Gardener - South Plant

Full Job Description

WTD cleans wastewater to become a valuable resource for all King County communities to help all who live, work, and play in King County have a healthy and sustainable future.

The work WTD ( Wastewater Treatment Division ) accomplishes is very valuable and highly important. The impact WTD has on King County shows how great it is to work for WTD.

About the Role
The role of a Gardener at WTD is to beautify WTD facilities in the communities that they are in and serve. The Gardener role is to maintain the grounds and landscape of different Wastewater Treatment Division facilities by working with the Senior Gardener to maintain landscape, irrigation systems and the gardening equipment used by the gardening team.

About the Team
The Building & Grounds team at the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) plays a vital role in supporting King County’s mission to protect public health and the environment while advancing equity and sustainability for the communities we serve. Our work helps ensure that critical wastewater treatment operations are surrounded by safe, well-maintained, and welcoming public spaces.

As a Gardener at WTD, you will help maintain approximately 110 acres of public open space and three miles of walking trails surrounding a modern wastewater treatment plant.

This unique setting offers hands-on opportunities to learn, grow, and apply horticultural and land management skills in service of environmental health and community well-being.

You will work alongside a diverse and collaborative team of Utility Workers, Painters, Senior Gardeners, and Custodians who share a commitment to environmental care, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Together, our collective efforts support a healthy environment and contribute to the quality of life for residents throughout King County.

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 Gardener, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Requirements

What You Will Be Doing:

• Perform landscape maintenance of turf, ornamental plants, soil, wetlands, and retention/detention ponds; install new turf and repair damaged areas
• Maintain, modify, and repair irrigations systems and program system controllers
• Operate and maintain all landscape gardening equipment; perform preventative maintenance and repair as necessary
• Mix and apply pesticides and herbicides for pest and plant control, maintaining up-to-date pesticide records as required by the State Department of Agriculture
• Work with the unit supervisor and Senior Gardeners on establishing an irrigation system schedule and/or updating system blueprints as needed

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• Knowledge of landscape planting principles and techniques
• Knowledge of landscape gardening materials and operating equipment
• Knowledge of basic hand and gas-powered tools
• Knowledge of irrigation systems principles and techniques including design, installation, and maintenance of non-potable water systems
• Knowledge of working with pesticides and herbicides

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver’s License

• Washington State Public Pesticide Public Operator’s license (within 6 months of employment)

Competencies you bring:

• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: South Treatment Plant 1200 Monster Road Renton, WA 98057.
• Work Schedule: Current work schedule is either a 4/10 (Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday).
• Union Representation: This position is represented by SEIU Local 925.
• 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.
• Workplace Exposures: Outdoors environment during wet weather, confined spaces.

Application and Selection Process:
First consideration will be given to qualified transfer-eligible S.E.I.U. 925 WTD applicants. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

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 a technical assessment and one or more panel interviews.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment:

• Interview: Virtual interviews April 2026

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Completed Supplemental Questions

Note: Additional documents will not be considered during minimum qualification screening.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Dan Sherman
HR Analyst
dasherman@kingcounty.gov

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.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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. Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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.

To Apply

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 if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.