Park Specialist II

King County Water and Land Resources Division -WA; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

King County Parks is seeking dedicated individuals to join our Operations Team as Park Specialist IIs. You will help maintain parks, trails, fields, and facilities, ensuring clean, safe, and welcoming spaces for residents and visitors.

This outdoor role requires adapting to all weather conditions across multiple King County locations, with opportunities to be part of a broader team focused on stewardship and park enhancement.

Qualifications

• 24 months of full-time park maintenance experience or similar.
• Knowledge of building, crafts, and mechanical trades; ability to perform minor repairs.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and customers.
• Clear and respectful communication in verbal and written forms.

Responsibilities

• Park and Facility Maintenance: maintain parks, trails, athletic fields, play areas, restrooms, and shelters; landscaping, mowing, pruning, minor repairs.

Skills

Park maintenance operations

Building & mechanical trades

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Job description

Park Specialist II

Salary
$31.75 - $40.24 Hourly

Location
Multiple locations in King County, WA

Job Type
Career Service (Exec)

Job Number
2026-27783

Department
DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks

Division
Parks

FLSA
Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit
A1 : SEIU L925-DNRP (Parks)

Full- or Part-Time
Full Time

Hours/Week
40 hours/week

Summary

King County Parks is excited to announce we are seeking dedicated and skilled individuals to join our expanding Operations Team as Park Specialist IIs. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Parks’ mission to steward and enhance parks for the residents and visitors of King County.

About the Role:

As a Park Specialist II, you will play a vital role in maintaining the quality and safety of our parks by performing a wide range of maintenance tasks. Your work will support the upkeep of grounds, facilities, athletic fields, trails, and natural resource areas—helping ensure that our parks remain clean, safe, and welcoming for all.

This is an outdoor position that requires working in all weather conditions. We currently have multiple vacancies across various locations in King County.

In addition to the current openings, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Term Limited Temporary (TLT) and Career Service Parks Specialist II vacancies within the Parks Division over the next six months.

About the Team:

King County Parks' mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities, and with 205 parks, 32,000 acres of open space, 215 miles of backcountry trail, and 175 miles of regional trails, King County Parks offers close-to-home recreational experiences for everyone.

The Operations Team is made up of approximately 180 full‑time staff and over 100 temporary employees, all supporting a wide range of services that provide meaningful experiences at every level of the organization.

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. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Parks Specialist II you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Park and Facility Maintenance: Perform a variety of tasks to maintain parks, trails, athletic fields, play areas, restrooms, and picnic shelters, including landscaping, mowing, pruning, and minor repairs to park infrastructure and furnishings.
• Natural Resource Stewardship: Support ecological health by removing invasive species, planting native vegetation, restoring habitats, and maintaining backcountry and hiking trails. NOTE: When spraying pesticides, PSIIs must maintain a WA State Public Pesticide Applicator’s License.
• Project and Team Coordination: Lead and coordinate work efforts for seasonal staff, volunteers, and community groups to support park operations and improvement projects.
• Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Safely operate and maintain a variety of vehicles and tools, such as mowers, tractors, chainsaws, and other power equipment used in park maintenance and construction.
• Public Engagement and Safety: Provide excellent customer service to park users, ensure visitor safety, share park rules and information, and maintain appropriate certifications for tasks such as pesticide application.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

24 months of full‑time park maintenance experience or similar with demonstrated skills, ability and/or knowledge in the following areas:

• Park maintenance operations and procedures, including trail maintenance and construction, landscaping, groundskeeping, and facility management.
• Knowledge of building, crafts, and mechanical trades, along with the skills to perform minor repairs.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with all co‑workers, supervisors, and diverse customer base, fostering a collaborative work environment and effectively managing challenging situations.
• Skilled in communicating clearly and respectfully in both verbal and written forms, with a strong ability to understand and follow instructions while effectively prioritizing work tasks.

Physical Requirements. Candidates must be able to:

• Use power tools and operate equipment on a continuous basis.
• Perform heavy physical labor with weights up to 50 pounds.
• Work on uneven slopes, surfaces, grades and terrain in inclement weather and other adverse conditions.
• Work at ground level, at roof‑top heights, and at all levels in‑between.
• NOTE: An offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing a pre‑employment physical.

Workplace Exposures:

This position requires the ability to work inside/outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, inclement weather while at various heights and/or within confined spaces, at all Parks facilities and other adverse conditions such as high‑volume noise, dust and heavy traffic.

Competencies You Bring:

• Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer‑centric solutions.
• Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Action Oriented: Make decisions on the fly in the field and take on new tasks and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Instills Trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Required Licenses:

• Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's license at the time of appointment.
• Some positions may require obtaining a Class A CDL and/or a spray license within 90 days of hire (some on‑site training may be available).

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

Basic computer skills, for creating reports, documenting time, materials, and asset management (additional training will be provided).

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: This position reports to various locations throughout King County.
• Work Schedule: This full‑time position works a 40‑hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: Service Employees International Union, Local 925

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action‑oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment based on citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.