Transit Lead Service Worker (Lead ESW)- SDA

***This is an internal recruitment for King County Metro Transit. This position is open to current Transit Equipment Service Workers (ESW) that have been in their position for at least two years at the time this recruitment closes. All other applicants will be screened out of the recruitment process.***

Metro Transit's Vehicle Maintenance division is seeking to fill multiple Special Duty Assignments for the role of Lead Service Worker (also known as the Lead ESW).

Are you the go-to teammate others rely on when problems arise? Do you take pride in your work, lead by example, and want to help shape the future of King County Metro? If so, this opportunity might be for you.

This Lead Service Worker role is the final step in the Equipment Service Worker classification and serves as a working lead—meaning you’ll continue performing hands-on duties while also guiding your team. This role offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills and gain hands-on experience that will support your continued professional growth.

We’re looking for leads who:

• Embody Metro’s values and promote a culture of respect, inclusion, and accountability.
• Identify areas for improvement and offer thoughtful, practical solutions.
• Recognize team strengths while constructively addressing growth opportunities.
• Communicate expectations clearly and foster a positive, supportive work environment.
• Make a positive impact and coach team members to improve their performance. 

This role requires emotional intelligence, strong communication skills, and the ability to coordinate and support ESWs and Utility Service Workers in a way that builds trust and mutual respect.

Safety Sensitive Position

This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Vacancy Information: 

This recruitment will be used to fill multiple Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions in the Transit Equipment Service Worker- Lead classification. These initial vacancies are temporary in duration, but are full-time, benefit eligible, and may have the opportunity to covert to career service (permanent) positions, when possible. Vehicle Maintenance invests heavily in its staff’s development, and SDA/TLT positions give candidates a chance to gain knowledge, skills, and experiences that can be applied to future opportunities. 

An eligibility list of qualified candidates may be created to fill future Equipment Service Worker-Lead positions as they become available. If created, the eligibility list would be active for 12 months from the establishment of the list and utilized at the hiring authority’s discretion.

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

In addition to performing the full range of responsibilities of the Transit Equipment Service Worker classification, as a Lead Service Worker you will:

• Assign work to Equipment Service Workers in accordance with policy and procedures; ensure all equipment service needs and requests are fulfilled and bus defects are reported; assist in identifying staff needs and overtime assignments as required; train and assist with daily dispatch of coaches.
• Coordinate, direct, instruct and assist Equipment Service Workers and Utility Service Workers in their work; ensure work is completed in a timely manner and equipment is in proper working order.
• Train new and current personnel in required aspects of service, equipment function, basic repair and safety procedures; inform service workers of new servicing requirements as directed by higher-level staff or information provided in service bulletins.
• Inform service workers of all safety and alarm systems related to their work function; immediately report any safety violations or alarm activities.
• Advise employees when their performance is unsatisfactory and/or in violation of established policy and procedures, provide coaching and support to help them make the necessary improvements. Provide feedback to higher-level staff on employee and team performance as well as any behavioral and attendance issues; recommend corrective actions when required.
• Monitor information in automated systems related to employee performance, commodities ordered, equipment service cycles and related information.
• Ensure all shop and revenue collection equipment is maintained appropriately and is in proper operating condition, report equipment defects and follow-up on completion of required repairs.
• Use standard computer applications to produce and share various documents.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

We are seeking candidates who possess the following minimum qualifications. 
 
Per the ATU 587 and KC labor agreement: Qualified candidates must be current Metro Transit Equipment Service Workers with a minimum of two years of service experience in the classification as of the closing date of this posting.

