Job Progression - Wastewater Treatment Utility Worker II

This is an internal opening for current employees in the Wastewater Treatment Division in the Wastewater Utility Worker job classification only. This posting will be used to facilitate annual Job Progression for Wastewater, S.E.I.U., Local 925 - Wastewater Utility Worker I to progress to Wastewater Utility Worker II at their current Treatment Plant location and supervision.

About the Role:
The Wastewater Utility Worker II include performing a wide variety of routine manual/labor tasks in support of the operation and maintenance functions and performing fully proficient light maintenance, small equipment repair and support tasks at a semi-skilled level for wastewater treatment plant buildings, grounds, and associated facilities.

Article 15.3 - Eligibility Progression Criteria Requirements:

• Successfully passed probation.
• The candidate possesses the certification and licenses required at the classification level.
• The candidate has completed the required training.
• The candidate has achieved an above standard rating (3.6667 to 4.333) or higher on their last performance evaluations or probationary evaluation; and has successfully completed any/all formal performance improvement plans.
• The candidate has sufficient experience at the established level in critical areas and under the critical circumstance to demonstrate competent performance and the higher-level classifications.
• The candidate has passed, at the established level, any required knowledge skills, general competency and/or specific technical proficiency tests.
• The candidate has been free of discipline for a minimum of one year and all disciplinary issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the review board.
• Required work portfolio elements.
• Required Signoffs.

About the Team:
Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With about 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Treatment Utility Worker II, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.What You Will Be Doing:

Incumbents perform the duties of a Wastewater Utility Worker I and the following additional duties:

• Perform and/or instruct other staff in work assignments such as laboring tasks in support of operations and maintenance, carpentry, plumbing, welding, locksmith and small equipment repair.
• Perform and/or instruct other staff in conducting inspections for the treatment plant and associated facilities to include but not be limited to fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, HVAC filters etc.  
• Operate a variety of small and large equipment, machinery and/or vehicles such as but not limited to hand and power tools, power and riding mowers, landscape equipment, tractors, forklifts, cranes, vacuum trucks, backhoes, portable pumps and dump trucks. 
• Research, purchase and/or prepare requisitions for parts and materials needed for building maintenance work; work with inventory purchasing staff on sole source purchases.
• Conduct specialized testing to evaluate and monitor the integrity of structures and equipment to ensure that the treatment plant is in compliance with established regulations and permits.
• Conduct preventative maintenance tasks for plant-wide systems such as but not limited to wastewater treatment containment structures and lighting system tasks, including changing lighting fixtures and identifying electrical problems.
• Participate in work planning activities for routine and special projects.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of the operation and use of hand and power tools and small equipment.
• Basic knowledge of HVAC systems, air systems, water systems, drainage systems, and fire alarm and protection systems.
• Knowledge of basic carpentry, plumbing, welding, concrete techniques and principles.
• Basic knowledge of inventory and work order procedure for work unit.
• Knowledge of computers and skill in using related software.
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication skills to read, write and to apply oral and written instructions.
• Skill in working in a team environment.

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver’s License 
• Forklift Certification
• Basic Rigging Certification
• Flagger Certification
• Confined space certification

Working Conditions: Wastewater Treatment Utility Worker I to progress to Wastewater Treatment Utility Worker II at their current Treatment Plant location and supervision.

• Work Location: The location will be your current worksite.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by S.E.I.U. 925 (Wastewater Treatment Division).
• Physical Requirement: Incumbents perform field work at a wastewater treatment plant and associated facilities and are required to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, use ladders, and there is exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors.
  

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from Career Service King County, S.E.I.U., Wastewater Local 925, Wastewater Utility Worker I's.

To apply, submit a:

• King County Application via NEOGOV
• Supplemental Materials - Documents / Portfolio - Please submit your completed Supplemental Materials / Documents / Portfolio to your Administrator's at your respective treatment plants, by Tuesday, September 29, 2026. 
• Supervisor support/endorsement letter
• Responses to the supplemental questions 

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the above required materials may not be considered for this promotional opportunity.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment (subject to change):

• Portfolio / Documents - Due Tuesday, September 29, 2026
• Review Board evaluation of Portfolio / Document - October 2026
• Panel interviews / field assessments: early - November 2026.

Required Supplemental Materials to be reviewed by the Job Progression Promotion Review Board:

• Pertinent copies of your licenses, certifications and training records.
• Supervisor support/endorsement letter.
• A portfolio or job progression book showing examples of your level of proficiency and demonstrated leadership and readiness to be considered for progression to Wastewater Utility Worker II.
• A list of employees who can verify your work, technical expertise and leadership in the work examples that you have identified. These employees will be surveyed by WTD-HR and asked to rate your performance, technical expertise and leadership in the situations that you identified.

What to Expect - Job Progression Promotion Review Board 
Part 1 - Written Assessments, Interviews, Demonstrations/Working Assessments, Review Portfolio (including feedback from others on tasks).
Part 2 - Trial Service Period - those recommended for progression to Wastewater Utility Worker II by the Job Progression Promotion Review Board must successfully complete a 6-months Trial Service Period, at the employee's same site location/crew.

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or have questions related to this recruitment process, please contact Diana Eberly ([email protected]).

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Diana Eberly - [email protected] 

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.

Discover More about DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

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 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 Diana Eberly at [email protected]

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.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.