An employee in this class spends performs mixed responsibilities including operating heavy equipment and serving as the leader over crews involved in installing and repairing collection and distribution lines and repairing lift station pumps. The employee ensures the highest standard possible in meeting specifications’ requirements. Work includes shifting assignments as needed; assuring work is completed in timely manner and in accordance with OSHA and County standards, training, coaching, and reviewing work in progress and upon completion. Employee provides input on employee’s performance evaluation. Work includes operating complex heavy equipment required in the work participation in the Utility Technician duties. Work requires ability to lead a crew, and judgment and initiative in troubleshooting utilities’ related problems. The employee is subject to working in inside and outside environments including extreme hot and cold weather and is exposed to hazards such as loud noise, vibrations, moving mechanical parts, chemicals, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, and oils. Work around raw sewage is also subject to the final standards of OSHA on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under regular supervision in conformance with established standards, and is reviewed for productivity quality, and customer service satisfaction.Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of construction, repair, and maintenance of water distribution and sewer collection line construction, maintenance, and repair.
Considerable knowledge of department policies, procedures, and work plans.
Thorough knowledge of the use of related equipment and materials.
Thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions required in the work.
Skills in heavy equipment operation.
Ability to act as crew leader and perform related supervisory duties.
Ability to read construction and plan maps, and drawings and to set grade and fall on projects.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, peers, subordinates and citizens.
Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to perform heavy manual tasks.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Serves as crew leader; trains staff in duties, process, and safety procedures; monitors and checks quality of work while in progress and upon completion; may change assignments as work progresses; coaches employees on performance while in process; provides input to supervisor for performance evaluations.
Ensures implementation of OSHA and County safety regulations and procedures.
Gathers and/or ensures materials, supplies and equipment for daily work loaded and transported to work site.
Participates in the repair, maintenance and construction activities to distribution and collection lines; operates various light to heavy equipment such as backhoe, jack hammer, mud hog pump, boring machine, and hand tools, etc.; lays pipes, makes water and sewer taps and repairs leaks; repairs water and sewer lines and repairs or replaces valves and valve boxes.
Troubleshoots and repairs sewage pump stations, water booster stations, elevated water tanks and SCADA systems
Makes and inspects water and sewer lines.
Reads meters on assigned days; covers route assigned; uses handheld meters to records usage readings; takes rereads of meters as needed and repairs meters.
Serves on-call and call-back duties on a weekly rotation.
Additional Job Duties
High School diploma and considerable related experience, involving water and sewer line construction, maintenance and repair; including demonstrated ability to read, comprehend numbers and some experience in semi-skilled maintenance or construction work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Special Requirements
• Must possess an appropriate valid North Carolina driver’s license upon hire.
• Must possess upon hire
• For Water Distribution North Carolina Distribution B or higher and North Carolina C Well certification or higher
• For Sewer Collections North Carolina Collections II or higher, and Maintenance Technician certification ,
• Must possess or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire
• North Carolina DOT Flagger certification,
• Competent Person Confined Space certification and
• Competent Person Trenching and Excavation certification
• Work Zone Supervisor
• Must possess a valid North Carolina Class A CDL or have the ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
Physical Requirements
• Must be able to perform the basic life functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Must be able to perform very heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess visual acuity necessary to read maps and diagrams and to prepare and analyze data and figures, to read extensively, to operate a computer, vehicles and heavy equipment, and to inspect work.