Grounds Maintenance Lead Worker

About the Department

About Seattle Parks and Recreation: Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.

Equity & Inclusion: Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities. #OneSeattle

About the Unified Care Team: The Unified Care Team (UCT) brings together more than a dozen city departments and partners for a coordinated, strategic, and data-driven approach to ensuring Seattle’s public spaces, sidewalks, and streets remain open and accessible to all. Teams are responsible for maintaining City-wide Parks and Right of Way (ROW) areas by addressing trash, debris, and encampment-related impacts—including obstructions, hazards, RVs, and lived-in vehicles (LIV)—to ensure safe, accessible, and well-maintained public spaces. In addition, crews respond to and resolve service requests submitted through the City’s Find It, Fix It platform, ensuring timely and effective attention to reported concerns.

About the Position: This position serves as a lead worker responsible for coordinating and overseeing staff engaged in grounds maintenance projects, including encampment response and remediation. Under general supervision, the incumbent assigns and prioritizes work, monitors progress, and ensures tasks are completed in accordance with established standards and timelines.

Key responsibilities include documenting project completion and staff work hours, contributing to performance evaluations, and supporting daily operations through work planning and dispatch. The role also ensures staff are equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, and training, while maintaining inventory and ordering supplies as needed.

The incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of supervisory practices, grounds maintenance procedures, and encampment removal protocols, as well as proficiency in operating power equipment. This position requires sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and the ability to effectively communicate and lead a team.

Regular interaction with internal departments, contractors, and the public is expected. The successful candidate will promote a safe work environment and deliver high-quality service to community members and park users.

Position Duties

• Provide training and site supervision to SPR UCT crews.
• Coordinate and lead the day-to-day activities of subordinate staff performing a variety of encampment maintenance activities including:
  • Locating encampment obstructions.
  • Removing garbage and debris (pallets, abandoned tents, bicycles, sleeping gear, camping gear, clothing, cooking, and heating equipment).
  • Identifying Bio and Hazardous waste for removal.
  • Supporting SPR UCT Field Coordinators with encampment removals.
• Provide proper safety measures, instruction, training, oversight, and site supervision to encampment crews; in the proper use of power equipment, encampment maintenance BMP's, and special event support as needed.
• Perform activities related to encampment cleanup and area maintenance using hand and power tools and operating equipment.
• Set up and coordinate traffic control plans, coordinate and lead the work of subordinate staff performing a variety of encampment maintenance projects in various City parks, SDOT, WSDOT, and SPU right of ways.
• Communicate directly with management, SDOT, WSDOT, SPU and contractors, providing clear staff and equipment needs for removal of park obstructions, greenbelts, and other City facilities.  
• Prioritize and guide the work of subordinate staff, record project completion and hours worked by staff. Prepare performance evaluation reviews for supervisor review and approval. Prepare field and weekly reports, maintain and update personnel and equipment records.
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

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

• A general knowledge and understanding of the MDAR encampment removal protocol.
• Two years’ experience leading and training staff and/or volunteer groups.
• One year of crew leadership experience in a field situation.
• Experience working with various computer software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and phone applications.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to communicate facts and ideas clearly both in writing and orally.
• Ability to deal with shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Experience working with multiple work groups and coordinating large numbers of staff in an outdoor setting.
• Experience working with a work order system to assign and accomplish tasks.

License, certification and other requirements

• Washington public pesticide operator's license may be required for some positions after employment.
• Current Washington state driver's license. 

Other Qualifications

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to work nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Required to work in and around heavy volumes of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
• Required to follow safety precautions and procedures when working with herbicides and hazardous materials/chemicals.
• Frequently required to lift objects weighing in excess of 50 pounds.
• Required to work outdoors in all types of weather.

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.

The full salary range for this position is $39.18 to $42.22 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A complete application with past work history.
• 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 Parks and Recreation 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 Parks and Recreation 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 time, 12 paid holidays, 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 Parks and Recreation? Check out our web page: Seattle Parks and Recreation - Parks | seattle.gov

SPR’s Core Competencies are:

• Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making and promoting high quality standards.
• Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.
• Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
• Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.
• Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.