What are the responsibilities and job description for the Working Foreman Plumber position at City of Somerville?
Duties:
Under direction of the Buildings Foreman and/or his/her designee, supervises and works with small group of employees of lower skill level and/or laborers; receives work assignments and transmits these to workers under his/her direction; fills out daily reports; enforces safety regulations; maintains discipline; orders supplies and equipment; reviews work of crew assigned to him/her for compliance with instructions and accepted trade practices. The Working Foreman must be skilled in the trade being supervised and in all cases performs the same type of work as individuals being supervised. Installs and repairs water pipes and makes necessary connections; maintains plumbing system; repairs and replaces valves, faucets, sinks, bubblers, tanks and fixtures; replaces gaskets and washers; opens clogged drains’ attaches pipe assemblies to walls; assembles, bolts or solders valves, couplings, pipes to walls; assembles bolts or solders valves, couplings, pipe sections and other parts; connects plumbing fixtures to outlets and seals connections. Performs other manual duties related to plumbing work. Performs other manual duties as required.
Qualifications:
Work requires agility and physical strength, ability to function in close quarters, and is subject to outside environmental conditions, including wet, hot and cold weather. Worker is subject to noise, vibrations, hazards and atmospheric conditions including fumes, dust and air contaminants.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to bend, crawl, sit, talk, move about, hear and speak. May be required to work in restricted spaces, from a prone position, and/or under difficult lighting and access conditions. Noise level may be high when operating power equipment. Employee may be exposed
to outside weather conditions especially in emergency repair situations. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and greater than 50 pounds using appropriate equipment.
Motor Skills
While performing the duties, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with City staff.
Visual Skills
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is required to use properly use such safety equipment as is appropriate to the work to prevent injury to self or others.
Hours: Full-Time
Union: SMEU
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: October 22, 2026
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
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Under direction of the Buildings Foreman and/or his/her designee, supervises and works with small group of employees of lower skill level and/or laborers; receives work assignments and transmits these to workers under his/her direction; fills out daily reports; enforces safety regulations; maintains discipline; orders supplies and equipment; reviews work of crew assigned to him/her for compliance with instructions and accepted trade practices. The Working Foreman must be skilled in the trade being supervised and in all cases performs the same type of work as individuals being supervised. Installs and repairs water pipes and makes necessary connections; maintains plumbing system; repairs and replaces valves, faucets, sinks, bubblers, tanks and fixtures; replaces gaskets and washers; opens clogged drains’ attaches pipe assemblies to walls; assembles, bolts or solders valves, couplings, pipes to walls; assembles bolts or solders valves, couplings, pipe sections and other parts; connects plumbing fixtures to outlets and seals connections. Performs other manual duties related to plumbing work. Performs other manual duties as required.
Qualifications:
- Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions
- Ability to submit written and verbal reports
- Ability to organize work teams, delegate responsibilities and assignments to employees, and resolve conflicts or miscommunication that may happen on worksite quickly and amicably
- Must have ability to use tools of trade in workmanlike manner
- Knowledge of plumbing trade, tools, practices and equipment
- Must possess a current valid Massachusetts Master Plumbers License
- Two years paid experience as plumber
- Must possess a current valid Massachusetts Class D Driver’s License
- Must have a safe driving record
- Subject to yearly Motor Vehicle Record/Driver’s License check
- Must be computer literate (knowledge and skills to use a computer, tablet, and other related technology) or willing to train on technology to be used in the performance of the job
- Must be in good health and capable of hard physical work in extreme weather conditions
- Ability to exercise independent judgement and discretion in inspecting and assessing work
Work requires agility and physical strength, ability to function in close quarters, and is subject to outside environmental conditions, including wet, hot and cold weather. Worker is subject to noise, vibrations, hazards and atmospheric conditions including fumes, dust and air contaminants.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to bend, crawl, sit, talk, move about, hear and speak. May be required to work in restricted spaces, from a prone position, and/or under difficult lighting and access conditions. Noise level may be high when operating power equipment. Employee may be exposed
to outside weather conditions especially in emergency repair situations. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and greater than 50 pounds using appropriate equipment.
Motor Skills
While performing the duties, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with City staff.
Visual Skills
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is required to use properly use such safety equipment as is appropriate to the work to prevent injury to self or others.
Hours: Full-Time
Union: SMEU
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: October 22, 2026
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
- MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
- Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees
- 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
- Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
- Dental coverage low and high plans through Delta Dental
- Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
- Long term disability through Sun Life
- Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
- Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
- Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
- Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
- Annual cancer screening & wellness release
- Somerville Retirement Pension System
- Tuition reimbursement
- MBTA pass program
- FREE Blue Bikes membership
- Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
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