Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the Utility Line Worker Helper, you will:

• Load and unload tools, materials, and equipment from trucks; may operate and drive line trucks as a backup as required. Inspect and hand equipment and materials to crew workers repairing power lines.
• Direct traffic around repair site; alert crew workers of potential hazards; and direct pedestrian traffic safely around repair site.
• Assist crew workers in trimming trees, shoveling dirt and gravel, and performing other tasks required for maintenance.
• Assist transit vehicles around work areas. Alert drivers and operators to repair work.
• May be required to respond to emergency calls for repairs during non-working hours.
• Inventory and maintain supplies, tools, and equipment.
• Clean work areas, tools, and equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

At a minimum, to qualify for this position you will need:

• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions associated with electrical trades.
• Skill in the use and care of related tools, machinery, and equipment.
• Skill in operating associated types of power tools, machinery, and equipment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team; ability to interact appropriately with others.
• Ability to demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and follow verbal instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to drive in a safe and responsible manner.

• Six months experience in comparable work or completion of applicable apprenticeship program
• Experience as Flagger
• Experience driving heavy equipment
• Experience or demonstrated ability to work in and around high-voltage equipment under the direction of journey-level line crew workers and/or electrician constructors.

• All applicants must be 21 years old at time of application.
• Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
• Candidates who do not have a Washington State Flagger Certification, Forklift Operator Certification and First Aid Certification will receive training and paid time to obtain them and must do so within six months of hire.
• Valid Washington State Driver License and an acceptable 5-year driving record.
• Washington State Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) or a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) upon hire, with the ability to pass the CDL practical test within six months of hire.
  • Please Note: to obtain a CLP in Washington State, you must be able to provide your current license, Social Security number and proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency. For more information visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/friverslicense /cdlcdip.html.

Who May Apply
This position is open to the general public and all King County employees.

Application and Selection Process

An online employment application and completion of the supplemental questionnaire is required. Your completed application must show all jobs in the last 10 years if you have 10 years of employment. (If you have less than ten years of employment history, list information for all years you have.) It is highly recommended that you also include an entry for every relevant job you have had before then, with correct dates and complete description of duties and reasons for leaving.

Please note: The "duties" section in the Work Experience area of the application is free text and should be used to detail how you specifically meet the experience we are seeking. You should list all information you feel is important for the team reviewing your application to take into consideration. You may also leave nontransferable skills off your previous duties. For example, if you worked as a cook in the last ten years you would list that employment, but you don't need to list job duties that aren’t applicable, such as, "cooked food to order". You should, however, list any transferrable skills that the job taught you, such as specific teamwork skills. Finally, you should always list detailed information. As an example, rather than listing, "Able to use a variety of specialized electronic test equipment", you should list, in detail, the actual equipment and how you used it.
 
Applicants will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. No attachments will be referenced during the screening process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Interview Information
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. All interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, being hired will be contingent on passing all requirements outlined for King County safety-sensitive positions. Those requirements include: an acceptable five-year driving record, satisfactory reference checks, checks for any drug testing administered by your last two years' employers, and passing a pre-employment drug screen and physical.

Vacancy Information

This recruitment will be used to fill three career service/permanent positions.

Applications received may be used to establish a list or pool of eligible candidates to fill future TLT vacancies in the same classification that might occur over the following 12 months at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Work Schedule

Employees in this non-exempt classification work a 40 hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday. Work is performed by this work group 24 hour per day, seven days per week. Power Distribution employees are expected to respond to emergency calls during their off hours. Work schedules are based on a seniority system and schedules are bid on once a year. Employees must be able and willing to work any shift, including any combination of days off. These positions are FLSA non-exempt and therefore eligible for overtime pay. Management reserves the right to assign any shift to meet the needs of the work unit. 

Physical and Work Environments
This position requires the ability to run a hand line, shovel dirt and gravel, assist in raising poles, jump trolleys, and lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds (up to 100 pounds with assistance.) Work is performed outside in all weather conditions and requires exposure to traffic and high voltage wires. Successful candidates will be required to wear Arc Flash uniforms, category 2 daily and up to category 4, as needed. Metro provides employee uniforms.
 
Union Representation
Positions in this classification are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 77.

Classification Code

8205100

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Robin St. James (she/her)
Human Resources Talent Advisor
Robin.StJames@kingcounty.gov
 
Forbes recently named King County 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 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 process, or if you have questions please contact Robin St. James via email at Robin.StJames@kingcounty.gov.