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The Port of Seattle has hiring opportunities for police officers, firefighters, and police and fire communications specialists.
The Port of Seattle Police Department is actively recruiting entry-level and lateral police officer candidates.
Policing the Port brochure (4 MB, PDF)
Application and Testing: The Port of Seattle is currently contracted with PublicSafetyTesting.com (PST) to conduct our written and physical ability examinations for entry level police officers. You are able to complete your application online and select a testing date, time and location convenient for you. For further information, you may contact Public Safety Testing (PST) toll-free at (866) HIRE-911.
Public Safety Testing (PST) will validate your test results and send the score to the Port of Seattle directly. Your written test (PST) score will be weighted at 50 percent.
Oral Board: Once we receive the results from Public Safety Testing (PST), we will contact you to schedule an oral board. The oral board results will be weighted at 50 percent of your final score.
Civil Service Eligibility List: Based on the combined scores of the written test (PST) and the oral board, as well as veteran's preference points, qualified candidates will be merged onto the existing entry-level list. The list determines the order in which background investigations are conducted.
Application and Testing: Lateral applicants do not test through Public Safety Testing (PST) and are not required to complete the physical agility test. The lateral process consists of a written questionnaire with a minimum passing score of 70 percent, weighted at 100 percent.
To participate in the lateral process:
• Complete an Online HR Application.
• Submit a signed Veteran's Scoring Certification (34 KB, PDF)
• Submit a copy of your DD214, if veteran's preference is being claimed.
• Complete the Written Test Questionnaire. (47 KB, PDF)
Return completed forms to:
Port of Seattle Human Resources
Attn: Cynthia Armstrong/HR Rep – Uniformed Services
P.O. Box 68727
Seattle , WA 98168
Want more information? Call our toll-free Port of Seattle Police Recruiter phone line, (877) 30POSPS (307-6773) and leave your name and phone number. A recruiter will get back to you.
The Port of Seattle Police Department is a full-service department consisting of two divisions: Patrol and Administrative Services. Assignments available include Uniformed Patrol, Bicycle Patrol, Boat Patrol, Bomb Disposal, Criminal Investigations, Evidence Technician / Property Room Custodian, Dive Team, Field Training Officer (FTO), Hostage Negotiation, Explosive Detection K-9 and Narcotics K-9, Narcotics Task Force, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Task Force, and SWAT.
The Port Police provide the primary law enforcement response within the geographical boundaries of the Port of Seattle, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and a portion of the surrounding residential and commercial properties. Port Police also patrol major portions of the Seattle waterfront and Elliott Bay.
Having a jurisdiction that is primarily a port of entry provides daily opportunities to develop close working relationships with the Office of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration.
Patrol officers work a three-day,12.5-hour or four day/10-hour schedule and bid for yearly schedules. To keep officers' skills sharp, 40 hours of annual in-service training is provided in addition to many local, regional and national training opportunities. The Port provides uniforms (including cleaning service), footwear and most patrol-related equipment. Washington Teamsters-Local 117 represents the officers.
Entry Level: Candidates must be 21 years old at the time of application and successfully complete the state law enforcement training program (Basic Academy). See www.PublicSafetyTesting.com for further information.
Lateral Level: Lateral standards must be met by the time of application. Applicants from within Washington State must be non-probationary employees and have a minimum of 24 consecutive months as full-time, paid commissioned officers assigned to patrol or investigative duties. Qualifying time is calculated from the date of graduation from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center Basic Law Enforcement Academy (WSCJTC) or the Washington State Patrol Academy. Applicants must be paid, full-time police officers, deputy sheriffs or troopers. Any break in law enforcement service must be no longer than 12 months. Special agents from the Washington State Gambling Commission and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife are eligible to apply as a lateral. Federal law enforcement officers/agents, correction officers, game wardens, military police officers, special or reserve officers/deputies, or any other such positions which fall outside the above guidelines do not qualify for lateral positions.
