DPU Hiring Event - Utilities Field Specialist - Water Distribution (Maintenance Repair Crew)

City of Richmond, Virginia; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Virginia Retirement System (VRS)

Language Incentive

Referral Bonus

Tuition Assistance Program

Job summary

The City of Richmond, Virginia is seeking a Utilities Field Specialist in the Water Distribution Division for the day shift (7:00 am - 3:30 pm). This essential role may require on-call and rotating weekend/holiday coverage. The position involves maintaining and repairing the City’s water distribution system and responding to leaks.

Candidates must have a CDL within 6 months and be able to lift up to 50 lbs. The hiring event is part of the recruitment drive and subject to background checks.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• One year of experience in water pipelines/plumbing preferred.
• CDL required within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Install and repair water service assets and hydrants.
• Operate heavy equipment and power tools.
• Read and follow detailed plans and diagrams.
• Adhere to safety procedures and SOPs.

Skills

Water pipeline maintenance

Hand tools

Heavy equipment operation

Oral and written communication

CDL required

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Backhoe

Dump trucks

Crane truck

Pipe saw

Water pump

Job description

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity… YOU !!!

About

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• T uition Assistance Program

Description

Join us at the DPU Hiring Event! This position is a part of our hiring event on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Midtown Green. If you're selected to move forward, our department will reach out directly to schedule your interview. Please note this position is subject to a pre-employment background check and/or drug screening.

The anticipated hiring range is $45,285 - $60,375.

The City of Richmond's Department of Public Utilities Water Distribution Division is seeking to fill a Utilities Field Specialist position for day shift (Hours 7:00 am - 3:30 pm) team with a highly enthusiastic entry-level worker. These incumbent will be responsible for providing, maintaining and repairing the City's water distribution system, this includes emergency response to water leaks on mains and services. Please note hours may vary dependent upon the requirements and needs of the department. All employees in this classification will be required to work rotating weekend and holidays as scheduled.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Installing and repairing water service fire hydrants, meters, lateral/main, sampling stations, valves and all other water assets;
• Using various hand tools, hydraulic tampers, compressors, pneumatic air and power tools;
• Operating heavy equipment & trucks to include: backhoe, crane truck, excavator, single and tandem axle dump trucks with trailers;
• Reading, interpreting and executing plans by following detailed technical illustrations, such as maps, surveys and diagrams;
• Following established safety procedures and protocols.

This is an essential personnel position, which requires the selected candidates to report to work for emergency and on-call duty in response to inclement weather/natural disaster, disruption in water distribution system and other urgent events.

The selected candidate will be required to work 24 hour on-call, weekend and holiday call duty as scheduled.

Qualifications, Special Certifications And Licenses

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of water pipeline maintenance and repair (e.g. placing a sleeve to stop a leak); pipe fitting and plumbing and pipe (e.g. ductile iron, copper, cast iron); Miss Utility Laws; and OSHA Regulations. Demonstrated skill using hand tools such as shovels and wrenches; heavy equipment such as backhoes and dump trucks; and power tools (jackhammer, pipe saw and water pump). Demonstrated skill communicating orally and written; and driving a work truck (CDL required). Demonstrated ability to identify hazardous situations; follow standard operating procedures; and to multi-task. Must be able to be exposed to outside elements to be able to work outside during summer and winter; and to lift up to 50 lbs.

Minimum Training And Experience

• High School Diploma or GED;
• One year of experience in water pipelines/plumbing;
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, And/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires a commercial driver's license (Class B or higher) within 6 months of hire in accordance with Virginia Division of Motor Vehicle regulations. A Class A CDL is required to progress into the highest broadband level.

Preferred Training And Experience

• Two (2) to three (3) years of experience working around utilities and repairing water infrastructure;
• Three (3) to five (5) years of plumbing and/ or pipefitting experience;
• Experience with operating various equipment(s) (for example: backhoe, dump trucks, crane trucks, or rubber tire roller);
• Experience working on Utility Lines;
• At least two years of experience performing routine maintenance checks on equipment and machinery;
• Valid Driver's License.

Americans With Disabilities Act Requirements Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach extending hands and arms in any direction, stand, push, pull, lift, finger (picking, pinching or otherwise working primarily with fingers), grasp applying pressure to an object with fingers or palms, talk, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to climb, balance, stoop, crouch, crawl, walk, feel and use substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be heavy work, exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at [e-mail]. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company. The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.