Maintenance Worker Trainee- Public Works

City of Auburn (Washington); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal organization in Seattle seeks a Maintenance Trainee. The role involves assisting maintenance crews in routine grounds maintenance, gaining hands-on experience to become a Maintenance Worker I. Candidates must have a high school diploma, be at least 18 years old, and possess a valid Washington State Driver's License. The position offers on-the-job training, and successful completion leads to career progression with increased pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License.
• Ability to work set schedule.
• Computer proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Assist maintenance crews in routine grounds maintenance.
• Learn techniques for assessing and responding to maintenance issues.
• Operate landscaping maintenance equipment.
• Coordinate with team members to provide good service.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Landscaping equipment

Standard size vehicles

Job description

Position Details

As a Maintenance Trainee you will train with our Maintenance & Operations teams to acquire the fundamental skills needed to become a successful Maintenance Worker I. Under the general direction of the General Manager, Division Manager, and Field Supervisor, you will learn the fundamentals related to routine maintenance work for the City.

As a Maintenance Trainee, you will assist the maintenance crews in routine grounds maintenance including mowing, weed‑eating, and fertilizing lawns, routine landscaping; weeding and cleaning of flower and shrub beds, litter control, edging and cleaning of walks; and performing other related tasks as required.

You will assist in the operation of landscaping maintenance equipment such as walk‑behind or push‑type mowers, weed‑eaters, backpack blowers and edgers. Incumbent may be required to operate standard size pick‑ups and/or sedans with hand and foot control. This position may at times be required to work in high motor and pedestrian traffic areas.

As a Maintenance Trainee, you will be introduced to techniques and concepts through on‑the‑job training and classroom courses. You will receive guidance and training from team members on ways to assess and respond to maintenance issues, develop rapport with citizens by being both knowledgeable and friendly, and inspire trust by caring for our City.

And the most exciting part: successful completion of the program will result in opportunity to be included on our eligibility list for a Maintenance Worker I position, which would include an increase in pay and benefits.

Primary Duties

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Passionate about Maintenance. You have a desire to learn more about the maintenance field and are quick to learn and apply new skills.
• Curious and Inquisitive. You ask questions and have an appetite for understanding how things work.
• A Clear Communicator. You help citizens and teammates understand the timeline and process for repairs.
• A Team Player. You are united with teammates in delivering the best experience to the public.
• Personable. You are respectful, pleasant to be around, and enjoy engaging with others.
• Level headed. You keep your cool during maintenance emergencies and quickly find solutions.
• Motivated. You invest extra energy to reach your goals.
• Solution‑Oriented. You follow through on commitments, letting the public know they matter.
• Organized. You are flexible and able to juggle multiple priorities and interactions with the public and teammates smoothly.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License.
• Must successfully pass the City’s pre‑employment background and driving abstract.
• Shoe Requirement: Steel‑toed shoes on first day of employment – furnished by the employee.

Requirements

We expect the Maintenance Trainee to have:

• Availability to work set schedule.
• Reliable and consistent form of daily transportation to and from work.
• Computer proficiency and proficiency with a Smartphone (City‑issued device).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Additional Information

Working Conditions: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The positions require heavy manual labor in all weather conditions. The employee is occasionally required to lift, carry and/or move up to 50 pounds; visits job sites that require walking on uneven, rocky, or rough ground; performs physical activity including but not limited to repeated walking, bending and/or stooping for long periods of time. May be required to sit or stand for extended periods of time. The employee is required to maintain professional composure, tact, patience and courtesy at all times.

Commitment to Inclusion

Team Auburn values a wide range of perspectives and life experiences and believes our strength comes from the diversity of people and ideas. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals who will help us foster a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and service to the community.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The City of Auburn 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 any 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 learn more about the Inclusive Auburn initiative, please visit:

https://www.auburnwa.gov/InclusiveAuburn

Ready 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 or would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Recruitment Process

The City of Auburn is dedicated to building an inclusive, informed city, with opportunities for all. In alignment with that goal, the City has adopted an anonymous application process that prevents hiring managers from seeing personal identifiers, including names, addresses, and other similar information. This eliminates the possibility of unintentional or implicit bias during the initial screening of applications. For that reason, hiring managers will not be viewing any attachments to your application, including a cover letter or resume, during the initial screening.

Please make sure to submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application, and thoroughly answer the supplemental questions prior to the submission deadline! You must meet the minimum qualifications to move forward in the screening process.

Please note that if you are selected to move forward after an interview, a background check, and reference check will be completed before an official job offer will be made.

Communication from the City of Auburn

We primarily communicate via e‑mail during the recruitment process. E‑mails from auburnwa.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e‑mail folders.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Brianna Winters, HR Coordinator, by email at [e-mail].