Out-of-State Applicants must meet the above qualifications regarding employment and consecutive service and must have successfully completed a state-certified police academy. After being hired, out-of-state applicants must successfully complete the Washington State Equivalency course. The Police Department retains the option of sending out-of-state laterals to the full WSCJTC Academy in lieu of the Equivalency Academy. If this occurs, the lateral must successfully complete the basic WSCJTC course. Successful applicants must also complete a field training officer process.
Entry and lateral candidates must successfully pass an extensive background check, and medical, psychological and polygraphs tests.
Want More Information? Contact the Port of Seattle Police Department at (206) 433-4621.
The Port of Seattle Fire Department is actively recruiting entry-level firefighter candidates.
Apply at PublicSafetyTesting.com.
Port of Seattle Fire Department brochure (918 KB, PDF)
The Port of Seattle Fire Department is a specialized department with primary responsibility for aircraft rescue and firefighting. As a full-service fire department, they provide structural fire response, emergency medical service, hazardous materials response, fire code inspections, sprinkler, fire alarms and building plan review, fire cause investigation, fire prevention and safety education programs.
They provide primary aircraft, structural, EMS, Haz-Mat, and rescue services within the geographical boundaries of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as well as a portion of the surrounding residential and commercial properties based on property boundaries and mutual aid agreements.
Port of Seattle firefighters work a 47-hour workweek on a modified Detroit schedule. Training is rigorous and continuous and includes a minimum of two "live fire" training days annually to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements. The Port provides uniforms (including cleaning service), personal protective equipment and shoes.
International Association of Firefighters-Local 1257 represents the firefighters.
An applicant must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, have earned a high school diploma, and have a Washington State driver's license. Port of Seattle firefighters must obtain EMT certification with one year of hire and maintain that certification throughout their careers. Successful candidates will be fingerprinted for a criminal history background check with the FBI and must pass a Transportation Security Administration background check as well as submit to and pass a pre-employment drug screening. New hires may be subject to random drug screening during their probationary period.
The Port of Seattle is currently contracted with PublicSafetyTesting.com (PST) to conduct our written and physical ability examinations for entry level firefighters. You are able to complete your application on-line and select a testing date, time and location convenient for you. For further information, you may contact Public Safety Testing (PST) toll-free at (866) HIRE-911.
Public Safety Testing (PST) will validate the results and send the score to the Port of Seattle directly once per calendar year (in December following PST's final testing process) with interviews taking place potentially each January (or as needed throughout the year). This selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and testing prior to or following the scheduled oral board, and a background investigation.
Want more information? Contact the Port of Seattle Fire Department at (206) 433-5327.
The Port of Seattle Police Department is actively recruiting 911 dispatcher - police/fire communications specialists. The need for entry-level and lateral applicants will vary; please check the current openings frequently.
Complete an Online HR Application.
Your application must provide clear and detailed information on your relevant education, training and work experience and history. A resume is not required for this application process. You may submit a resume with your application, but a resume will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. An incomplete or partially completed application may be rejected.
CritiCall Testing: Your application will be screened to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications. If selected from the initial screening process, we will contact you to schedule CritiCall testing (job-specific computerized testing).
Oral Board: After being invited to and passing job-specific computerized testing, you will be invited to a panel oral interview.
Civil Service Eligibility List: Based on the combined scores of the CritiCall test and the oral board (weighted at 50 percent each), as well as veteran's preference points, qualified candidates will be merged onto the existing entry-level or lateral eligibility list. The list determines the order in which background investigations are conducted.
All Port of Seattle Civil Service positions have a graded examination process that applicants must successfully complete with a passing score. Successful applicants will be placed on the ranked eligibility list in order, based on their individual score.
Candidates must successfully pass an extensive background check, medical, and polygraph examination.
Want more information? Contact the Port of Seattle Dispatch Center at (206) 431-4457.