Water Operator I, II, or III

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 20, 2026

Performs operation and maintenance duties in relation to water collection, water treatment, water distribution and related functions within the Water Division of Public Works. Performs a variety of semi-skilled maintenance work and operates a variety of hand tools and equipment in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of city facilities.

We are accepting applications for the following (please refer to minimum requirements for each position under the requirements section below):

Operator I - $31.99/hour

Operator II - $33.53/hour

Operator III - $36.48/hour

Job Description/ Essential Duties

These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties the incumbent may be assigned.

• Under the direction of the Water Foreperson, assists with the planning, scheduling, and implementation of construction, maintenance, and operation and construction activities designed to provide effective distribution of water.
• Assists in the training of novice employees to increase their maintenance, construction, and repair skills related to collection, treatment and distribution mains and facilities.
• Inspects and/or repairs various equipment including booster pumping stations, wells, and storage reservoirs, at frequent intervals, to ensure that all aspects of the systems are functioning properly.
• Maintains a variety of records relating to inspections, testing, and maintenance activities.
• Ensures the proper maintenance of equipment and tools by cleaning and checking equipment and tools after use.
• Performs daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections on equipment including but not limited to fueling, checking fluid levels, greasing, assessing the overall condition of machines, and cleaning the interior and exterior of trucks, equipment, machinery, tools, etc.
• Performs routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment and refers defects or needed repairs to supervisor.
• Determines the locations of utilities as required prior to excavation.
• Performs all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.
• Performs required labor involved in construction and maintenance projects as part of a crew.
• Services booster pumping stations, wells, and equipment associated with Water collection, treatment, and distribution.
• May act as flag person when needed.
• May be temporarily assigned to other Public Works divisions in an emergency or due to staffing shortages.

OPERATOR I Minimum Required Qualifications (Education, Experience and Training)

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent; and
• At least six (6) months experience working with equipment, facilities, materials, methods, and procedures used in maintenance, construction, and repair activities; or
• Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience relating to the construction, maintenance, or repair of municipal related infrastructure.
• Experience in the operation of various hand tools or construction equipment.

Special Requirements/Licenses or Certificates

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have the ability to obtain a Montana Commercial Driver's license (CDL), Class A, with air brake and tanker endorsement, and a DOT medical certification within 1 (one) year of employment. (Preferred at the time of hire, but the city will assist with this process.)
• Must be able to obtain Montana Flagger’s Certification within one (1) year of employment.
• Offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check, reference checks, driving record check, and pre-employment DOT drug screen.
• Employee must be available as needed for overtime, call out, and standby.

OPERATOR II Minimum Required Qualifications (Education, Experience and Training)

• Graduation from high school education or GED equivalent; and
• At least one (1) year experience in construction, maintenance, or repair of municipal related infrastructure; and
• Must be certified by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a Class 2A Operator-in-Training; or
• Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current valid Montana Commercial Driver's license (CDL) with air brake and tanker endorsement. Requires acceptable driving record and current DOT medical certification.

Special Requirements/Licenses or Certificates

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have the ability to obtain a Montana Commercial Driver's license (CDL), Class A, with air brake and tanker endorsement and a current DOT medical certification within 1 (one) year of employment. (Preferred at the time of hire, but the city will assist with this process.)
• Must possess a Montana Flagger’s Certification or obtain it within six (6) months of start date.
• Employee must be available as needed for overtime, call out, and weekend standby.
• Must be certified by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a Class 2A Operator-in-Training. NOTE: When the city reaches a population of 15,000 or more, a Water Distribution System Operator Class 1A will be required.
• Offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check, reference checks, driving record check, and pre-employment DOT drug screen.

OPERATOR III Minimum Required Qualifications (Education, Experience and Training):

• Graduation from high school education or GED equivalent; and
• At least 2 years successful experience in construction, maintenance, or repair of municipal water related infrastructure; and
• Must be certified by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a Certified Water Distribution System Operator Class 2A and Water Treatment System Operator Class 3B (NOTE: When the City reaches a population of 15,000 or more, a Water Distribution System Operator Class 1A will be required); or
• Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work may be considered.

