Forest Worker Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Public Works Department, 800 Rabbitt Road, Gaithersburg, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY2027-01119
Department: Public Works
Division: Landscaping & Forestry (1341)
Opening Date: 08/16/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Description
Are you looking for a secure job with great pay, excellent benefits, and an opportunity for advancement? Do you like physical work in an outdoor environment? Are you interested in being part of a team dedicated to providing exceptional services that improve and maintain a community's quality of life? Would you like to find a career, not just a job? You've come to the right place! We have an immediate opening for a Public Service Worker on our Landscaping & Forestry Crew in the Gaithersburg
40 hours per week; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required. Starting salary for the Public Service Worker I level position is negotiable within the target hiring range ($42,200 - $49,500) and will be offered at a level consistent with the relevant experience, knowledge, qualifications, training, certifications, and skills proficiency of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, excellent work/life balance, and training and professional growth/promotional opportunities.
Candidates must have some related experience in manual work such as landscaping, tree maintenance, mowing, grounds maintenance, or other related field . Experience using hand tools, mowers, trimmers, and other portable power tools is desirable. If you possess a valid Class A CDL with Tanker Endorsement ("N") at the time of hire, and/or can demonstrate proficiency in meeting required skill levels, you may be eligible to be hired above the Public Service Worker I level.
As a Public Service Worker on the Landscaping & Forestry crew, you will assist in maintaining more than 91 properties, placing over 800 yards of mulch, planting 150 trees, and trimming more than 2,500 trees each year. You will be joining a hard-working and collaborative team committed to keeping the City beautiful and well-maintained and exceeding the expectations of our residents and visitors to our community.
Job Functions
What you will do with us:

• Plant, maintain, and water trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Median beautification.
• Weed and litter control; mulching and edging.
• Prune, maintain, and remove trees; clear trees or landscaped areas after storm or accident damage.
• Grounds keeping and maintenance duties such as mowing, trimming, leaf raking/collection, loading and unloading materials and equipment, and picking up/collecting trash.
• Traffic control at maintenance sties; install and remove street signage; and install and remove festive lights, decorations, and flags.
• Assist with building maintenance and repair work including masonry, carpentry, electrical, and plumbing.
• Operate construction equipment during maintenance and repair tasks and transport crew, materials, and equipment to job sites.
• Assist with snow removal and ice control and with special projects as needed.
• Provide excellent service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.

Key job responsibilities are outlined above; please click the link provided to view the complete classification description for the or the level. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for each position in the City's FY 2027 Schedule of Salary Ranges to provide opportunity for growth and development (Grade 101 for Public Service Worker I, Grade 102 for Public Service Worker II, Grade 103 for Senior Public Service Worker I, Grade 104 for Senior Public Service Worker II).
Qualifications
What you will need to be considered:

• Be hard-working, dependable, responsible, punctual, and safety conscious.
• Ability to deliver excellent customer service with a positive attitude.
• Be able to work cooperatively with others and contribute to a successful team effort.
• A valid driver's license and a good driving record.
• Be able to perform moderate to heavy manual labor over extended periods of time, possibly under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to operate mowers, tools, and other maintenance and repair equipment in a manner consistent with safety procedures.
• Be able to understand and carry out specific oral instructions.
• Be at least 18 years of age; high school diploma or equivalent (GED) desirable.
• Have some experience (6 to 12 months) performing routine landscape, tree maintenance, construction, or maintenance work, including manual labor experience involving the use of hand tools and portable power tools (desirable).
• A valid, unexpired Medical Examiner's Certificate/DOT physical card (may be obtained during pre-employment medical examination and must be maintained throughout employment).
• Have the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English to follow safety precautions and work procedures.
• Ability to work from equipment of various heights and in confined spaces.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and overtime when required; and to return to work when designated to be on call for emergency situations or repair work and/or snow and ice removal.
• Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, certifications, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.

