Carpenter Crew Chief

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Department of Transportation seeks a Carpenter Crew Chief to lead a dedicated team in the construction and maintenance of Seattle’s infrastructure. This role involves planning, supervising carpentry projects, and ensuring safety and compliance with building codes. Ideal candidates will have supervisory experience and a strong knowledge of materials and carpentry techniques.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision

Vacation and sick leave

Long-term disability insurance

Qualifications

• Requires four years as a journey-level carpenter including one year lead experience.
• Ability to understand emergency response situations is preferred.
• Must be a high-level team player with a willingness to learn and adapt.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a crew ensuring bridges support city travel needs.
• Plan, organize, and evaluate carpentry and maintenance work.
• Research and coordinate new construction projects.

Skills

Supervisory techniques

Carpentry methods

Knowledge of building codes

Project management

Education

Four years as a journey-level carpenter

Lead experience

Tools

Carpentry tools

Job description

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city. With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving. We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together!

SDOT’s Bridge Maintenance Team has a wonderful opportunity for aCarpenter Crew Chief who can work with and supervise a crew to ensure Seattle’s bridges continue to support the travel needs of our bustling city.

This working supervisor will plan, organize, schedule, train, discipline, and evaluate the work of a dedicated crew of carpenters and helpers who are engaged in the construction, maintenance, alteration, and repair of buildings and other structures. If you bring knowledge of supervisory techniques and of the methods, materials, and tools used in carpentry work and skill in their usage this might be the perfect job for you. Knowledge of the qualities, grades, uses, and adaptability of various materials used in rough and finish carpentry is also required as is a familiarity with City building codes and ordinances applicable to carpentry work. The Crew Chief schedules and plans work with other trades by prioritizing jobs according to personnel, resources, materials availability, and established deadlines.

• Prepares material lists and coordinates new construction projects with other shops or sections of the department; oversees work of other trades depending on the work assignment and work schedule.
• Researches and identifies new products and procedures to be used on current and future carpentry projects.
• Makes periodic inspections to determine or verify repair and maintenance needs, prepares sketches or layouts to facilitate work, revises drawings, and prepares cost estimates for labor and materials needed for proposed projects.
• Prepares and monitors the annual shop budget.
• Issues work instructions and inspects job activities.
• Develops and implements preventive maintenance programs.
• Assists work crews in maintenance or repair at sites, as required, and provides suggestions to resolve detailed carpentry issues/concerns.
• Ensures adequate stock levels are maintained, researches and orders materials, and contacts vendors, distributors, and manufacturers to negotiate price and availability of materials.
• Instructs employees in and enforces safety requirements.
• Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Requires four years as a journey-level carpenter including one year lead experience (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Though not requirements, strong candidates will have some of the following experience or are able to describe comparable experience:

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of on-call & emergency response situations.
• Previous experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be a high-level team player with a willingness to learn, adapt and be flexible.
• Demonstrates ability to oversee and successfully manage multiple projects with established timelines.
• Previous experience training others in the construction & maintenance trades.
• Previous heavy timber and concrete experience.

Other Requirements:

• Current Washington State driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
• Must be available to respond to emergency 24 hours/day.
• Required to stand, walk, bend, or work in cramped areas for extended periods of time.
• Required to handle or work with/around toxic/hazardous substances and high voltage.
• Frequently required to lift objects weighing in excess of 50 pounds.
• Required to work outdoors in all types of weather.
• Requires working at heights from ladders and scaffolds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Hiring Process

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

Completed NEOGOV online application.

Supplemental questionnaire responses.

Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.

The full salary range for this position is $52.28 - $56.62 per hour.

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