Solid Waste Laborer I (Temporary) & Eligibility Register

NOW HIRING TEMPORARY SOLID WASTE LABORERS AND FUTURE REGULAR FULL-TIME SOLID WASTE LABORERS.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be an employee of Snohomish County Government!

Apply now!
 

Do you enjoy learning new skills and providing excellent customer service? Apply now for a Snohomish County temporary Solid Waste Laborer I position! Starting pay for this position is $24.82 per hour.  

All work is day shift, including weekends and some holidays, to work at any of our Solid Waste facilities.
 
This job posting is to hire temporary Solid Waste Laborer I positions and to create an Eligibility Register for future regular full-time positions for the next three (3) months.
 
We are hiring team-oriented, reliable, customer service driven employees to assist customers in safely disposing of household waste and recycling at the various transfer stations throughout our county. Successful candidates will have strong communication and interpersonal skills to provide excellent customer service to the public.  Training will be provided by the County to perform various tasks and operate assigned equipment.
 
 Duties assigned will include:

• Providing excellent customer service to Solid Waste Customers
• Manual labor tasks, including but not limited to sweeping, hosing, shoveling, lifting and carrying heavy objects
• Learning to operate various equipment, including but not limited to backhoe, forklift, terminal tractor, and hydraulic compactor

This is an excellent opportunity for a career in public service with opportunities for growth, stability, and a strong benefit package.

Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth.  Come join an award-winning organization well known for excellence and commitment to high-quality public service.

• If hired into a temporary position:
  1. You will be eligible for medical benefits for you and your dependent children (up to age 26) only. You also will be eligible to join the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems PERS.
  2. You will be eligible to apply for future vacant regular positions in the Solid Waste Division within the bargaining unit.  Temporary employment is limited to six (6) months or 1,040 hours, whichever occurs first.
      
• If hired into a regular position:
  1. You will be offered medical, dental, and other county benefits and will be eligible to join the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems PERS.
  2. Regular employees who successfully complete their one (1) year of training as a Solid Waste Laborer I are automatically promoted to a Solid Waste Laborer II. Additionally, regular employees are eligible for annual step increases, meaning you are eligible to receive automatic pay increases until you reach step five (5) of your classification.

Eligibility Register
This job posting is to hire temporary Solid Waste Laborer I positions and create an Eligibility Register for future regular full-time positions for the next three (3) months.  
 
Selection and Review Process
All correspondence to the applicant is sent by email.  Please check your inbox and spam email for updates from Snohomish County.
   
Complete and submit the on-line application
Please submit before the closing date to be considered.  Include three professional references of former supervisors on your application.
 
Supplemental questionnaires
Please complete your responses to the supplemental questions.  The supplemental questions will be scored for applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.
 
Interviews - In person
Interviews will be offered to the most qualified candidates.  Candidates will be emailed instructions to self-schedule an in-person interview.
 
Reference checking

• For candidates who pass the interview, Public Works will contact three (3) professional references. Candidate references are contacted in order of the final interview scores.
• Professional references may include current or past supervisor/leads, or other individuals who have assigned and/or reviewed your completed work.  
• Candidates will be notified in advance when references will be contacted.
• Candidates are asked to notify their references that they will be contacted by Snohomish County by email and ask that they provide a timely response.
• References are notified using the email addresses provided in the Reference Section of your application.
• On your application, include at least three (3) professional references and verify you have provided their current email address and phone number.

Conditional job offer
After successful reference checking, the highest-ranking candidates, based on completion of our evaluation process will be emailed a conditional job offer for a temporary and/or future regular position.  Required conditions of the final offer include:

• Criminal Background Check: Candidates will be emailed a link to complete and consent to an online background check.
• Physical Abilities Test (PAT) and Drug/Alcohol Screening:    Candidates will be emailed instructions on how to schedule a required Medical Examination, Physical Abilities Test (PAT), drug and alcohol screening. Because this job is considered safety sensitive, a drug screen test will be required prior to employment. 

Welcome Letter 
Candidates who have met all the required conditions of the Conditional Offer will be emailed a Welcome Letter.  The Welcome Letter will include detailed information outlining the dates and requirements for your hire date/new employee orientation.
 
Benefits
Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. Temporary employees are eligible for certain benefits as defined in County Code:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plan with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Career development training.
• Sick leave: You will accrue eight (8) hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation per month.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes eleven (11) paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two (2) floating holidays annually. (One floating holiday for the first year if hired after June 30th.)

