Address
Form of workOPEN HOUSE: Come see the shop floor, hear about the team, and learn about the great work our Upholsterer's perform and the many ways they contribute. Questions and discussion welcomed. May 17 @6pm in Tukwila location. Contact Robin St. James at 206.477.0270 or VMjobs@kingcounty.gov to learn more and to reserve your spot! (Not required to apply.)
Bring your safe work practice, your collaborative work style, your desire to work in a diverse work environment, and your excitement to make a difference in your community to Metro! Expand your skills while you learn to work in a large mass transit environment. Come be part of an award winning and forward-thinking organization. Stop working a job and come have a career with King County Metro.
We're looking for Journey Level craftspeople to join our team! Experience could have been gained through a combination of education and experience equating to two years of community courses, apprenticeship program, or automotive/truck upholstery practical experience. (There will be a hands-on test prior to hire which will require knowledge and experience, however experience need not be from paid professional experience only.)
Employees in this position perform skilled upholstery work in the maintenance and repair of coach, automotive and heavy-duty equipment seating, and seating systems. If you have a passion for upholstery work, and experience designing patterns, and replacing or rebuilding seating and seating systems, we want to hear from you! Your skills could have been learned through a variety of experiences and need not be limited to paid professional experience only. Hands-on testing where you can show your skill will be part of the recruitment process; see the testing section in the supplemental section of this advertisement for more details.
In addition to an amazing full-range benefit package, the qualified Vehicle Upholsterer we hire will enter the job at 90% of the pay scale. Additionally, shift differential is paid to those working second and third shifts. Shift pay is 5% for second shift and 7.5% for third shift, on top of hourly pay. Current hourly rates are:
- $39.11 - first shift
- $41.07 - second shift
- $42.04 - third shift
About the Vehicle Maintenance Division - #TradesJobs
The Mission of Vehicle Maintenance is to provide customers safe, dependable, clean transportation in a timely, cost effective, environmentally sensitive manner, with a workforce that values teamwork, communication, and diversity.
The Vehicle Maintenance section operates three shifts (day, swing, and graveyard) seven days a week at various locations throughout King County. Openings may occur on all shifts.
About King County Metro Transit
Metro is committed to providing transportation services that connect all people and all communities of King County, focused on the equitable distribution of our service and the equitable application of our work (inside and outside the agency,) and combating climate change by doing our work in a sustainable manner. Metro is King County's largest Department, employing over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.
See the Supplemental Information section for details on how to apply - as a public employer, King County has strict guidelines and criteria when reviewing applications. Review this section so that you understand how to help us see just how amazing you are!
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the Upholsterer, you will:
- Repair equipment such as driver seats, passenger seating, carpeting, headliners, bellows and panels in automobiles, buses, transit vans, and trucks.
- Repair or replace unsanitary seating.
- Remove old upholstery from seats and panels of vehicles, measure new padding and covering materials. Cut to required dimensions using stack cutter, knife, or hand shears.
- Build and repair upholstery spring systems. Cut and form foam cushions and seat backs.
- Adjust or replace seat springs systems. Sew covering material together using sewing machine.
- Fit coverings to seat frames and secure it with staples, Velcro, spray, or glue.
- Perform hand and machine sewing, material riveting, grommeting, stapling, and tacking. Use steam machine to facilitate fitting of upholstery covers. Use stack cutters as necessary.
- Make cost estimates of materials and labor, layout, and design patterns, cut and shape fabrics and leather to pattern.
- Make and repair litter bags, shift lever boots, curtains, tarps, money bags, and other related items.
- Input or extract data using a computer as required.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience equating to two years of community courses, apprenticeship program, or automotive/truck upholstery practical experience. (There will be a hands-on test prior to hire which will require knowledge and experience, however experience need not be from paid professional experience only.)
- Strong skill and knowledge of operating commercial sewing machines.
- Strong mechanical aptitude for replacement of window shades, driver seat frames, and bellows.
- A working knowledge of and skills in the principles, practices, techniques, tools, and equipment of the vehicle upholstery trade.
- A valid Washington State Driver License at the time of hire.
- Must pass a post-offer, pre-employment physical examination.
- Willingness and availability to work different shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Selection process: Applications will be screened for qualifications. Applicants who provide evidence through the details noted in their application that they meet the necessary qualifications, and who are the most competitive based on their experience and the completeness of their materials, may be invited to a "hands-on" skills test, and one or more panel interviews.
The selected candidate(s) will be extended a conditional job offer that will be converted to a formal job offer upon completion of the pre-employment process (PEP.) The PEP will include: a physical examination, reference reviews, and review of a full five-year driving record.
Test information: Candidates passing the application screening process will have the opportunity to complete hands-on testing. Testing will be conducted onsite in King County, WA. Candidates are permitted to test once every six months. Interviews may be offered to candidates with satisfactory test scores.
Interview information: Unless a candidate lives out of area, all interviews will be conducted in person. Those who interview successfully will be placed on an eligibility list for placement into vacancies as they occur.
Vacancy information: This recruitment will be used to fill two (2) immediate career service positions. It may also be used to create an eligibility list of qualified candidates to fill current and future term-limited temporary, special duty assignment, or additional career service positions in this classification. Lists will remain active at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Work schedule: The Vehicle Maintenance section operates three shifts (day, swing, and graveyard) seven days a week at various locations throughout King County. Openings may occur on all shifts. Swing shifts receive a 5% pay differential and graveyard shift employees receive a 7.5% shift differential. Graveyard and/or swing shift vacancies will be the most likely openings. Employees work a 40 hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday. Work schedules and locations are based on a seniority "pick" system, which occurs three times a year.
Physical requirements: The job requires some physical skill and light physical effort is required to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Occasional lifting of upholstery supplies and materials weighing up to 50 pounds is required. Lifting of 100 pounds with assistance may be required. The work requires standing, stooping, kneeling, bending, crouching, and occasional ladder climbing. Work is performed in cramped or awkward positions.
Union Representation
Positions in this classification are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587.
Classification Code
8446100
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact the recruiter:
Robin St. James (she/her)
Human Resources Talent Advisor
VMjobs@kingcounty.gov
Forbes recently named King County 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 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 process, or if you have questions, please contact Robin St. James via email at VMjobs@kingcounty.gov.Employment Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
