Summary
Do you love the great outdoors and are passionate about preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of our public lands? Do you want to make a meaningful impact on your community by ensuring our parks are well-maintained and safe for all to enjoy?
If so, this is an excellent opportunity to join King County Parks team as a Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker (Parks Specialist I) to make a difference while enjoying the great outdoors.
This recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill Seasonal Parks Specialist openings throughout the season within the Parks Division of the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). The season begins April 15 th and ends on October 14 th . No additional candidates will be hired after August 15 th .
About the Role:
As a vital member of the Parks Seasonal team, you will be performing a variety of work tasks such as landscaping, athletic field maintenance, trail building and maintenance, construction and demolition, invasive weed removal, restoration, planting, and working with volunteer groups. Work is performed outdoors and in all types of weather conditions. Come join us in our mission to steward our public lands for future generations.
Seasonal Job Duration: Up to six months from April 15 - October 14, 2026. Both full-time and part-time shifts are available. #Seasonaljobs #jobs #Seasonalwork #Temporaryjobs #parksjobs #nowhiring
About the Team:
Be a part of King County Parks! King County Parks evolved from 150 acres in 1938 to more than 28,000 acres. Today, our system consists of more than 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 215 miles of backcountry trails. Our mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities. We seek to cultivate strong relationships with community partners to enhance park amenities for all King County residents to enjoy today and for generations to come. Come join us in shaping the future of parks and community well-being!
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
Seasonal Parks Specialist, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Parks Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.
Job Duties
Depending on the work location, seasonal staff perform some or all of the following duties:
- Provide for the welfare and safety of park visitors by offering assistance and information to patrons, including park rules and regulations.
- Maintain park grounds and trails, by trimming, mowing, clearing, and removing litter and debris.
- Maintain and prepare athletic fields, arenas, play areas, picnic shelters, restrooms and other park facilities.
- Safely operate and maintain equipment and vehicles such as weed eaters, power blowers, push mowers, and trucks, mowers, small utility vehicles.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring :
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Ability to work with and provide exceptional customer service to the public and volunteer groups.
Ability to follow instructions and be able to work independently and as a member of a team.
-
Physical Requirements :
- Ability to perform heavy physical labor with weights up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work on uneven slopes, surfaces, grades and terrain in inclement weather and other adverse conditions.
Competencies You Bring :
- Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with high energy and enthusiasm.
- Ensures Accountability : Holds self-accountable to meet commitments.
- Collaborates: Works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Interpersonal Savvy : Relates openly with diverse groups of people.
Required Licenses/Certifications :
- Must have a valid driver's license to drive a King County vehicle.
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring :
- Basic skills in operating small manual and power hand-tools.
- Ability to operate equipment on a continuous basis.
- Experience with landscaping, gardening, athletic field maintenance, or other park preservation and repairs.
- Construction experience desired for some locations
Supplemental Information
- Work Location : We have many locations throughout King County. Please see the supplemental questions for a list of locations and to select your preferred location(s). Some work sites are in remote locations with limited (or no access to restrooms). These locations require a “Leave No Trace” presence; Parks staff working in these conditions should plan accordingly.
- Work Schedule : Full-time and Part-time seasonal roles are available. Please see the supplemental questions to select your availability. This seasonal role is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
- Union Representation : This position is represented by SEIU 925
- Duration : This recruitment aims to fill several Short-term Temporary (STT) positions with an anticipated duration of less than six months.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
To apply, submit a
complete application. However, please be aware that cover letters, resumes and other documents won't be reviewed.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Crystal Yost at
[email protected] .
Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our
website and check us out at Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and Flickr
.
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our
website , explore an
interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at
Facebook , X , 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.
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.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
Closing Date/Time: 5/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