Special Requirements/Licenses or Certificates:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have the ability to obtain a Montana Commercial Driver's license (CDL), Class A, with air brake and tanker endorsement and a current DOT medical certification within 1 (one) year of employment. (Preferred at the time of hire, but the City will assist with this process.)
• Must possess a Montana Flagger’s Certification or obtain it within six (6) months of start date.
• Employee must be available as needed for overtime, call out, and weekend standby.
• Must be certified by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a Certified Water Distribution System Operator Class 2A and Water Treatment System Operator Class 3B (NOTE: When the City reaches a population of 15,000 or more, a Water Distribution System Operator Class 1A will be required.)
• Offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check, reference checks, driving record check, and DOT drug screen.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Related to this Position:

The successful candidate will possess:

• Entry level knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials and methods and procedures used in maintenance, construction, and repair activities.
• Skill in operation of listed tools and equipment.
• Skill in using electronic technology, such as smartphones, tablets, or personal computers, used to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.
• Ability to solve conflicts through active listening and clear and persuasive speech.
• Ability to clearly communicate to the Water Foreperson matters of major significance, issues, or unique circumstances.
• Ability to interact professionally with coworkers, colleagues, and the public.
• Ability to perform heavy manual tasks for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work safely and effectively and adhere to safety rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, departments, and the general public.
• Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.

• Possess sound time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and establish priorities with limited direct supervision.
• Possess strong interpersonal and customer service skills.

• Knowledge of basic to intermediate mathematical principles and the ability to interpret and present numerical data.

• Possess strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, and Outlook) and the ability to learn specialized software.
• Ability to interpret and apply Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations as they relate to the position.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supervision Received

Works under the general supervision of the Water Foreperson or as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Motorized vehicles and equipment, including dump truck, tamper, plate compactor, saws, pumps, compressors, sanders, generators, common hand and power tools, lawn maintenance equipment, shovels, picks, wrenches, detection devices, mobile radio, and phone.
• Operates modern office machines and equipment, including personal computers, printers, copiers, scanners, telephone system and calculators. Must be able to routinely use a full range of software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and a variety of standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Requires regular and punctual attendance and reports to work fit for duty.
• Ability to communicate fluently in the English language, both in verbal and written formats; sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities in person, by radio and by telephone, to answer questions and elicit information, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate effectively.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and weather extremes.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to sit in equipment and trucks for extended periods of time while performing duties.
• Frequently required to stand and talk or hear.
• Required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell.
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration.
• Occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to extremely loud.
• Employee may be required to wear facial respirators and will be required to comply with safety requirements, which may include the removal of long beards, facial hair, and jewelry.
• Closed toe shoes or boots are required.

Behavioral Expectations

• Employee treats all customers and coworkers with respect, dignity, and honesty and manages relationships and communications in a way that promotes the interests of all parties.
• Employee works through adversity in a productive and positive manner.
• Employee shows nonjudgmental respect for all other’s perspectives.
• Employee appreciates the uniqueness, commonalities, and value of others.
• Employee maintains an appropriate level of transparency in their work and interactions with others.
• Employee stops disparaging remarks about others and does not participate in these remarks in front of the public or during work time.
• Employee does not hinder, obstruct, or interfere with the work of other employees.
• Employee does not show poor attitude (for example, rudeness or lack of cooperation) with others or supervisors by failing to perform reasonable requests, being insubordinate, or refusing to comply with instruction given.
• Employee does not abuse the use of materials, time, equipment, or property of the City.
• Employee’s performance does not fall below average in quantity or quality in relation to the requirements of the job.

Safety Related Duties

• Follow the City’s and department’s work practices.
• Report occupational injuries, illnesses, and near misses immediately to Supervisor.
• Follow supervisor instructions for obtaining first aid or medical attention.
• Participate in accident investigations as required.
• Participate in safety training.
• Suggest improvements in safety training requirements or programs to Supervisor.
• Identify unsafe work conditions and unsafe practices. Correct hazards or report them to Supervisor as appropriate.

The specific statements shown in each section of this position description are not intended to be all inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to perform the job successfully, with or without accommodation.