About the Solid Waste Division
The Solid Waste Divisionoversees the disposal of garbage, hazardous materials, and recycling throughout Snohomish County.  With four transfer stations and three drop box locations, the Division is focused on:

• Reducing overall waste from Snohomish County
• Promoting and emphasizing the reuse of items and recycling
• Handling household hazardous waste
• Providing garbage and recycling facilities for County residents
• Transferring garbage to the landfill and partnering with private vendors to handle recycled items

To learn more about Solid Waste Divisions, please visit: Solid Waste.  To see our facility locations, please visit Facility Location and Hours web page.
       
About Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for more than 1,650 miles of county roads, 201 bridges and 202 traffic control signals, as well as processing nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 550 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.
  
Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.
  
When joining Public Works, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported.  We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career at Snohomish County.   
  For information about this job opportunity and posting email: SPW-Recruitment@co.snohomish.wa.us.

Job Duties

BASIC FUNCTION
Performs a variety of skilled and unskilled tasks in support of solid waste disposal and recycling operations. The Laborer I position is a training position, working toward certification as a Solid Waste Laborer II.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES 

1. Directs incoming and departing vehicles to/from unloading areas at a transfer station or landfill.
2. Enforces safety rules and regulations for all users of the facility; may assist customers in unloading vehicles, as necessary.
3. Provides information and assistance to customers in a professional, courteous and tactful manner regarding disposal and recycling procedures, fees, rules, policies and options.
4. Cleans and sweeps unloading area; picks up and disposes of litter; may perform a variety of facility maintenance tasks such as mowing and watering lawns, raking leaves, and cleaning out culverts and drainage ditches.
5. Operates a yard goat/tractor and unhooks and moves loaded solid waste trailers from the transfer station compactor unit or top-load bay; positions and parks loaded trailers in the service yard; moves and positions unloaded trailers and ensures positive hookup with the compactor unit or proper alignment in the top-loading bay.
6. Inspects, operates and performs basic maintenance and service on backhoes, ATV's, compaction equipment, power units, fan systems, push blades, stationary cranes, forklifts, yard goat/tractor, and various other pieces of recycling and solid waste related equipment.
7. Adjusts landing gear on trailers, opens and closes intermodal container doors, and tarps and untarps top loading trailers.
8. Maintains and services all solid waste facility equipment by cleaning, checking fluid levels, lubricating equipment and making minor adjustments as required; maintains equipment service records for assigned equipment.
9. Accurately logs and inputs transaction ticket information in a computerized scale automation system.
10. Drives a pickup truck or other light vehicle in order to pick up supplies, recyclables, litter, and solid waste or transport crews.
11. Identifies hazardous wastes and segregates as necessary for pick up, and contacts various vendors and MRW for various automotive and other waste/recyclables pickup and service of containers.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES 

1. Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED or any equivalent combination of training and or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.  Must pass job related tests.
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
 
A valid Washington State Driver's License is required for employment.
 
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid First Aid/CPR card within six (6) months of employment is required.
 
Satisfactorily complete certification on the following pieces of equipment/systems within six (6) months of employment:

• backhoe
• yard goat
• push blades
• forklift
• stationary crane
• waste export scale automation system
• timekeeping system
• other recycling and solid waste handling equipment
   

A job offer will be conditioned on satisfactory results of a post-offer drug screen test; and a Physical Capacities Evaluation performed by a qualified healthcare professional selected by Snohomish County.
 
A job offer will be conditioned on satisfactory results of criminal background check.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States. 

Additional Information

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES 
Knowledge of: 

• personal computers
• maintenance of assigned equipment in a safe operating condition
• the potential hazards associated with the work
• basic mathematics

Ability to: 

• deal courteously and tactfully with the general public
• provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers
• perform routine manual labor tasks including pushing, pulling, opening and closing intermodal transfer container doors, tarping and untarping containers, picking up/lifting and carrying heavy objects in a safe, efficient manner
• understand and follow oral and written directions
• read, understand and enforce safety rules and regulations
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with coworkers and superiors;
• remain composed and professional in stressful situations
• accurately input data into computerized scale automation system
• drive a pick-up truck or other light vehicle in a safe and courteous manner
• learn First Aid/CPR methods and procedures
• sweep and shovel waste
• crank chassis landing gear, drop box winches, and other container tarping systems
• perform mathematical calculations

SUPERVISION 
     Employees report to a Transfer Station Operator or Solid Waste Operations Supervisor as assigned. The work is routine and recurring in nature, and is performed in a team atmosphere. Specific instructions are given for unusual or non-routine tasks.
 
WORKING CONDITIONS 
     The work includes being able to routinely pick up, lift and carry objects weighing in excess of 50 pounds.  The work is performed both indoors and outdoors, at or outside the gates of solid waste facilities, in all types of weather. The work involves rotating shift assignments and requires that employees work evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime as necessary. The employee must be able to change work locations with little to no prior notice.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request. EEO policy and ADA notice