Forestry Crew Lead (Parks Specialist III) - INTERNAL ONLY

Summary

Do you want to lead hands-on work that restores forests at a meaningful scale and leaves a lasting legacy for people and wildlife? The Environmental Policy Initiatives (EPI) Division of King County Parks is hiring a Forestry Crew Lead (Parks Specialist III) to join our growing Forestry program.

As the Forestry Crew Lead your leadership, technical skill, and passion for land stewardship will help shape a high-impact crew transforming 30,000 acres of King County Parks’ forests into resilient, thriving ecosystems. You will build a team, work side-by-side in the field, and play a key role in advancing climate resilience, habitat health, and public benefit for generations to come.

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications at this time. In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Parks Specialist III career service and term-limited temporary openings within the Parks Division over the next six months.

About the Role:
The Forestry Crew Lead (Parks Specialist III) manages and works alongside a small field crew delivering large-scale forest stewardship and restoration projects across King County Parks’ 30,000 acres. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for supervising staff, planning and scheduling daily and weekly field work, maintaining equipment and vehicles, coordinating with Parks Operations and contractors, and ensuring work meets ecological objectives and regulatory standards.

This position requires strong technical forestry and vegetation management skills, experience leading crews, and proficiency to safely use chainsaws, brush saws, mowers, skid steers, and similar equipment while working in remote, off-trail, all-weather conditions. Along with the physical ability to perform demanding field work and the leadership skills needed to build a productive, high-quality crew the successful candidate will bring sound judgment, clear communication, and a strong commitment to safety, ecological forestry principles, and teamwork.

About the Team:
The Forestry Team is a collaborative, mission-driven group dedicated to restoring and stewarding forests across 30,000 acres of King County Parks. Comprised of professional foresters and a skilled field crew, the team blends careful planning, ecological forestry principles, and hands-on implementation to deliver meaningful outcomes for climate resilience, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and public enjoyment.

Guided by long-term plans and countywide climate goals, the team works at an ambitious scale-supporting hundreds of acres of restoration and maintenance each year-while fostering a culture of teamwork, shared responsibility, and continuous learning. Projects evolve with the seasons and landscapes, creating variability and challenges; team members are encouraged to lean into their strengths, support one another, and collaborate across Parks’ districts and crews to achieve lasting environmental and community benefits.

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. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Forestry Crew Lead, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Parks Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing :

• Coordinate and oversee work for two to three Park Specialist IIs (PSII).
• Conduct fieldwork alongside PSIIs as a working lead.
• Maintain good working relationships and communication with Parks Districts and other Operations teams.
• Plan and organize vegetation management projects.
• Maintain good data management, organizational, and administrative responsibilities for the forestry crew.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring :

• Experience planning the workload for a labor-intensive project-based team.
• Experience managing staff involved in forestry restoration/stewardship, parks maintenance, construction, or similar type of work.
• Experience operating chainsaws, brush cutters, mowers, skid steers, or similar equipment, with a strong understanding of best practice and safety protocols.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member

Physical Requirements :

This position requires the physical ability to:

• Work outdoor, off-trail, and in all weather conditions.
• Regularly use a chainsaw and other power tools.
• Engage in physical labor for 8-10 hours per day.
• Use of heavy equipment.

Workplace Exposures:
This position may be exposed to

• Chemicals through the use of herbicide for vegetation management.
• Loud noise through the use of chainsaws, power tools, and heavy equipment.

Competencies You Bring :

• Decision Quality : Ability to make good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
  
• Builds Effective Teams : Ability to build strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
  
• Directs Work : Ability to provide direction, delegate, and remove obstacles to get work done.
  
• Drives Results : Ability to consistently achieve results, even under tough circumstances.
  
• Self-Development : Actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels.
  

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring :

• Pesticide applicator license
• Experience in vegetation control for forestry projects
• Knowledge of plant/tree identification and ecological forest stewardship concepts.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions :

• Work Location : Forestry Shop in Seatac, WA
• 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 : This position is represented by SEIU L925-DNRP.
  
  

Application and Selection Process :

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume (PDF format)

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Crystal Yost at cyost@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and Flickr .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as 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 solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; 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 or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 1/20/2026 8:00 AM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

Show more