Gardener

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.

We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together!

SDOT’s Right of Way Maintenance and Urban Forestry Division is looking for two (2) Gardeners to join the team. In this role you will perform skilled and complex work in propagation, planting, soil preparation, pruning, fertilizing, weeding, and caring for annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and turf areas within the city of Seattle.

• Team with other gardeners in close proximity to the public, performing work in SDOT landscapes located within the right-of-way (ROW).
• Work independently and occasionally lead small crews of intermittent and regular laborers and assistant gardeners.
• Evaluate conditions and situations in the field and take appropriate action without direct supervision on a regular basis.
• Utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to control invasive and noxious weeds.
• Operate and perform minor maintenance of small hand and power tools such as hedge trimmers, string trimmers, edgers, mowers, and chainsaws.
• Plant, transplant, weed, prune, and care for annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and turf areas; maintain landscaped areas along high-volume transportation corridors where traffic control measures are required to protect the safety of the work crew and the public.
• Oversee the management of traffic control set‑ups as well as the transport of materials and equipment to and from worksites.
• Drive truck/trailer combinations in heavy traffic and in tight spaces frequently.
• Implement projects to install new, or renovate existing, landscaped areas based on work instructions and project plans.
• Communicate with the public and community groups and oversee volunteer‑supported efforts.
• Respond to emergencies in the ROW involving vegetation, landslides, or other weather‑caused events.
• Work in a multicultural workplace and with diverse customers, emphasizing communication for cooperation, collaboration, and inclusiveness in support of department goals to promote diversity and social justice.

Minimum of two years work experience in landscape construction or maintenance, or in the propagation and maintenance of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees at a conservatory, greenhouse, or nursery.

OR:
An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties.

• Required to obtain a WSDA Public Operator’s License within one year of appointment.
• Current Washington State driver’s license

Though not requirements, strong candidates will have some of the following experience or are able to describe comparable experience:

• One year lead/supervisory experience and training overseeing maintenance of landscaped areas along high‑volume transportation corridors or similar sites where pedestrian and traffic control measures are required for work operations.
• Six months experience or more operating commercial riding mowers.
• One‑year experience in the prescription and implementation of Integrated Pest Management strategies for the management of invasive weed species and other pests specific to Pacific NW plant materials.
• One‑year experience in the interpretation of work instructions including landscaping plans.
• Class B CDL with tanker endorsement and airbrake restriction removed.
• Experience driving truck/trailer combination not requiring a…