning and maintaining park grounds, event spaces, garden areas, parking facilities, buildings, and restrooms, 
• Provide manual assistance to other workers and use various types of hand and small power tools such as hammer, saws, axes, drills, weed-eaters, pressure washers, backpack blowers, and shovels. Perform minor adjustments and repairs to such equipment and Seattle Center assets.
• Set event support infrastructure, barricades, and provides work site protection, as directed.
• Transport, load and unload materials, equipment and supplies. 
• May be required to operate pick-ups and other small, motorized vehicles or operate forklifts in support of maintenance operations, and perform minor repairs or adjustments, lubrication and safety checks on such vehicles.
• May assist in gardening and grounds maintenance work, such as weeding and leaf blowing; raking and clearing litter, brush and leaves; removing debris storm drains; and assisting in play area maintenance.
• Provide customer service to the public as they visit Seattle Center by exchanging or providing information when requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to perform general laboring/manual work, good physical condition, and the ability to work with hand and power tools is required.

License, Certification, and Other Requirements: 

• Must possess a valid Washington State driver license and a good driving record.
• Must possess or achieve certification as a forklift operator within 90 days of appointment.

You will be successful in this role if you:

• Possess a general familiarity with small hand tools and power tools, backpack blowers, pressure washers, power scrubbers.
• Have experience working in a public facing facility or park.
• Have the ability to speak a language other than English to communicate with Seattle visitors and residents.
• Are able to work safely while meeting tight deadlines.

• Work collaboratively and inclusively with a diverse staff, community, and visitors.

• Are effective as a member of a highly motivated team, as well as independently after being given oral or written instructions. 
• Have the ability to read and understand Safety Data Sheets, work orders, maps and drawings of park areas.
• Possess excellent customer service skills.
• Have a desire to learn all aspects of cleaning park grounds and facilities and provide a welcoming atmosphere.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Shift for this position is first shift. Hours are will be 6:30 am – 3:00 pm, Thursdays through Mondays.
• Able to lift 50 pounds and may participate in work that requires frequent lifting of more than 50 pounds. 
• Able to stand, walk or bend for extended periods of time. 
• Willing and availability to work varying shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Must be able to work outdoors in all types of weather.

The full pay range for this step-progression position is $31.97 - $33.98 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $31.97 hourly. Current City employees’ starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted for this position until 4:00 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. 

To be considered for this position, please complete the following:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.  

2. Supplemental questionnaire responses.  

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: To align with our commitment to equity and the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative, Seattle Center is collecting cover letters and resumes without personal identifiers to achieve a blind screening process.  

Driving Record - Selected candidates will be required to submit a Driver's Abstract (at your own expense) that demonstrates a good driving record.

Pre-Employment Physical - Successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment physical. 

Why work at the City?

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in dismantling racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and create and provide equitable processes and services. Seattle Office of Civil Rights)

Benefits – The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

For helpful tips on the application process and recruitment process: Working at the City - Human Resources | seattle.gov. Application, Resume, and Interviewing Tips

More about Seattle Center:

Seattle Center welcomes nearly 12 million visits annually, generating nearly $3.3 billion in total economic activity, supporting 19,400 jobs, and producing more than $37 million in local tax revenue for the City of Seattle.

With the support of its official partners—Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank—Seattle Center is the most-visited arts and cultural destination in the Pacific Northwest.