Rights-Of-Way Maintenance Worker

Full Job Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served.

Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound.

Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The Power Line Clearance and Landscapes Org Unit is looking for a Right of Way Maintenance Worker to support vegetation management and maintenance work on the Transmission Rights-of-Ways (TROW).

This position performs a wide variety of maintenance tasks under high voltage wires along City Light transmission corridors and on reservoirs and access roads.

They are primarily focused on the corridors in the southern half of Seattle and along the east side of Lake Washington from Bothell south to Maple Valley, with a daily reporting location in South Seattle.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get on board with a utility dedicated to serving the public good.

The work varies from day to day, as do the work locations, so there are endless opportunities to learn new things and develop new skills in this role.

The team is small, nimble, motivated, hard-working, and highly dedicated to their work, and a similarly geared applicant will fit right in.

This position will report directly to the South TROW Maintenance Crew Chief, under the supervisory direction of the Vegetation Management Supervisor.

Requirements

Here is more about what you’ll be doing:

This position is in the Operations Division which is responsible for “keeping the lights on” in Seattle and our surrounding service territory.

Within Operations, the Powerline Clearance and Landscapes group is responsible for the vegetation and Transmission rights-of-way (TROW) corridor maintenance and management, including line clearance on the electrical distribution system (within the service territory), maintenance/management of the TROW, and landscapes maintenance of the 70+ properties City Light owns.

The TROW Maint. group is responsible for managing the vegetation that grows within and alongside the TROW corridors in compliance with local and federal regulations, and for ensuring line-workers have access to and support for working on the overhead transmission system.

• Trims, cuts and fells trees using power saws, axes and loppers; disposes of debris using chipper.
• Sprays noxious weeds and tree stumps with herbicides;
• Builds and maintains bridges, installs culverts, installs and repairs gates, and constructs and repairs roadways;
• Mows acres of right-of-way with tractor-mounted rear-deck and side-arm mowers
• Operates heavy trucks (dump trucks), trailers and other heavy equipment such as tractor-mowers;
• Assists in-house Tree Crew as needed;
• Cleans debris out of lakes and reservoirs; sweeps lake with equipment towed by boat;
• Other similar duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

Education/Experience:

Requires one year of rights-of-way maintenance experience or work in a related field such as logging, forestry, or heavy outdoor construction (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Certification/License:

• Current Washington State Driver’s License
• Current Class A CDL endorsement or the ability to obtain it within 6 months of hire.
• State of Washington industrial first aid certification required after employment.
• Washington State pesticide licensing, or the ability to attain it within 6 months of hire.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
• Frequently required to lift objects weighing in excess of 50 pounds.
• Requires handling or working with toxic/hazardous substances (herbicides, gasoline, others)
• Required to work above ground level in all types of weather and terrain.
• Required to work under electrical transmission lines.
• Required to safely operate tools including chainsaws, weed-eaters, etc. and power equipment for extended periods.
• Work in and around potentially hazardous construction sites, excavations, materials or energized lines/cables and in all types of weather conditions and at all hours.

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Experience working for a utility is desirable.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License with a Class A CDL endorsement and Medical Certificate
• Three years of rights-of-way maintenance experience or work in a related field such as logging, forestry or heavy outdoor construction (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
• Familiarity with and experience operating heavy construction equipment to construct, repair and maintain transmission rights-of-ways.
• Familiarity with and experience operating large tractors with rear-deck and side-arm mowing attachments
• A current Washington State pesticide license.
• Experience working with and knowledge of native and invasive plant material.

Additional Information

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.

Emergency Response Commitment:

Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies.

Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role—usually aligned with their regular duties—to support emergency operations.

Your participation is vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.

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The full salary range for this position is $40.29 to $41.85 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light 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.

Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check.

The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3.

A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

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/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.