Utility Worker I - South Treatment Plant

King County; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division seeks a Utility Worker I to perform essential preventative maintenance across facilities, from gardening and cleaning to HVAC checks and equipment operation. You’ll work with teams to keep plants safe, functional, and efficient for the community.

The role emphasizes hands-on tasks, safety, and collaboration with Utility Worker II, Gardeners, and Painters to uphold reliable service and environmental stewardship.

Qualifications

• Experience using hand and power tools.
• Experience operating industrial steam cleaners and pressure washers.
• Basic knowledge of computers and software.
• Ability to work in confined spaces and at heights up to 30 feet with PPE.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse, collaborative environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and instruction-following abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist other staff in general preventative maintenance (gardening, cleaning, operating equipment).
• Operate equipment, machinery, and vehicles such as hand tools, landscape equipment, tractors, forklifts, cranes, vacuum trucks, pumps.
• Perform light maintenance like changing bulbs, inspecting safety and HVAC systems, cleaning, and custodial tasks.
• Back-up for gardening, custodial, painting, and support assignments.

Skills

Decision Quality

Collaborates

Manages Conflict

Communicates Effectively

Action Oriented

Manages Ambiguity

Tools

Hand Tools

Power Tools

Industrial Steam Cleaners

Pressure Washers

Forklifts

Crane

Job description

The Wastewater Treatment Division protects our environment by turning wastewater into vital resources for King County. As a Utility Worker I, you’ll take on hands‑on, essential work that keeps our facilities running — work that’s both challenging and deeply rewarding. This role attracts candidates who want meaningful impact. Every task you complete helps safeguard public health, support sustainable communities, and keep critical infrastructure operating safely. It’s also a strong pathway for growth, offering skill‑building, training, and advancement within a mission‑driven team. If you’re motivated by purposeful work, practical problem‑solving, and the chance to grow in a career that serves your community, this role is a great fit.

About the Role:

As a Utility Worker I with King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division, you play a vital role in maintaining safe, reliable, and sustainable operations across the East Section facilities. Your work supports the division’s mission to protect public health, advance equity, and safeguard our environment.

In this role, you’ll perform essential preventative maintenance — from building and grounds care to HVAC cleaning and filter changes, safety equipment inspections, and support for fire protection systems. You’ll also operate a range of tools and equipment, including vactor trucks, portable pumps, and landscape machinery.

This position offers hands‑on challenges and the chance to contribute to projects that keep our treatment plants running efficiently for the community. This role is also highly collaborative. You’ll work closely with teammates across Operations and Maintenance, including Utility Worker II, Gardeners, and Painter to ensure our sites remain functional, safe, and welcoming. Your contributions strengthen the entire team’s ability to deliver dependable, sustainable service to the people of King County.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Assist other staff in carrying out general preventative maintenance such as, but not limited to, gardening, cleaning, operating equipment, and assisting operations and maintenance positions in accomplishing work assignments at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated facilities.
• Operate a variety of equipment, machinery, and/or vehicles such as hand and power tools, landscape equipment, tractors, forklifts, cranes, vacuum trucks, backhoes, portable pumps, dump trucks, pressure washers, etc.
• Perform light maintenance tasks such as, but not limited to, changing light bulbs, inspection of safety equipment, inspection of HVAC systems to change filters, fire hydrant inspections, sweeping and mopping and other custodial duties, washing windows, hosing, and cleaning facility exteriors.
• Act as back‑up for specific gardening, custodial, painting, and other support assignments.
• Respond to unusual occurrences and assist in emergency situations.
• Maintain daily written and/or computerized logs and complete work requests for assignments.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Experience in the operation and use of hand and power tools, pneumatic tools and the operation of small and large equipment.
• Experience in the operation of industrial steam cleaners and pressure washers.
• Basic knowledge of computers and associated software.
• Ability to work in confined space areas and at heights up to 30 feet with all required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
• Ability to work effectively with others in a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to follow written instructions and verbal in‑person and through communication devices.

Competencies You Bring:

• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Collaborates: Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives; Partners with others to get work done; Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments; Gains trust and support of others.
• Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi‑mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Manages Ambiguity: Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change; Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air; Deals constructively with the problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.

Required Licenses:

• Valid unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Forklift certification.
• Flagging and Traffic control certifications.
• Commercial Driver’s License class A endorsement, with Tanker.
• Pesticide Spray License.
• Experience repairing membrane train modules in an Membrane Bioreactor treatment plant.

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: South Treatment Plant, 1200 Monster Rd SW, Renton, WA 98057. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full‑time position works a 40‑hour work week with 4‑10hr schedule options available. This position is overtime eligible. This position requires the ability to work all shift schedules and to report to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions and be on a rotating call list upon completion of a 9‑month probationary period. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by SEIU Local 925.
• Physical Requirement: Incumbents perform field work at a wastewater treatment plant and associated facilities and are required to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, use ladders, and there is exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors. A pre‑employment physical and reference checks will be conducted prior to any final job offer.

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 on the basis of 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.

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. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. 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 and visit our Why work at King County page.