Trek Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $22.14 - $24.41 Hourly
Location : Point Defiance Visitor Center, WA
Job Type: Part-time, 29 hrs per week or less
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 08/27/2026
Closing Date: 9/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Job Description
Based on our internal equity review process, the starting salary for this position will be $22.14
The current full hourly range for this position is $22.14 -$24.41.
Want to love where you work and do what you love? Then, come work for Parks Tacoma!The Volunteer Engagement Assistant will work with the Community and Special Projects Coordinator to support special events, volunteer projects, and park improvement events, lead park stewardship work parties, assist with trail maintenance projects, and assist horticultural activities within Tacoma's Regional Parks. This position will engage with community members to promote volunteer programs, create positive experiences, foster connections within communities to public parks, and recognize dedicated individuals for their service to the Parks Department.
**Applications are reviewed as they are received. This position will remain open until filled.**
Work where you play!
Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.
Who We Are
Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Parks Tacoma's mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.
Why You'll Love it Here
Come work with us and work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you'll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. On top of that, you'll wake each day knowing that you're helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.
Position Information
In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

Essential Duties

• Support volunteer projects by safely and effectively training volunteers on invasive plant removal, mulching techniques and proper plant installation.
• Deliver necessary tools, plants and other materials to park events and work sites.
• Remove piles of brush and other debris from natural areas and park settings.
• Assist with horticultural activities such as planting, pruning, fertilizing, watering, transplanting, and weeding.
• Assist with plant propagation and production
• Provide trail upkeep through regular assessments of repairs needed, and work with volunteers to create natural and gravel surface trails.
• Recognize potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities during volunteer activities; gather and share contact information with program coordinator.
• Foster relationships with service-learning groups, local organizations, schools, event participants, park patrons, and community volunteers.
• Promote volunteer programs verbally, and/or through the distribution of newsletters and brochures.
• Assist with onsite volunteer registration, volunteer event set up tear down and help with direction and understanding of volunteer work tasks.
• Collect pertinent restoration data after volunteer projects including square footage of work sites, types of invasive species removed, number of plants installed, amount of debris removed, and progress made toward park goals.
• Ensure volunteer work conducted in parks is accurately reported to program coordinator.
• Maintain volunteer tools, personal protective equipment and safety equipment and communicate needs for replacement.
• Operate a variety of manual and powered equipment such as picks, shovels, rakes, pruning equipment, mowers, line trimmers, watering tanks, leaf blowers, etc.as assigned.
• Operate Park District vehicles as assigned; learn and practice the safe operation of assigned equipment and trucks.
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Assist with the staging of special events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have a valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous experience working with volunteer groups of all ages required.
• Experience in Natural Resources, Horticulture, Environmental Science, Forestry or related field preferred.
• Must be able to work flexible schedule to include weekends and/or holidays as needed.
• Knowledge of geospatial technologies, such as Collector App, and ArcGIS Online desired.

Additional Information
HOURS/SCHEDULE:

• Up to 29 hours per week
• Saturday - Tuesday: 8:00am - 3:30pm
• Flexibility to work some additional weekends, evenings and holidays to help support large events required

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Attention to detail.
• Operation of a computer and familiarity with MS Office Suite.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, with internal and external customers.
• Customer service focus.
• Positive interactions with all individuals.
• Build collaborative relationships.
• Anticipate problems and develop contingency plans.
• Show initiative while performing job tasks.
• Remain flexible to changing priorities.
• Determine priorities and take prompt action.
• Commitment to racial, social, and economic equity issues and working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Meet deadlines and respond timely to achieve common goals.
• Be receptive to the attitudes, feelings or circumstances of others and aware of influence of one's own behavior on them.
• Work effectively with others to achieve common goals.
• Make difficult decisions in a timely manner.
• Conflict-resolution skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to kneel, stand, crawl, push, pull, squat, bend, stretch, bending at the waist, stooping, squatting, and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally.
• Mobility to navigate all types of surfaces and terrain, including the ability to stand and walk for extending periods of time over rough, uneven, wet, slippery, and/or steep surfaces.
• Requires ascending/descending ladder work.
• Physical strength and ability to perform manual labor for extended periods of time.
• Pulling, pushing, carrying and lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds repeatedly in the normal course of duties.
• Exposures to adverse weather conditions in various indoor, outdoor, and shop work environments and may occasionally require work in dirty, wet, noisy, or cramped workspaces.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of specialized equipment including hand and power tools.
• Sitting for extended periods of time while operating grounds equipment.
• Requires driving a vehicle to conduct work.
• Ability to communicate to exchange information with district employees and customers.

HAZARDS:

• Employees in this position are subject to fumes, dust, pollen, noise from equipment operation, and potentially hazardous materials.

PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
Parks Tacoma employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Parks Tacoma is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at .
Employment is subject to a national background check.
This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.
Enrollment in the the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) through the Washington State Department of Retirement Services (DRS) may be mandatory.
Sick Leave: 1 hour earned for every 40 hours worked.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -SupportLinc provides emotional wellbeing and work-life balance resources to keep you at your best. Administered by CuraLinc Healthcare, the program offers guidance to help you address and resolve everyday issues at no cost to you or your family.
Community Center Fitness Pass - All Parks Tacoma employees get a Staff Pass to use at our community centers.The All Center Pass allows access to all four centers - Center at Norpoint, Eastside Community Center, People's Center and STAR Center.
Note: THIS BENEFIT OVERVIEW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY BE MODIFIED AND/OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.
01
Are you at least 18 years of age?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a valid driver's license? (Please note: if selected for further review you will be required to provide a complete driving abstract).

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have previous experience working with volunteer groups of all ages?

• Yes
• No

05
Please describe your experience with volunteer groups.
06
Are you available to work a flexible schedule to include weekends and/or holidays as needed?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you feel comfortable driving parks vehicles including a Flatbed Truck?

• Yes
• No

08
Do you have experience hooking up and hauling a trailer?

• Yes
• No

Required Question