Water Distribution Operator

Red Deer; Red Deer; Hybrid; CAD 74,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Red Deer Municipal Government is seeking a Water Distribution Operator to join the regular full-time team. This role ensures day-to-day and emergency operations of the Class IV Water Distribution system with a strong emphasis on safety, accuracy, and customer service.

Training and mentoring opportunities are available for seasonal staff. The successful candidate will possess a Grade 12 or equivalent, a Level 2 Alberta Water Distribution Certification, and a valid Class 5 license,

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent is required.
• Unrestricted Water Distribution Level 2 Alberta certification or equivalent.
• One-year water/wastewater program is preferred.
• Must pass safety courses and maintain CEUs as required.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license is required.
• Minimum 4 years operating municipal infrastructure in a Level III/IV system or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair hydrants, mains, valves, PRVs, meters and related infra.
• Perform inspections to keep the system safe, compliant and operational.
• Respond to leaks, service interruptions, and emergencies with appropriate actions.
• Install, read, exchange and troubleshoot water meters for billing accuracy.
• Collect water quality samples and monitor chlorine, turbidity and THMs.
• Maintain records, GIS updates and regulatory documentation.
• Support safety, health, and regulatory compliance initiatives.
• Provide customer service and coordinate with residents and contractors.
• Lead, train and mentor seasonal staff and operators.
• Assist planning and project coordination and liaise with contractors/engineers.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Computer skills

Customer service

Blueprint reading

Education

Grade 12 or equivalent

Alberta Level 2 Water Distribution Certification

One-year water/wastewater program (preferred)

Valid Class 5 Drivers License

Tools

Water testing equipment

Databases / GIS knowledge

Job description

About Red Deer

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Water Distribution Operator to fill a regular (permanent) full-time position. Water Distribution Operators are responsible for day-to-day and emergency operation and maintenance of the Class IV Water Distribution system. Key accountabilities are to perform work functions that ensure compliance of established City policies and regulatory standards under the guidance of a supervisor, or Lead Operator. Distribution Operators possess a high level of safety awareness, reliable supply of high-quality water in the distribution system and customer service for water related issues.

Top Key Responsibilities:

1. Maintain and Repair Water Distribution Infrastructure - Inspect, maintain, test, and repair water system assets including:
   • Fire hydrants, Water mains, Water valves, Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs), Service valves, Water meters
2. Perform Operational and Regulatory Inspections - Conduct routine, emergency, and preventive maintenance inspections to ensure the water distribution system remains operational, safe, and compliant with regulatory and City requirements.
3. Respond to Water System Emergencies - Investigate and respond to:
   • Water main leaks and breaks, Service interruptions, Emergency shutdowns, Public notifications and isolation of affected areas
4. Install, Service, and Troubleshoot Water Meters - Install, exchange, read, and troubleshoot water meters, while addressing customer metering concerns and ensuring billing accuracy.
5. Collect Water Quality Samples and Monitor System Performance - Collect and document samples for:
   • Chlorine, Turbidity, Lead Bacteriological testing, THMs (Trihalomethanes)
   • Ensure compliance with drinking water quality standards.
6. Maintain Accurate Records and Documentation - Manage operational data, inspections, maintenance records, GIS updates, work management systems, and regulatory documentation to support compliance and reporting requirements.
7. Support Health, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance - Participate in and promote workplace safety through:
   • Hazard assessments. Safety inspections, Incident reporting, Emergency drills, Safe Work Procedure reviews, Health and Safety Program participation
8. Provide Customer Service and Stakeholder Support - Respond professionally to:
   • Customer inquiries, Water quality complaints, Service requests, Coordinate with residents, developers, contractors, consultants, and internal departments.
9. Lead, Train, and Mentor Staff - Provide guidance and training to seasonal staff and operators by:
   • Coaching safe work practices, Supporting employee development, Conducting safety meetings and inspections, Promoting an inclusive and respectful workplace
10. Support Operations Planning and Project Coordination - Assist the Operations Foreman and Lead Operator by:
    • Prioritizing and coordinating work activities, Supporting business continuity and emergency preparedness planning, Working with contractors and engineers on projects, Reporting operational, safety, and compliance concerns, Acting in a supervisory capacity when assigned

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 12 or equivalent
• Unrestricted Water Distribution Level 2 Alberta Environment Operator’s Certification or equivalent
• Education or training in a one (1) year water/ wastewater related technical program is preferred
• Must successfully pass all safety certificate courses currently required and others to be defined by the Province or by the City To maintain Certification, they are required to achieve 3.6 CEUs each 3 years.
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License
• Minimum 4 years in operating processes of municipal infrastructure in a Level III or IV Provincial certified system or equivalent

Required Skills:

• Ability to work unsupervised and co-operate with colleagues as a team, to understand and follow instructions and to provide guidance and instructions to junior operators or Waterworks Labourers.
• Well-Developed verbal, computer and written communications skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer aptitude including demonstrated proficiency with databases, spreadsheets, and word-processing software. Ability to maintain databases and create reports.
• This position is an important front line customer contact point and is responsible for responding promptly and courteously to customer complaints, investigating complaints on-site and interacting with customers to identify problems and to explain solutions.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to accurately use a wide range of portable monitoring and laboratory testing equipment. Ability to take due care and attention when installing equipment without damaging exteriors of businesses or residences.
• This position requires operators to troubleshoot problems and exercise critical thinking in the execution of their duties.
• Must be physically fit in order to climb ladders, work at heights, open and close valves, lift, shovel, moderate physical exertion regularly in awkward positions.
• Ability to work inside and outside in all types of weather and in conditions which may be noisy, dirty, wet, cold, confining, hot and disagreeable.
• Ability to work in traffic to place barricades, signs, and traffic cones around work sites in traffic to protect operators and public while operating.
• Demonstrated safety skills in the use of specialized protective equipment including respirators, and air quality monitors. Some work requires use of harnesses and hoisting equipment.
• Be able to read and understand blueprints, drawings, schematics, and maps.
• This position has a wide range of functional responsibilities and skill requirements, from hydrants to meters to customer service, and is required to be proficient with a variety of tools and equipment.

Specific Demands of the Job:

• This position requires the ability to take part in on-call rotation, work extended shifts and respond to after-hour emergencies in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
• This position is responsible for being aware of and complying with all applicable regulations, policies and procedures for day-to-day operations and to immediately report non-compliance situations.
• Ability to troubleshoot diverse problems and exercise critical thinking in the execution of their duties where precedent or policy do not always apply. This position may have significant impact on public health and safety.
• Operators are accountable to provide a continuous supply of potable water to all customers and could have personal liability exposure in the event of the loss or contamination of the public water supply.
• Errors could significantly disrupt service levels and programs, requiring significant expenditures to correct, resulting in a loss of customer confidence and damage the public image of the City.
• Incumbents in this role are mandated by legislation to attain and maintain required certifications and may be subject to external audits, spot inspections and other reviews to ensure compliance with these requirements.
• Distribution Operators are required to interact directly and professionally with customers without supervision in potentially adversarial/confrontational situations.
• This position will require the incumbent to work in hazardous work environments including in traffic, confined and restricted spaces.
• Other hazards may be encountered through entering domestic and commercial properties; site specific regulations may also need to be adhered to if requested by the property owner, developer, or Contractor.

Affiliation

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Status

Regular Full-time

Remuneration

$35.43 to $40.27 per hour

Hours of Work

80 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required when needed.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.