What are the responsibilities and job description for the Water Distribution Operator Trainee position at City of Fort Walton Beach?
Department
1340 Utility Services - Water Distribution
Location
Utility Services
Position Type
FT Employee
Salary
$17.6167
Date
2025.12.31
Description
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Experience Required:
Minimum Education Requirements: High School Diploma or G.E.D.
Department: Utilities.
Direct Supervisor: Distribution Foreman.
Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (x); Indirect (x)
Primary Work Location: Work is performed indoors and outdoors.
Certification: Valid State of Florida driver’s license, ability to obtain State of Florida Class “3” Distribution Systems Operator License within 24 months of hire.
Job Summary: This is an entry-level classification in which incumbents learn the skills required to perform semi-skilled work in the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of potable water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Work is performed under immediate supervision of the division Foreman, Distribution Operator, or Equipment Operator. Water Distribution Operator Trainees demonstrate the ability to perform assigned essential functions and duties in preparation for advancement to Distribution Operator Class 3.
Essential Job Functions
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all the following essential duties:
- Assist more senior operators with maintaining regulatory compliance while operating and servicing City of Fort Walton Beach’s water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
- Assist with installation and maintenance of water mains, new and existing taps, service lines, valves, fire hydrants, meters, and other distribution system components.
- Assist with checking and repairing water main breaks, water service leaks, and water meters.
- Turn customer water services on and off.
- Assist with performing on-call after hours turn-ons and repairs to the water system.
- Assist with addressing and resolving public inquiries and concerns.
- Perform manual labor such as: digging, lifting, hauling, etc.
- Operate and perform preventive maintenance on various construction equipment including, but not limited to, hand tools, power tools, tamps, quick cut saws, air hammers, and other related equipment.
- Assist with properly preparing excavated areas for restoration using dirt, sand, rock, and related materials.
- Assist with restoration of roads, driveways, and sidewalks using asphalt, fill materials, and concrete.
- Drive vehicles and operate heavy and light equipment.
- Assist with installing and repairing sewer structures.
- Record meter readings for billing purposes.
- Operate a motor vehicle.
- Perform other job duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s) for Position
An employee in this class must have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities uponapplication:
Knowledge
- Basic methods and techniques of utility line maintenance, repair, and installation.
- Use and care of general and specialized tools of the trade.
- Occupational hazards and safety precautions.
- City’s functions, policies, and procedures.
Skills
- Follow and relay complex oral and written instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Use of power and hand tools and equipment.
Abilities
- Work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Work in confined spaces.
- Work in all weather conditions and may encounter noise, dust, chemicals, grease or oils, electrical energy, radiant energy, vibrations, poor lighting, moving objects, and slippery or uneven surfaces.
- Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
- May require work with ladders or scaffolding, in and around moving objects, below ground level ~ 10 feet, and working closely with others.
Physical Demands
The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The following physical abilities are required:
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
- Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
- Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
- Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
- Hearing 1: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
- Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
- Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
- Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
- Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
- Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
- Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
- Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
- Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
- Talking 1: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Talking 2: Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
- Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.
- Visual Acuity 2: Including color, depth perception, and field vision.
- Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
- Visual Acuity 4: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
- Visual Acuity 5: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, operation of machines; using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
- Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
**This position description is a general guideline for work behavior and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all job duties. Therefore, it is also not, nor can it be implied to be, a contract of employment. The contents of this position description may be changed without notice, and employment may be terminated by either party, at will. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.
Salary : $18