Water Utility Service Representative I

The City of Cedar Rapids is seeking a skilled and motivated Water Utility Service Representative I to join our Water Admin Department. The person in this role will work in the field providing essential customer service related to water meters and services. Some of those responsibilities, but not limited to, will include: installing, maintaining, testing, and repairing water meters, investigating water leaks and service concerns, and helping educate customers with questions about their water quality, meters, and water service. This is an opportunity to build valuable skills in the water utility field while doing work that directly supports the community.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Installs, removes, exchanges and maintains water meters and ancillary automatic meter reading (AMR)
• systems;
• Operates stop boxes to turn water service on and off as required for customer service, maintenance activities and collection purposes;
• Investigates and resolves customer service inquiries regarding water quality and service problems to include meter accuracy and internal plumbing leaks;
• Investigates water main and service line leaks to determine their nature and location and initiates the appropriate remedial action;
• Inspects water service tap point, proper poly wrap for mains and services, private water service line and GPS marking of service taps and stop box locations to assure conformance with plans, specifications and regulations;
• Provides condition assessment and operational evaluation of water services for capital improvement projects;
• Serves, on a rotating basis, as the Meter Service Activity's standby person for investigation of water service problems that occur on weekends and outside the normal work day;
• Uses specialized equipment to complete taps on water mains for connecting new service lines;
• Uses specialized equipment to locate water utility mains and appurtenances;
• Tests, cleans and repairs water meters in the service shop;
• Installs meters and backflow protection assembly units on fire hydrants;
• Assists the Distribution Activity in the completion of emergency repairs of damaged fire hydrants;
• Assists in the unloading of meter deliveries and the maintenance of inventory supplies;
• Assists in the cleaning and maintenance of Meter Service Activity equipment and work areas to include service vans;
• Wears and properly uses safety equipment including personal protective and fall prevention equipment,
• gas detection equipment as necessary to perform duties in trenches, pits, and uncontrolled sites;
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies, procedures and safety practices;
• Attends work regularly at the designated place and time;
• Supports continuous process improvement initiatives;
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

Acceptable Experience and Training:

• One year experience in the operation and maintenance of water utility distribution systems to include water meters and service lines; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.

• Valid Driver’s License; Possession of a State of Iowa Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester certification within six months of appointment.
• State of Iowa certificate (grade I) in water distribution or water operations within 18-months of appointment (High School Diploma or GED is required to sit for the test).

Supplemental Information

Position Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
The City of Cedar Rapids is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All job applicants will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history).

Applicants with Disabilities
We respect and value people with disabilities and are committed to providing a workplace culture of disability inclusion. People with disabilities are supported during the hiring process and are encouraged to apply for employment with the City of Cedar Rapids. In support of the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations will be provided to those in need of assistance with the application and interview process. To request an accommodation, contact the City's Human Resources department by phone at 319-286-5000 or by email at hr@cedar-rapids.org.

We offer benefits and beyond for our employees and their families!

The City of Cedar Rapids provides outstanding pay, benefits, time off, including:

• Medical co-insurance for participating providers of 90% plan / 10% employee
• Competitive pay
• Iowa Public Employee’s Retirement Pension plans (IPERS) with a 9.44% City contribution and 6.29% employee contribution
• 457 deferred compensation employer match program (City will match up to 0.05% of your annual income each calendar year—learn more here.)
• Flexible Spending (Health Care and Dependent Care Accounts- learn more here)
• An average of 11 paid holidays per year
• Up to $3,000 per year in educational assistance
• 4 weeks of paid parental leave
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness – (The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See more info here. )
• Annual pay increases
• Fiscal year pay increases as determined by bargaining contract
• Employees are eligible for longevity pay after 5 years of continuous service
• 100% City paid basic life insurance
• Dental, vision, long-term disability, and supplemental life insurance
• View our Bargaining Benefits Summaries
• Expansive job growth opportunities
• Commitment to professional development
• Private health & wellness coaching partnerships