Temporary Laborer and/or Maintenance Laborer Opportunities with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking candidates interested in TEMPORARY Laborer and/or Maintenance Laborer positions. These positions will offer hands-on experience, and an opportunity to  build skills, make connections, and explore different career paths. If you are interested, please apply to our temporary pool to serve Seattle Public Utilities' (SPU's) various lines of business.

Seattle isn’t just an excellent place to live—it’s a great place to grow your career. With its vibrant culture and endless opportunities, a job with the City of Seattle is your gateway to meaningful, rewarding work—helping to make Seattle an even better place to live, work, and play!

This applicant pool will be used to fill temporary assignments of varying lengths, and locations. Placement is not guaranteed, and assignment duration will depend on business needs. 

These temporary assignments* are non-benefitted and temporary employees will receive Premium Pay, in lieu of benefits. Temporary employee are eligible to receive a FREE City of Seattle Employee Transit Card (ORCA Passport), and are eligible for the City of Seattle Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.6 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations. For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), check out the following:

• SPU Website
• SPU Workplace Expectations
• Strategic Business Plan 

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Laborer General Examples of Duties:

• Provides manual assistance to other workers and uses various types of hand and small power tools such as hammer, saws, axes, drills, weed eaters, backpack blowers, shovels, and scythes. Performs minor adjustments and repairs to such equipment. Sets out flares, traffic control devices and provides work site protection, as directed.
• Manually digs trenches, fence post holes, and other holes using hand tools; grubs stumps; cleans ditches, sewers and storm drains.
• Loads and unloads materials, equipment, and supplies. 
• Mows, edges, and trims lawns using hand or small horsepower mowers, edgers, and sweepers; waters and weeds lawns, shrubs, and flower beds; rakes and clears litter; clears brush and gathers leaves; saws, splits, and stacks wood; may assist in other gardening and grounds maintenance work, including trees, playing field and play area maintenance.
• May be required to drive pickup trucks, sedans, and other small motorized vehicles in connection with manual work activities. Performs minor repairs or adjustments, lubrication and safety checks on trucks and trailers.
• Assists in set-ups, room arrangements, and office relocations such as in the set up and removal of chairs, risers, portable turnstiles, and flooring. Operates hand held scrubbers and polishers; sweeps floors and washes windows. Picks up trash, sweeps floors, dusts, washes, disinfects, vacuums, and performs other tasks to keep areas clean.
• Assists in minor painting jobs such as parking lines, shelves, building trim and the removal of graffiti.
• Performs routine custodial work at one or two community centers, or on a comfort station route without a lead worker. Supervision is immediately available by pager or telephone.
• Performs indoor and/or outdoor litter control and cleaning tasks.
• Assist in cleaning, painting, and sorting water meters to be repaired.
• Assists in the installation, repair, and maintenance of chain link fences, backstops, benches, signs and bleachers. 

Maintenance Laborer General Examples of Duties:

• Assists a variety of skilled trade personnel in coordinating and performing skilled work; will also assist in the maintenance, repair and construction of buildings and other facilities and in preparing walks and streets for asphalt and concrete paving operations.
• May plan, or assist in planning for materials, equipment, and staffing required for work assignments or areas.
• Mows, edges, and maintains lawns using riding lawn mowers, assigned tractors, edgers, and sweepers. 
• Drives pickup trucks and other motorized vehicles or equipment in connection with work activities. 
• May lead and/or perform office relocations and delivery, storage and disposition of materials, forms, furniture and equipment. Performs other building services work including motor pool operations, and event set ups, change-overs, and support. 
• Provides regular and ongoing care, preparation, and maintenance for medium to large sized parks (over 20 acres) containing over four distinct outdoor recreational features i.e. ball fields, tennis courts, fountains, picnic grounds, play areas, wading pools, horse shoe courts etc. 
• Assist in the participation of opening, backfilling, and shoring of trenches and other escalations. 
• Assists and participates in the maintenance and repair of bridges, tunnels and drainage systems. 
• Performs minor repairs and maintains wooden and metal playground equipment, picnic tables, bleachers, and other outdoor recreation facilities. 
• Washes and chlorinates reservoirs and elevated tanks with high pressure water hoses. 
• Maintains routine records and reports. 

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Laborer Minimum Qualifications:

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

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements:

License, Certification and Other Requirements

• Current Washington State driver’s license, and a WA State Driving Record will be required for those interviewing.

• SPU’s safety program requires a pre-employment medical assessment as a condition of employment in this position.

Working Environment/Physical Demands:

• Required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.

• Frequently required to lift objects weighing 50 pounds. May occasionally be required to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds.

• Occasionally requires handling or working with toxic/hazardous substances.

• Required to work outdoors in all types of weather.

• Ability to perform general laboring/manual work which includes cleaning equipment and facilities; must be in good physical condition as this position will require the ability to lift 50 pounds, and may occasionally lift more than 50 pounds

• Must be able to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, and work with hand and power tools and small equipment such as backpack blowers, shovels, rakes, power washer, broom and skid steer loader (eg. Bobcat).

Maintenance Laborer Minimum Qualifications:

Experience: One (1) year of experience performing general laboring/manual work involving the construction, installation, repair, and maintenance of public facilities.

Education: Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis of comparability to the experience requirements.

License, Certification and Other Requirements:

• Current State of Washington driver's license.

• Washington State Forklift Safety and Operation certificates may be required for some positions.

• Other pertinent licenses and/or certifications may be required of some positions depending on department/section assignment.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

Ability to tolerate odors associated with waste materials.

Lead, train and direct coordination of other floor staff.

May be required to work nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

Required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.

Frequently required to lift objects up to 50 pounds. May occasionally be required to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds.

Occasionally requires handling or working with toxic/hazardous substances.

Work may be performed in confined spaces and at heights up to 130 feet.

Required to work outdoors in all types of weather.

How to Apply:

Please fill out both the application and supplemental questionnaire completely. Any false or incomplete answers (such as "see resume" or "see application") may result in you not being considered. 

Pre-Employment/Pre-Placement Requirements:

• If you are selected to advance in this hiring process, you may be asked to acquire a Full Washington Drivers Abstract from the Department of Licensing. Please do not provide until requested.
• SPU’s safety program requires a pre-employment medical assessment as a condition of employment in this position.

Background Check for the selected candidate may be required (depending on work location):

• This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Laborer (#70540)

The full salary range for a Laborer temp assignment is $31.97 per hour - $33.98 per hour.

*Temporary Employees start at $31.97 per hour

Maintenance Laborer (#97718)
The salary for a Maintenance Laborer temp assignment is $37.95 - $37.95 per hour.

Who may apply: All qualified and regular employees of the City of Seattle.

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Baldwin-Stewart at [email protected].