Additional Information
Interested applicants must submit an online application to be considered.
Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled;recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are identified or all hiring decisions have been made.
This position is non-exempt which means an individual in the Maintenance Worker position is eligible for overtime compensation under the provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the City's personnel regulations. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
Successful candidates will be subject to a pre-employment criminal background investigation and medical examination including drug/alcohol screening. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, contact the Department of Public Works at 301.258.6370 or Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at 301.258.6327 or
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.
The City of Gaithersburg offers its full-time employees a broad range of benefits to enhance their personal and professional lives. Employees are eligible on their first day of employment (unless otherwise specified). We provide employees with competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and an environment that supports a healthy work/life balance.
HEALTH BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - employer pays 85% of premium in each tier
• Multi-tiered coverage options (single, single + spouse, single + child, single + children, family)
• Retirement Health Savings contribution (for non-participants in medical or dental plans)

Medical Insurance

• CIGNA HealthCare Open Access Plan
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Wellness Initiatives

Dental Insurance

• Sun Life Indemnity Plan
• Use a dentist of choice or participating dentist for increased savings
• Basic or Enhanced Plans offered

Vision Insurance

• National Vision Administrators
• Use a provider of choice or participating provider for increased savings

RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS

• Eligible for immediate enrollment in all plans upon hire
• 401A - Employer contribution equivalent to 8% of employee's annual base salary; fully vested after 5 years
• 401K - Employer 3% matching contribution on the first 5% of employee's annual base salary contributed by the employee; fully vested after 5 years
• 401A Supplemental - Additional 5% employer contribution to eligible employees in the Public Works and Police Departments who have physically demanding jobs on a consistent basis; fully vested after 10 years
• 457-deferred compensation plan and Roth IRA (employee contributions only)

PAID LEAVE

• Vacation (12 - 24 days accrued annually; accrual rate based on years of service)
• Sick Leave (13 days accrued annually; unlimited accrual)
• Personal Leave (28 hours granted annually)
• Family Care Leave (up to 8 weeks in rolling 12-month period for eligible employees) to care for newborn/newly adopted/newly placed child or family member
• Holidays (11 holidays observed each year)
• Volunteer Service (12 hours granted annually)
• Jury duty, bereavement leave, military leave (as needed)

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans
• Employer paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long-Term Disability & Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Multilingual Stipend ($2,080 per year for eligible employees, paid biweekly)
• Language Learning Program (through Babbel)
• Housing Stipend (Up to $3,600 per year for eligible employees)
• Tuition Assistance (Up to $5,250 per year eligible after 1 year of service)
• Healthy Lifestyle Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program
• First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
• Ongoing Training/Personal Development Programs
• Credit Union
• Recreation & Leisure Opportunities & Discounts
• Direct Deposit (required)

Click on the link below to view general information about the benefits available.
(pdf)
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and may be used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information ("see resume" is not acceptable) may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and certify that your responses can be verified from information included within your application?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you at least 18 years of age as of the date of this application?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you possess a High School Diploma or equivalent (GED)?

• Yes
• No

04
Which of the following best describes your overall experience in manual work (such as public works, general construction, landscaping, tree maintenance, mowing, park maintenance, utilities support, and/or general maintenance)?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to 3 years
• More than 3 years

05
Do you possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06
Do you possess a valid Commercial Driver's License?

• Yes, Class A CDL
• Yes, Class B CDL
• I do not possess a CDL

07
If you answered yes to the previous question, please indicate the State in which the license was obtained, expiration date, and any endorsements or certifications you currently possess.
08
List any other relevant current professional certifications, licenses, or other credentials that you possess. Include the date completed or attained.
09
Are you able to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to follow safety precautions and work procedures?

• Yes
• No

10
This position may require the ability to work from ladders, scaffolding, and aerial/bucket lifts from various heights. If hired for this position, do you agree that you will be able to fulfill these expectations?

• Yes
• No

11
This position may require the ability to work in confined spaces. If hired for this position, do you agree that you will be able to fulfill these expectations?

• Yes
• No

12
How did you first learn about this employment opportunity?

• City of Gaithersburg Website
• Job Interest Card Notification
• Indeed
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Other Website
• Social Media
• Friend or Relative
• I am currently a City Employee
• Other

Required Question