Additional minimum qualifications include:

• Effective communication skills and the ability to follow written and oral instructions. Skill in accurately performing simple numeric record keeping tasks, and working independently without supervision.
• Ability to direct and assist Equipment Service Workers and Utility Service Workers in their assigned tasks and daily work, which includes providing training and clear, corrective feedback.
• Skill in inspecting equipment and determining servicing needs.
• Knowledge of oiling, greasing, and general lubrication techniques.
• Knowledge of coach sign out/assignment procedures.
• The ability to be attentive to detail, highly organized, and use initiative to solve common problems.
• Proficiency in managing multiple competing priorities, as well as planning and scheduling skills to effectively direct workgroup efforts.
• Problem solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to make timely, independent, and appropriate decisions.
• Ability to perform basic email, word processing, and data tracking tasks using a personal computer and programs such as MS Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Demonstrates respect and fairness in working with all people in a diverse workforce.
• The ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind, and effectively give and receive feedback in a productive, respectful manner.
• Demonstrated skill in building relationships and trust with other employees, and the ability to be approachable.
• Skilled at deescalating and resolving conflicts in a fair and equitable manner.
• Commitment to applying King County's core values of inclusion, equity and social justice.

Desirable Qualifications (not required) 

• Lead or supervisory experience. 
• Experience using M5, Metro’s Asset Management System.
• Skill in navigating and applying collective bargaining agreement provisions in their work, and when supporting others.
• Skill in planning and scheduling- especially related to preventative and emergent maintenance for fleet vehicles.

Other Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid Class B CDL with passenger and airbrake endorsements.
• Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
• Candidates must be willing to accept any shift, location, or combination of regular days off (RDOs) assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Ability and willingness to perform a range of physical skills normally associated with automotive service and maintenance activities including standing, bending, crouching, kneeling, crawling, reaching, twisting, and the operation of foot controls while driving.
• Probing, emptying and inserting fare boxes into their receiver bins involves pushing and pulling, bending and crouching, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds (this includes full fare box cash boxes as well as automotive parts).

Who May Apply

This position is open only to Metro Transit employees who are currently a Transit Equipment Service Worker (ESW) with a minimum of two years of service experience in the classification as of the last day applications are accepted.

To apply

The following application materials are required:

• An online King County application at, www.kingcounty.gov/jobs updated with all relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with detailed job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
• Answer all supplemental questions
• Attach a Letter of Interest describing how your experience and qualifications meet or exceed the requirements for this position.

Note: The work history section of your application should include your current and past work experience, detailed job duties, and accurate dates of employment. 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

Selection Process

Applications submitted without the required materials mentioned above may not be considered for this position. Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. The most competitive applicants may be invited to participate in an in-person interview at a King County Facility. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as verifying candidates’ safety sensitive pool status, driving abstract review, DOT Physicals (if expired), and an internal King County record review that includes a review of Performance Appraisal scores within the last 2 years (scores below “satisfactory/ meets expectations” in any category may cause an offer to be rescinded).  If you are offered the position, you must receive permission from your current supervisor to accept the SDA. Pay will be in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. 

Work Location/Work Schedule

This position works on site every day at an assigned Vehicle Maintenance repair facility, located throughout King County, and the Vehicle Maintenance Division operates three shifts (day, swing and graveyard) seven days a week. Lead ESW openings may occur on all shifts, but typically the Lead positions are swing and graves. Swing and graveyard shift employees receive a shift differential (5% for swing, 7.5% for graveyard).
 
Employees work a 40 hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday. Lead work schedules and locations are based on a seniority "pick" system which takes place once a year, so Employees must be able and willing to work any shift, any combination of days off, at any location. Positions to be filled by this recruitment are non-exempt and are eligible for overtime pay.

Union Representation

Positions in this classification are represented by Local 587: Amalgamated Transit Union.

Classification

9332200 Transit Equipment Service Worker- Lead

Safety Responsibilities: Employees

• Responsible for understanding the Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
• Report all safety concerns.
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions (listed in the Supplemental Information Section) carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Calvin Chon at [email protected].

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.

 Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.  For technical support related to your application, contact the GovernmentJobs' applicant support team for assistance: +1 855-524-5627. For guidance, tips, and examples on how to complete these required materials, be sure to visit the King County Workforce Development website: King County Workforce Development.