Rail Grounds Specialist at King

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King County Metro Transit's Rail division is looking for qualified candidates to join our team as a Rail Grounds Specialist
. Apply today!

Rail Grounds Specialists are responsible for a variety of landscape activities including overall care and maintenance of lawns, gardens and ornamental planting. They install, modify and perform routine maintenance and repair of irrigation systems and related gardening equipment. Join a team where you can learn by doing, meet new challenges, work on an amazing team and enjoy the work and contributions you make to Metro!

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

• Perform landscape maintenance of turf, ornamental plants, trees, soil and retention/detention ponds; install new turf and/or repair damaged areas.
• Perform skilled pruning and trimming of a variety of plants, ground covers, bushes and trees.
• Maintain, modify or repair irrigation systems; establish watering schedules and program controllers; analyze and/or modify system blueprints used in system installation.
• Prepare insecticides and/or pesticides; control pests using pesticides and plant growth using herbicides; maintain necessary records.
• Operate all equipment to include gardening tractors and power man lift equipment; maintain a variety of basic gardening equipment such as edger, mowers, pruning tools and tank spraying equipment.
• Perform minor repairs on small gas engines, including tune‑ups.
• May instruct and coordinate the work of assigned landscaping crews; may inspect and assist in approval of contractor work.
• Perform other duties as assigned or needed, such as ice and snow removal; required to respond in case of adverse weather conditions and emergency situations.
• Trash removal within landscaping.

• Two years of professional work experience in the grounds keeping or gardening field. One year of college training in horticulture or botany may be exchanged for one year of work experience.
• Knowledge of the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems and effective watering schedules.
• Knowledge of turf management and law, garden, tree, and shrub plant species.
• Knowledge of grounds maintenance needs, materials, equipment and practices, including but not limited to gardening and plant care principles, proper pruning and trimming techniques.
• Skill in the operation and maintenance of various grounds maintenance tools and equipment including hand tools, power tools and gas fired equipment such as lawn mowers, blowers, edgers, hedgers, chain saws and line trimmers.
• Knowledge of and ability to read/follow written instructions for the proper application and effective use of fertilizer, pesticides, and insecticides.
• Excellent customer service, oral and written communication skills.
• Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Basic computer skills required to enter and extract information from automated systems and related software applications.

• Current or prior King County Metro Transit work experience

• Valid Washington State Driver's License and an acceptable driving record.
• Valid WA State Public Pesticide Operator's License or the ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Willingness and availability to work different shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends and holidays.

This work requires frequently working in a stooping or kneeling position. May be required to do a lot of twisting or bending. Physical effort is required to perform such tasks as weeding, lifting, shoveling and using heavy gardening equipment and tools.

Grounds Specialists work outside for the majority of the day and are exposed to all types of weather conditions. Will work in or…